Requirements in the State of Tennessee for Crime Scene Cleanup

By Dave Michael

Cleaning up a crime scene requires a lot of care and diligence.Crime scenes can be very messy, with biological hazards in the vicinity. Blood, urine, feces, semen and drug paraphernalia are all possible hazards that need to be cleaned and removed once the investigation is over. It is vital that crime scenes be cleaned thoroughly so that business or domestic practices can once again be conducted there. States such as Tennessee have their own laws and requirements for crime scene cleanup, though most are dictated by OSHA on a federal level.

Sanitation
A crime scene that has any possible biohazard such as blood or feces is to be cleaned by personnel who have gone through specific blood-borne pathogen training to make sure that the waste material is removed in accordance with both Tennessee and federal OSHA regulations. Gloves must be worn at all times, and hands must be washed immediately upon the removal of gloves. If hand-washing is not feasible on-scene, the workers must use an alternative source of hand sanitizing. All affected surfaces must be disinfected to make sure there is no chance of HIV or other disease transmission.

Materials
All disinfectants should be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as certified for hospital and crime-scene cleanup. Needles found on scene that were not collected as evidence shall not be bent, broken or recapped unless it can be proven that there is no alternative. This helps prevent inadvertent disease transmission through needle wounds. If a needle must be bent or otherwise altered, it must be done with a mechanical device or by using a one-handed technique per OSHA regulations and state law. Containers used for collecting needles or biohazardous waste must be leakproof on the sides and bottom as well as puncture resistant. They also must be clearly labeled or color coded.

Prohibitions
Eating, drinking or smoking of any kind is strictly prohibited during any crime scene cleanup where there is the chance of exposure to pathogens. The handling of contact lenses is also not allowed in this environment due to the inherent dangers of pathogen exposure. Likewise, no food or beverages can be stores in any cabinet, refrigerator or any other area where blood or other infectious materials were present. It is up to the employer to make sure none of the employees conduct any unsafe or illegal behavior at the scene and also that all necessary safety equipment is provided and used appropriately.