Crime Scene cleanup can be a grim task. Even in the quietest of Northumberland Villages or the larger towns and cities across the North East of England, crime happens. If you or someone you know is the victim of a violent crime, you may need assistance with crime scene cleaning.
Even if police are able to apprehend the criminals, there will likely be blood and other bodily fluids left behind as evidence of their crimes.
In this blog post, Quidos Cleaning Services will discuss things your cleaning company can do to help you with cleaning a crime scene. After reading this post, you’ll know what kind of support a cleaning company can offer after a violent incident.
This information could make all the difference when choosing which professional cleaning company like Quidos Cleaning Services to hire for the job.
Keep the scene secured
The best step to take in a crime scene cleanup is to secure the scene. This means keeping unauthorised personnel out of the scene while it is being processed. In most cases, this includes family members and loved ones who may want to help.
Once the police have passed over the crime scene the cleaning crew will likely need to remove and dispose of any evidence of the crime that may be present. This includes DNA, fingerprints, and bodily fluids. If any of these are left behind and not properly handled, they could interfere with the legal process.
The cleaners should also secure any doors and windows that may have been damaged during the incident. This will help prevent the contamination of other parts of your home or business from spreading.
Remove biohazards and chemicals
Depending on the nature of the crime, there may be biohazards and chemicals present that need to be cleaned up. Biological materials, like bodily fluids, can be cleaned up with caution and the right tools.
Chances are, forensic investigators will wear gloves and use disposable tools to avoid contamination.
When cleaning up blood and other fluids, you will want to make sure to follow protocols for both bloodborne pathogens and hazardous materials. You’ll want to clean any affected surfaces with a disinfectant like bleach.
You can also use a commercial decontamination service to clean up the blood. For chemical spills, you’ll need to identify the chemicals involved and handle them appropriately. You may also have to test the air for harmful vapours to make sure the scene is safe for cleanup.
How can I be certain that the space will be fully sanitised?
With a 99.9% effectiveness rate, it’s highly probable that all problem areas will be decontaminated. Upon completion, Quidos Cleaning Services will also provide a certificate of guarantee.
Help with Crime Scene Cleanup logistics and paperwork
In a large-scale crime scene, there is often a lot of paperwork to complete. You may need help with filling out forms and managing logistics like securing a crime scene clean permit.
Who is accountable for cleaning up a crime scene?
The landowner or person in charge of the property is responsible for making sure that a crime scene is cleaned by professionals after it has been processed for evidence and released by the police or coroner’s office.
This work must be carried out in a manner that is compliant with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
Your cleaning company should be able to help you with all of these things, as well as any other paperwork you need to complete after the incident. When dealing with government agencies, it’s always best to complete paperwork thoroughly and on time.
It’s also a good idea to have someone on the cleanup crew who knows what they’re doing. If personnel are inexperienced, they could easily make mistakes that could delay your cleanup.
The health and safety of our clients and employees is of the utmost importance to Quidos Cleaning Services. We take our responsibility in this area very seriously and ensure that our team is fully compliant with all relevant health and safety regulations. Our team has undergone comprehensive training to allow us to meet all required standards for health and safety.
Our staff are also vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Tetanus, and follow our RAMS (risk assessment and management system) with care and precision. Additionally, our team are trained in: UK Commercial Training Decontamination and Infection Control Course, BICS Control of Cross Contamination, KSI Certificate of Training in Sharps Awareness.
The team responsible for decontamination must also be familiar with the relevant documentation:
- Exposure Control Plan
- Hazard Communication Program
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessment and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Task Risk Assessment (RA)
- Point of Work Risk assessment (POWRA)
- Method Statement (MS) or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Manufacturer’s Operating Instructions Of Equipment Used
Any incident that involves a biohazard should be meticulously documented as part of a comprehensive health and safety plan. The plan should assess the risk of infection from exposure to body fluids and detail the procedure for decontaminating the area and removing the hazardous waste.
It is of utmost importance to also complete a risk assessment to establish how likely your premises are to require crime or trauma scene cleaning.
Concluding words: You’re not alone
If you’re the victim of a crime, you probably feel like you’re alone in the situation. You might feel like you don’t know where to turn for help or what to do next.
Your first priority should be to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Once you’ve secured yourself and your family, you should consider hiring a professional cleaning company like Quidos Cleaning Services to assist with cleanup.
Call us today on 01917318555 to discuss your requirements.
Quidos Cleaning Services can handle the difficult task of cleaning up the aftermath of the incident. You don’t have to go through this difficult time on your own.
Why choose Quidos Cleaning Services Crime Scene cleanup service?
There are several reasons to hire a professional cleaning service to deal with a crime scene cleanup, rather than to try to clean it yourself:
- Firstly, the psychological impact of a traumatic incident can be significant, and it is unreasonable to expect regular staff to deal with this type of situation.
- Secondly, there may be financial, legal, or regulatory repercussions from cleaning a crime scene yourself – for example, if it invalidates insurance cover.
- Thirdly, a professional cleaning company will possess the expertise and resources to advise and support you in order to expedite and ensure a full recovery from an incident.
- The correct methods will be used to restore any damaged structural elements or furnishings, and if they must be replaced, we will provide you with the documentation you will need to make an insurance claim.
- By ensuring that bio-hazards are removed by professionals, you can help avoid long-term issues such as infestations.
- Experienced crime scene cleaners like Quidos Cleaning Services will have the necessary training to deal with harmful hazards while also taking measures to protect the health and wellbeing of those around them.
We can provide you with the help that you need to move on from this traumatic event.
When you require a crime scene cleaning service, you can expect the following six things from Quidos Cleaning Services:
- A rapid response is imperative. Our team will arrive on site within hours to survey the damage and begin formulating a plan.
- Working closely with your crisis management team, we will determine the best course of action to keep your business running, if possible, while we clean and sanitise the affected areas.
- Every step of the cleaning process will be well-documented and tailored to the needs of your insurers or loss assessors.
- We understand your business processes and will always adhere to any quality standards.
- Our teams will always act with the utmost discretion, professionalism and sensitivity, even when under the media spotlight or in public situations.
- We will always display the utmost respect for victims and compassion for affected staff and members of the public.
Here are some services that can also assist you:
Confidential Help & Support
Victim Support www.victimsupport.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement www.cruse.org.uk – Call 0808 808 1677
Hope Again– young people living after loss www.hopeagain.org.uk
At a Loss – Signposting the bereaved to Support www.ataloss.org
Samaritans – www.samaritans.org – Call 116 123
