If a death was unexpected or involved some kind of trauma you may require specialist cleaning services to help deal with the room or place where someone has died. There are companies that provide these services with sensitivity and discretion. Most of us are fortunate enough that we will never require trauma or crime scene cleaning services. But for those who do, it’s a traumatic, distressing and stressful timee.
At a time of great distress, it may surprise you to learn that the clean up of the scene is the responsibility of the property owner. Or, if the property owner is the deceased, then responsibility falls to the next of kin. It’s a common misconception that the organisation and cost of cleaning a crime scene falls to the emergency services – usually the police. But this isn’t the case. Homeowners or the next of kin are responsible for domestic properties. While some insurance policies may cover sensitive cleaning, it isn’t guaranteed and individual policies should always be checked. The scene has to be signed off by the police before any cleaning can begin.
Sensitive cleaning involves hazardous substances, including bodily fluids and blood. Because of this, strict legislations and guidelines are in place surrounding their cleaning, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of anyone who uses the building or area. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV are all serious risks at sensitive scenes as they are transferred via bodily fluids. It’s also important to note that any contaminated materials require correct disposal and cannot be disposed of alongside household waste. An experienced and qualified sensitive scene cleaning provider will be licensed waste carriers and will be able to correctly and safely dispose of affected materials.
Decontamination, insect infestation, and the tracing and removal of bodily fluids is the basic process of forensic cleaning, therefore, it’s essential that experienced forensic cleaners are used to complete the clean. A professional cleaning company will also have processes in place to prevent cross contamination.
Experiencing a traumatic event is life-changing and most people will require emotional and psychological support in the following weeks, months, and even years to allow them to acknowledge, process and accept what has happened.
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