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.
Showing posts with label biohazard cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biohazard cleaning. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
An Encounter With a Meth Lab May Be Closer Than You Think
A majority of Americans sit in their comfortable living rooms and offices and believe that they will never be in a 'situation' that would expose them to the dangers associated with methamphetamines. That's just stuff you see on the news, right? Not necessarily. As they say, being forewarned is being forearmed and you certainly need to be well armed to get through a run-in with meth unscathed.
Almost 12 million Americans have tried meth at one time during their life, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report Methamphetamine Use, Abuse, and Dependence: 2002, 2003, and 2004, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Meth users and manufacturers include people from every lifestyle. Doctors, lawyers and dentists are no more exempt than factory workers or roofers.
Meth labs are encountered in neighborhoods from affluent to poor. Methamphetamine can be cooked virtually anywhere, and commercial buildings, homes, apartments, hotel rooms, trailers, barns, vans, and storage units are just a few of the structures used for labs. Although many are located in rural regions for concealment, meth labs can be found in urban and suburban areas.
The danger of fire and explosions is always immediate in meth lab operations and even after they're dismantled, meth labs leave a poisonous trail of chemical dust and vapors that can seep into neighboring spaces, including adjacent homes, apartments, and hotel rooms. Walls, floors, toys, furniture, ventilating systems, plumbing fixtures, septic systems, and surrounding soil can be contaminated and may require professional decontamination.
Amongst those at risk of exposure are real estate agents, landlords, property managers, potential tenants and homebuyers, garbage collectors, utility workers, plumbers, social service agents, and first responders. Children living in the neighborhood of a meth lab can be placed at risk as well. In fact, thousands of clandestine seizures every year involve children. Visitors or neighbors can be injured by the toxic fumes that vent from meth labs or from the poisonous "cooking" debris that's sometimes concealed outside or flushed into a septic system.
The dangers that go along with meth homes include exposure to cancer causing chemicals that can saturate walls, carpets and other building materials in addition to all contents. Lead and mercury are frequent by-products. Chemicals, such as solvents, may be disposed of in plumbing or just poured on the ground. If not removed properly these can cause various health problems. Respiratory problems, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea are a few of the symptoms people may experience if they're exposed to contaminants from a former meth lab site.
Encounters with Meth Users, or "Tweekers", may not be a walk in the park either. Meth induces intense paranoia and symptoms similar to OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. Meth users may even save their urine in bottles stashed away in living areas to recover the unmetabolized meth from the urine. Meth users sometimes become obsessive about objects. They might disassemble things like appliances, watches or computers. The objects can occasionally be found in a pile dismantled down to the smallest component.
Most people with OCD are pretty harmless except to themselves. According to police reports, the paranoid meth user can be very dangerous. They're frequently reported to have large, sometimes eccentric, weapon collections that may have large quantities of knives. Dangerous booby traps are often set up to protect the individuals meth stash.
So, how do you know when you're in the presence of a meth lab or potential meth users? Here are just a few signs:
Meth lab signs:
o Yellow stains on walls, drains, sinks and showers
o Blue discolorations on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers
o Smoke detectors that are removed or taped off
o Having physical symptoms while inside the house, such as burning in your eyes or throat, itching, a metallic taste in your mouth and breathing problems
o Peculiar strong odors that smell like materials from a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, cat urine or ammonia o The use of security cameras and surveillance equipment
Signs that property owners should look for with their homes and tenants:
o Renters who behave strangely and are exceedingly thin, have open sores, bad teeth or enlarged pupils
o Extensive amounts of trash with items such as lithium batteries, torn-apart matchbooks, water bottles, cold medicine packs and antifreeze containers
o Stained coffee filters that are not brown
o Plexiglass or other dark-colored cookware
o Glass containers with two layered liquids and chemistry sets
Rapid Response BioDecon recommends that anyone with concerns about potential meth lab exposure ask local law enforcement to run a criminal check on the property and, if living in a rental unit or purchasing a home, request documentation that the property was decontaminated professionally.
Patricia Abney, is President and Founder of Rapid Response BioDecon, Inc., West Central Florida's Specialized death and trauma scene cleaning company. In addition to Biohazard Decontamination, Rapid Response offers Meth Lab Clean Up services to all Southeastern States including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. RAPID RESPONSE BIODECON is one of only three companies in the State of Florida that employ OSHA Certified Meth Lab Decontamination Specialists who are experts in handling site contamination caused by illegal drug production. Meth Lab Testing and Clean Up information can be found at http://www.FloridaMethLabCleanUp.com
The company's website can be accessed at: http://www.rapidresponsebiodecon.com and they are ready to assist 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Technician's can also be reached at: 1-866-98DECON.
Almost 12 million Americans have tried meth at one time during their life, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report Methamphetamine Use, Abuse, and Dependence: 2002, 2003, and 2004, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Meth users and manufacturers include people from every lifestyle. Doctors, lawyers and dentists are no more exempt than factory workers or roofers.
Meth labs are encountered in neighborhoods from affluent to poor. Methamphetamine can be cooked virtually anywhere, and commercial buildings, homes, apartments, hotel rooms, trailers, barns, vans, and storage units are just a few of the structures used for labs. Although many are located in rural regions for concealment, meth labs can be found in urban and suburban areas.
The danger of fire and explosions is always immediate in meth lab operations and even after they're dismantled, meth labs leave a poisonous trail of chemical dust and vapors that can seep into neighboring spaces, including adjacent homes, apartments, and hotel rooms. Walls, floors, toys, furniture, ventilating systems, plumbing fixtures, septic systems, and surrounding soil can be contaminated and may require professional decontamination.
Amongst those at risk of exposure are real estate agents, landlords, property managers, potential tenants and homebuyers, garbage collectors, utility workers, plumbers, social service agents, and first responders. Children living in the neighborhood of a meth lab can be placed at risk as well. In fact, thousands of clandestine seizures every year involve children. Visitors or neighbors can be injured by the toxic fumes that vent from meth labs or from the poisonous "cooking" debris that's sometimes concealed outside or flushed into a septic system.
The dangers that go along with meth homes include exposure to cancer causing chemicals that can saturate walls, carpets and other building materials in addition to all contents. Lead and mercury are frequent by-products. Chemicals, such as solvents, may be disposed of in plumbing or just poured on the ground. If not removed properly these can cause various health problems. Respiratory problems, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea are a few of the symptoms people may experience if they're exposed to contaminants from a former meth lab site.
Encounters with Meth Users, or "Tweekers", may not be a walk in the park either. Meth induces intense paranoia and symptoms similar to OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. Meth users may even save their urine in bottles stashed away in living areas to recover the unmetabolized meth from the urine. Meth users sometimes become obsessive about objects. They might disassemble things like appliances, watches or computers. The objects can occasionally be found in a pile dismantled down to the smallest component.
Most people with OCD are pretty harmless except to themselves. According to police reports, the paranoid meth user can be very dangerous. They're frequently reported to have large, sometimes eccentric, weapon collections that may have large quantities of knives. Dangerous booby traps are often set up to protect the individuals meth stash.
So, how do you know when you're in the presence of a meth lab or potential meth users? Here are just a few signs:
Meth lab signs:
o Yellow stains on walls, drains, sinks and showers
o Blue discolorations on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers
o Smoke detectors that are removed or taped off
o Having physical symptoms while inside the house, such as burning in your eyes or throat, itching, a metallic taste in your mouth and breathing problems
o Peculiar strong odors that smell like materials from a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, cat urine or ammonia o The use of security cameras and surveillance equipment
Signs that property owners should look for with their homes and tenants:
o Renters who behave strangely and are exceedingly thin, have open sores, bad teeth or enlarged pupils
o Extensive amounts of trash with items such as lithium batteries, torn-apart matchbooks, water bottles, cold medicine packs and antifreeze containers
o Stained coffee filters that are not brown
o Plexiglass or other dark-colored cookware
o Glass containers with two layered liquids and chemistry sets
Rapid Response BioDecon recommends that anyone with concerns about potential meth lab exposure ask local law enforcement to run a criminal check on the property and, if living in a rental unit or purchasing a home, request documentation that the property was decontaminated professionally.
Patricia Abney, is President and Founder of Rapid Response BioDecon, Inc., West Central Florida's Specialized death and trauma scene cleaning company. In addition to Biohazard Decontamination, Rapid Response offers Meth Lab Clean Up services to all Southeastern States including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. RAPID RESPONSE BIODECON is one of only three companies in the State of Florida that employ OSHA Certified Meth Lab Decontamination Specialists who are experts in handling site contamination caused by illegal drug production. Meth Lab Testing and Clean Up information can be found at http://www.FloridaMethLabCleanUp.com
The company's website can be accessed at: http://www.rapidresponsebiodecon.com and they are ready to assist 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Technician's can also be reached at: 1-866-98DECON.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
An insight into crime scenes clean up services
Crime scene cleanup companies also clean unattended deaths, damaged environments due to tear gas, and other crime and distress scenes. The larger crime scenes that involve mass murder scenes, terrorist attacks and anthrax and other biochemical damage is also taken care by these companies. Crime Scene Cleanup services may also include bird and rodent infested areas. The cleaners in this case require special experience and equipment than a typical cleaning company’s experience and equipment.
Typically, crime scene cleanups start taking place only after the coroner’s office and other government bodies releases the “scene” back to the owner or some other responsible person concerned with it. The cleaning task can not begin till the police investigation is completely finished on the contaminated scene.
In most cases crime scene cleanup is a small business activity. Mostly, small cleaning services like carpet cleaning or water damage companies add services for Crime Scene Cleanup for diversifying their activities. The prominent and recognized organizations in this field of cleaning consist of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the American Bio-recovery Association (ABRA).
Earlier crime scene cleanup was a loathsome job but today it has become a lucrative business. Crime scene cleanup companies can charge anywhere between $100 to $600 per hour depending on the “level of trauma” and the quantity of hazardous material that the cleaners have to deal with and dispose of.
While a crime clean up service is ultimately a business like any other, advertising and marketing your services can be tricky. In a job that involves tragic death; most companies avoid mainstream methods of advertisement. Some choose the standard phone-book route while many others advertise on the side of their vans. Most of these companies largely depend on discreet options like passing out their business cards at service-industry gatherings, police stations and funeral homes.
An important requirement for success in this industry involves being considerate towards the sensitive nature of the work. There are certain crime scene clean-up companies that provide a grief counselor to the families at no cost while others offer discount to needy people. There are many countries where this type of service is funded by government or by religious organizations.
While some people call this emerging field a social trend of commercializing death, others call it plain capitalism. But for many others it still remains an essential service, a godsend. The fact is that whether you like it or loathe it but if you ever end up with blood and brains splashed all over your bedroom walls, you will definitely be relieved that there is someone you can call to clean it up.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Cleanup Jobs at Crime Scenes
Crime scene cleaners clear a crime scene after the investigations are conducted by the investigating team. A crime scene consists of bio-hazardous substances, such as body fluids and human remains. The objective of restoring a crime scene to its original condition, is the purpose of a crime scene cleanup job.
Persons who are present at the crime scene, include the police, the forensic investigator and sometimes the fire service people. Cleaning up after the crime was usually done by the family of the victim, or the local police authority. But, nowadays, there are professionals specialized in crime scene cleanup jobs, who are hired to do the cleaning. These cleanup professionals have to approach the crime scene with care; especially in case any evidence is found, they should know how to preserve the same.
Crime Scene Cleaners
A crime scene is a place, where a crime has been committed, resulting in death or a fatally wounded victim. Crime scene cleaners work at messy crime scenes, that have blood and other fluids, along with body remains.
Crime scene cleaners not only eliminate and dispose of hazardous waste, but also carry out restoration services. They also deal with bio-loads, which are microbes present in the environment and dispersed after the crime, which need to be cleaned through stringent cleaning. The cleaners are not permitted to handle the dead in any way, nor are they allowed to be involved in the investigation or any legal process. They have to deal with blood and human remains with a detached frame of mind, but still be sensitive towards the family of the victim.
have to undergo a blood pathogen training to qualify as cleaners. They have to adhere to OSHA guidelines, while working. They require a special permit or a practicing license that authorizes them to remove, pack and dispose off bio-hazardous waste. According to US Federal regulations, all body fluids including blood, tissue or body remains found at a crime scene are considered as a source of infection and deemed as bio-hazards.
Cleanup Jobs at Crime Scene
The requirement of a cleaning agent at the crime scene has resulted in a profitable industry of crime cleanup jobs. Crime scene cleanup jobs have created an organized market for the cleaning industry, in the recent years. The cleanup companies, also fulfill the need of a cleaning house and do all kinds regular cleaning jobs for residential, commercial, and industrial environments.
Crime scene cleanup jobs are also known as CTS Decon (crime and trauma scene decontamination), which involves decontaminating crime scenes. The types of jobs that are performed by the cleanup companies are:
Blood cleanup
Specialty cleaning
Crime scene cleanup
Decontamination services
Bio-hazard cleaning
Medical waste disposal
A supervisor or a leader from the crew makes an assessment of the scene, taking into account the full extent of the cleaning. Thorough cleaning of the room needs to be undertaken which includes the furniture, the walls and even the ceiling, along with any other object found in the vicinity of the scene. At times, they have to even go to the extent of scraping the skull to remove brain fragments, and disinfect blood-spattered areas. This job requires the ability to withstand emotionally grueling conditions, arising out of handling blood, bodily fluids and other human remains.
Crime Scene Cleanup Compensation
Crime scene cleaners use protective gear consisting of a whole body bio-hazard suit that covers every part of their body, and a respirator to avoid infection by pathogens or bio-hazardous materials found at every crime scene. They are equipped with heavy duty plastic bags that are used to collect the bio-hazardous material and cleaning equipment like mops and sponges, disinfectants, ionizer to remove the odors, knives and other scraping tools. They carry restoration tools which include sledgehammers, saws, spackle, paint brushes, cameras for video shooting the crime scene before and after the cleanup job and transportation for disposing off the waste. Crime scene cleaners are paid $100 to $600 an hour, based on the intensity of the crime and the volume of the bio-hazardous material found at the scene of the crime. In some cases, they may charge $1,000 to $3,000 for cleaning rooms with excessive blood and body remains.
Crime scene professionals are well-paid; however, the working conditions deter people from choosing this job as a career. The grotesqueness found at every crime scene is not a very comfortable situation that most would like to find themselves in. So, anyone who is considering a crime scene cleanup job should think twice before taking it up.
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