In the aftermath of a violent crime or unattended death, many people are shocked to learn that the police and paramedics have no legal responsibility to clean and sanitize the affected area. If a tragedy like this occurs in your home or on your property, it’s left to you, the home or property owner, to clean up. But this doesn’t mean you’re alone.
Technical cleaning services are there to help when you need them most. With intensive training and certification, technical cleaning teams have the skills, equipment, and experience needed to safely and effectively clean an area that has been exposed to biohazardous materials.
In this blog, we’re taking a closer look at technical cleaning services, defining what they are, and outlining the most common technical cleaning scenarios. We then discuss the risks involved for someone who may attempt to clean up a biohazardous area all on their own.
Valor Technical Cleaning is a leading technical cleaning service located in Colorado. As an experienced and veteran-owned company, we specialize in a range of technical cleaning services, including crime scene cleanup, unattended death cleanup, blood cleanup, and more. We understand the complexity, detailed focus, and care required for these traumatic situations. That’s why we approach each job with professionalism, efficiency, and empathy.
If you have a technical cleaning problem, let us help you find the solution.
WHAT ARE TECHNICAL CLEANING SERVICES?
Technical cleaning requires much more than some rubber gloves and a mop. Technical cleaning services are designed to respond to the most serious and hazardous situations that require sanitation and thorough cleaning. Technical cleaning teams have the tools and personal safety equipment required to safely and effectively clean and sanitize the affected area. Additionally, these professionals understand the sensitivity and care that is needed to work on these types of jobs.
Here’s a brief look at some of the most common technical cleaning services:
· Crime scene cleanup: if a violent crime occurs in your home or property, there’s usually blood and other biohazardous materials present. Since the police and paramedics won’t be cleaning up the site, you’ll need a technical cleaning team for crime scene cleanup jobs to return your space to a safe condition.
· Biohazard cleanup: biohazardous waste is any substance that contains infectious materials that can be harmful to your health. Biohazardous materials include blood, bodily fluids, chemical spills, sewage, and animal waste.
· Blood cleanup: bloodborne pathogens pose one of the greatest risks when cleaning up in the aftermath of a violent crime or death.
· Unattended death cleanup: in the event of a suicide or other unattended deaths, the body will decompose, which leads to health risks if you attempt to clean the area. Not only that, but the emotional trauma of cleaning after death should not be faced alone.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SELF CLEANING?
Technical cleaning services exist for a reason. Without the proper safety equipment, tools, and specialized knowledge, it can be dangerous to attempt these cleaning tasks on your own. Not only do you run the risk of harming your own health, but you may even make the situation worse and further damage the exposed area.
Below, we run through the primary risks of self cleaning:
1. Health risks.
Risking your health and wellbeing is the primary hazard associated with cleaning an exposed area by yourself. Being exposed to biohazardous materials, such as bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluids, can harm your health and lead to various illnesses. The health risk is even more challenging for someone to assess because many of these contaminants may not be visible to the naked eye.
When we discuss health risks, it’s important to understand the specific dangers posed by bloodborne pathogens. The most serious threats include:
Hepatitis B: This virus can survive outside the body for up to seven days and remains infectious during that entire time. Hepatitis B attacks the liver and can lead to chronic infection, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. The virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted through even microscopic amounts of infected blood.
Hepatitis C: While less hardy than Hepatitis B, this virus can still survive on surfaces for several weeks under the right conditions. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States and can remain dormant in the body for decades before causing serious liver damage.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): Though HIV doesn’t survive as long outside the body as hepatitis viruses, it can still remain viable in dried blood for several days under certain conditions. HIV attacks the immune system and, without proper treatment, can develop into AIDS.
Tuberculosis (TB): In cases involving respiratory fluids or where TB may be present, the bacteria can become airborne and pose serious respiratory risks. TB can be particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
These pathogens don’t just pose risks during initial exposure, they can also contaminate surfaces, fabrics, and porous materials in ways that aren’t immediately visible to untrained individuals.
2. Property damage.
Following a violent crime, there’s often damage done to furniture, flooring, or even the structure of the building itself. By attempting a cleanup on your own, you run the risk of causing additional damage to your property. Without the proper tools and experience, you may end up doing more harm than good.
3. Complete sanitization.
How do you know if you’ve completely cleaned and sanitized the entire area that was exposed? Even if you’ve cleaned off all the visible contaminants, bloodborne pathogens and other contaminants may still be present. By failing to completely sanitize the affected space, you risk exposing yourself and others to these contaminants. Technical cleaning companies are equipped with the tools needed to completely clean and sanitize the entire area.
4. Lacking the proper safety equipment.
Let’s be honest: how many of us really have the necessary personal safety equipment necessary to clean a biohazardous area? In most cases, you won’t have the right safety equipment and purchasing everything you need can quickly get expensive. By working with a technical cleaning company, you won’t have to worry about purchasing any safety equipment or cleaning tools. You’ll feel assured knowing that a team of professionals has this all taken care of.
Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
Professional biohazard cleanup requires specific safety equipment that goes far beyond basic household protection:
- Full-body chemical resistant suits: These must meet OSHA standards for bloodborne pathogen protection and be impervious to liquid penetration
- N95 or P100 respirators: Depending on the situation, professionals may need respiratory protection against airborne pathogens or odor-causing particles
- Double-layer nitrile gloves: Standard latex or household gloves provide insufficient protection against punctures and chemical exposure
- Chemical-resistant boots with covers: Footwear must be completely sealed and disposable to prevent contamination tracking
Eye protection and face shields: Mucous membranes in the eyes are particularly vulnerable to bloodborne pathogen exposure
5. Exposure to unnecessary grief and trauma.
And finally, being forced to clean up a biohazardous scene may expose you to unnecessary grief and trauma. Especially if you have been exposed to a violent crime or the loss of a loved one, cleaning up the resulting contaminants is the last thing you should be asked to take on.
Not only are there safety risks to be concerned about, but confronting the scene of the crime or death can make it more challenging to work through the trauma of the incident. When a professional technical cleaning service is employed, your space will be returned to normal quickly and effectively, allowing you to then begin the healing process.
As you can see, there are many risks to attempting a biohazardous cleanup all by yourself. Lacking the proper training, equipment, and experience, you may even end up making the situation worse and you may not entirely sanitize the entire area. Make sure the job is done right by calling on an experienced technical cleaning team.
Psychological and Emotional Trauma Risks
The psychological impact of attempting DIY biohazard cleanup cannot be overstated. These situations create layers of trauma that affect both untrained individuals and even professional cleanup workers.
Trauma Risks for Family Members and Property Owners
Being directly involved in cleaning areas where violence or death occurred can create lasting psychological scars. This secondary trauma often manifests as:
- Persistent intrusive thoughts and flashbacks
- Sleep disturbances and nightmares
- Avoidance behaviors and anxiety
- Depression and prolonged grief reactions
- Post-traumatic stress symptoms
Complicated Grief
When family members are forced to handle cleanup themselves, it can interfere with the natural grieving process. The graphic nature of the cleanup can create traumatic memories that overshadow positive memories of their loved one.
Family Relationship Strain
The emotional burden of cleanup often creates tension within families, as different members cope differently with trauma exposure.
Protecting Families from Additional Trauma:
We understand that families are already dealing with unimaginable loss. Our compassionate approach ensures that you’re shielded from additional traumatic exposure while we handle the technical aspects of cleanup with professionalism and care.
As you can see, there are many risks to attempting a biohazardous cleanup all by yourself. Lacking the proper training, equipment, and experience, you may even end up making the situation worse and you may not entirely sanitize the entire area. Make sure the job is done right by calling on an experienced technical cleaning team.
Get on the Road to Recovery with Valor
While we always hope it will never happen to us, violent crimes and unexpected deaths occur every day. When one of these incidents occurs on your property, you may be left to deal with the resulting mess that can be hazardous to clean. This is why technical cleaning services exist in the first place. If your property has been exposed to biohazardous materials, such as blood or other bodily fluids, you’ll need the experience and equipment of a team of professional technical cleaners.
Not only will professionals finish the job more quickly and effectively, but they’ll also reduce the risks that come with attempting to self clean a hazardous area. Attempting a job like this on your own exposes you to multiple hazards, including health risks, the potential to cause more property damage, and exposure to additional grief and trauma.
Valor Technical Cleaning services is a veteran-owned and operated company that understands the emotional burden and demanding conditions of crime scene, trauma, biohazard, and other technical decontamination jobs. Our professional team of GBAC certified cleaners will treat you with compassion and respect while offering you access to expert technical cleaning services that keep you and your loved ones safe.
If you are ever in need of a technical cleaning solution, know that you’re not alone. Feel free to contact us at any time for more information. We can also schedule a technical cleaning appointment ASAP. Valor Technical Cleaning can help ease your emotional burden and return your home or office to a place of comfort and safety. Let our team of professionals help you on the road to recovery.