:Crime scene cleanup

Television productions like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation have added to the popularity of the term "crime scene cleanup". Australia, Canada and England have added it to their professional cleaning terminology.{{cite web |url=http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/005007-5503-eng.shtml |title= Satisfying Justice: A compendium of initiatives, programs and legislative measures|author= |date=15 Aug 2008 |website=csc-scc.gc.ca |publisher= Correctional Services Canada}} As a profession, it is growing in popularity because of media exposure and the growth of training programs worldwide.{{cite news |last=Gregory |first= Ted|date=16 Aug 2016 |title=Business is booming for crime-scene cleaners |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-crime-scene-cleaners-met-20160814-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location= Chicago, IL, USA}}

The generic terms for crime scene cleanup include trauma cleaning, crime and trauma scene decontamination ("CTS Decon"), biohazard remediation, biohazard removal, and blood cleanup. The state of California refers to individuals who practice this profession as Valid Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioners.{{cite web |url=https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/MedicalWaste/Trauma-Scene.aspx |title=Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioners |author= |date=21 March 2018 |website=cdph.ca.gov |publisher= California Department of Public Health}}

Crime scene cleanup includes blood spills following an assault, homicide or suicide, tear gas residue, and vandalism removal/cleanup. There are many different sub-segments, named primarily after additional collateral, contingency, or preconditions, regarding the presence of non-blood borne organics, toxic irritants (e.g., tear gas) or disease vectors. However, it is the legality of charging a fee for mitigating potentially harmful biohazard situations that differentiates a registered crime or trauma practitioner from any general restoration, carpet cleaning, janitorial or housekeeping service.{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/aj-agrawal/3-dirty-markets-that-produce-big-time-dollars.html|title=3 Dirty Markets That Produce Big Time Dollars|date=22 January 2016|access-date=30 January 2016|work=Inc.com|author=AJ Agarwal}}

Human blood can carry deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.{{cite web |title=Blood Borne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C |url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/default.html |website=CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=5 August 2019}} When cleaning up blood, it's important to treat every blood spill as if the substance is infected. By using these precautions it will provide an extra layer of safety.

Crime scene cleanup began primarily as a local or regional small business activity but maturity and consolidation has created some larger entities in the industry; only a few nationwide companies exist, although some national carpet cleaning and restoration company franchises have added crime scene cleanup and biohazard removal to their services.

While the field of crime scene cleanup is not specifically regulated as a class, most, if not all, of the activities performed by biohazard cleanup teams in the United States are regulated or fall under best practice guidelines from governing and advisory bodies such as OSHA, NIOSH, DOT, and EPA. Those who hire a crime scene cleanup company should ensure they are properly trained in applicable federal and state regulations and can provide documentation of proper biohazardous waste disposal from licensed medical waste transportation and disposal companies. The client should confirm that the company is registered with the state Department of Health in California, Florida, and Georgia. A few states, such as California and Georgia [https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20192020/183548 (Georgia's Law)], are the only states that explicitly require registration or licensing for crime scene cleanup. Other states may require biohazardous waste transport permits from the DOT.

In the US, OSHA requires limiting exposure to blood-borne pathogens as much as possible due to the assumption that the blood and biological material is infectious. Most actions to limit exposure fall under cross-contamination protocols, which provide that certain actions be taken to avoid further spreading the contamination throughout otherwise clean areas. Before beginning work on any trauma scene, CTS De-con companies should have an exposure control plan. Under employee safety and cross-contamination protocols, OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) [https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/hazardous-waste-operations 29 CFR 1910.120] and Bloodborne pathogens [https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1030 29 CFR 1910.1030] regulations pertain to bioremediation.

In the UK, biohazards are regulated in part by HSE.{{cite web|url=http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/|title=Biosafety and microbiological containment|work=hse.gov.uk}}

Canada has published Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines.{{cite web|url=http://canadianbiosafetystandards.collaboration.gc.ca/|title=Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines|work=collaboration.gc.ca}}

The crime scene cleaners' work begins when the coroner's office or other officials, or government body "releases the scene" to the owner or other responsible parties. Only when the investigation has completely terminated on the contaminated scene may the cleaning companies begin their task.

Standard operating procedures for the crime scene cleanup field often include methods for decontaminating internal and external environments. Universal precautions recognized worldwide are the cautionary rule-of-thumb for this field of professional cleaning. For example, the personnel involved in the cleanup are expected to wear shoe covers, liquid impermeable coveralls, and protective eyewear.{{Cite book|title=A Practical Guide for the Law Enforcement and Security Manager: A Theoretical and Experiential Approach|last=Smith|first=Jim|publisher=Charles Thomas Publishers|year=2004|isbn=0398074623|location=Springfield|pages=119}} Wearing protective gloves and the use of specifically rated cleaning agents are also mandatory policies to ensure that the infectious agents such as hepatitis and HIV are killed.Smith, p. 119. There are organizations that stress the avoidance of cleaning areas that officers cannot properly see to avoid accidental wounds such as needle punctures.

Cleaning methods for removing and sanitizing biohazards vary from practitioner to practitioner. Some organizations are working to create a "Standard of Clean," such as ISSA's K12 Standard, which includes the use of quantifiable testing methods such as ATP testing.

The American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA){{cite web|url=http://americanbiorecovery.org/}} is the 3rd party credentialing body and membership organization for companies that specialize in this niche industry. Bio Recovery covers a bit more than the clean up of body fluids. Bio Recovery is the act of assessing risk, mitigating threats and remediating conditions resulting from the release of biological hazards. This may include crime and trauma mitigation (bloodborne and body fluids), suicide cleanup, outbreak response, zoonotic diseases, foodborne diseases, public health threats, illicit drugs and clandestine drug labs. ABRAs certification credentialing platform requires applicants to obtain prerequisite requirements prior to sitting for an independent exam. Questions on the exams are derived from the information in the required prerequisite and demonstrate retention of industry knowledge providing a high level of credibility. Member Companies of ABRA are held to the highest international standards for ethics and professionalism.

Three levels of Credentialing are available for industry career advancement from the American Bio Recovery Association include the Certified Bio Recovery Technician (CBRT), Certified Bio Recovery Supervisor (CBRS), and the Certified Bio Recovery Master (CBRM).

The Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Certification (IICRC) is the Standards development organization for the cleaning industry. It created the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup. The second revision is now released. The ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard defines criteria and methodology used by the technician for inspecting and investigating blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) contamination and establishing work plans and procedures. The Standard describes the procedures to be followed by professionals and the precautions to be taken when performing trauma and crime scene cleanup regardless of surface, item, or location. This standard assumes that all scenes have been released by law enforcement or regulatory agencies. The standard does not address "how" to cleanup crime scenes. It clearly states, “The S540 does not intend to attempt to teach remediation procedures, but rather provides the principles and foundation for understanding proper remediation practices. The S540 is not a substitute for remediation training and certification programs that are necessary to obtain competence in the field.”{{cite web | url=https://iicrc.org/s540/ | title=S540 - Iicrc | date=22 December 2020 }}

The IICRC certification course in crime scene cleanup is the Trauma & Crime Scene Cleanup Technician, known by TCST. After completing a TCST preparation course,{{cite web | url=https://learntorestore.com/iicrc-tcst/ | title=IICRC TCST - Trauma & Crime Scene Cleanup Technician | date=20 February 2021 }} students may take the certification exam.

International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA){{cite web|url=http://www.issa.com/|title=ISSA › The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association|author=ISSA|work=issa.com}} is a global standards body and trade organization of professional janitorial and cleaning professionals.

Crime scene cleanup as a profession has been featured sporadically in popular culture and the media.{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/553028/secrets-crime-scene-cleaners|title=13 Secrets of Crime Scene Cleaners|date=2018-08-03|access-date=2018-11-20|language=en}} It first showed up in films when Quentin Tarantino produced Curdled, and later in films such as the Samuel L. Jackson film Cleaner, and the Amy Adams and Emily Blunt film Sunshine Cleaning. On television, it has been featured in a smattering of documentaries aired on the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel, as well as reality series such as Grim Sweepers. The Korean drama series Move to Heaven follows a pair of cleaners who also examine the lives of the deceased they are hired to clean up after by collecting their personal belongings.

In print and online, the task has been the subject of Alan Emmins' book Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1876549,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205112142/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1876549,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2009|title=How to Clean Up a Crime Scene|date=3 February 2009|magazine=Time}} and in a piece on "six figure jobs" that appeared on CNN.{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/02/28/pf/sixfigs_eleven/index.htm|title=Six-figure jobs: Crime-scene cleaner|date=15 April 2005|website=CNN Money|access-date=2017-12-01}} Another book is Aftermath, Inc.: Cleaning Up after CSI Goes Home.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyowrVlO5pIC|title=Aftermath, Inc|isbn=9781592402960 |last1=Reavill |first1=Gil |year=2007 |publisher=Penguin }} An extensive article on all aspects of crime scene cleanup was published in the forensic science section of Discovery's How Stuff Works.{{cite web|url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/crime-scene-clean-up.htm|title=How Crime-scene Clean-up Works|work=HowStuffWorks|date=6 April 2006 }}

In crime scene cleanup video games, the main objective in the game is the process of the cleanup. An example is Viscera Cleanup Detail.{{Cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/246900/|title=Viscera Cleanup Detail on Steam|website=store.steampowered.com|access-date=2016-12-20}} Viscera Cleanup Detail is a PC game distributed through Steam that enables players to clean up blood and body remains after a Sci-Fi battle has occurred on a space station. Another example of crime scene cleanup in video games is Safeguard.{{Cite web|url=http://www.safeguard-game.com/|title=Safeguard: A Virtual Crime Scene Experience|website=www.safeguard-game.com|access-date=2016-12-20}} Safeguard takes a more realistic and educational approach, enabling users to learn about the hazards of crime scene cleanup, as well as the equipment and tools used.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/14/safeguard-a-virtual-reality-crime-scene-cleanup-game-you-will/|title=Public Access - Safeguard - a Virtual Reality Crime Scene Cleanup Game You will Love|website=Engadget|access-date=2016-12-20}} Safeguard also uses virtual reality to immerse users in the crime scene environment.

Some fictional depictions show crime scene clean-up involving criminal organizations. Crime fiction sometimes refers to the term "cleaner" as an expert in destroying and removing evidence, usually working for criminals. For example, if a murder has been committed, a cleaner is contracted to remove all traces of the crime as if it never happened.{{Cite book|title=Government Versus Organized Crime|last=Marion|first=Nancy|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2016|isbn=978-0131724068|location=Upper Saddle River}}

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Category:Forensic occupations