How To Become A Crime Scene Cleaner

  CONTENTS

• What are crime scene cleaners?
• Do you need qualifications to become a crime scene cleaner?
• What key skills and qualities are required for crime scene cleaning?
• What you need to do to become a crime scene cleaner
• Get in touch

It is often assumed that the police and emergency services clean up crime scenes following an incident. But it falls to crime scene cleaners to make affected areas safe again. The job is dangerous and can take a toll on your mental health, but it can equally be rewarding to do a difficult job.

At ICE Cleaning, we offer rapid-response crime scene cleaning services. Our technicians are accredited by the National Association of Crime Scene Cleaners and are experts in the handling and disposal of biohazards. They can be on-site in a matter of hours in an emergency.

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Keep reading to find out what you need to do to become a crime scene cleaner.

What are crime scene cleaners?

Also known as trauma cleaners, they are specialist cleaners that clean up the hazardous materials normally found at the scene of a crime. Crime scene cleaners do not just make the area look clean, but they decontaminate the area so it is sanitary.

Trauma cleaning is a broader term that includes the clean-up of incidents like car accidents, undiscovered deaths, and suicides. Crime scene cleaners complete a range of different tasks depending on the crime and what is at the scene, including:

• Removing weapons and drug paraphernalia
• Cleaning up blood, bodily fluids, and human waste
• Getting rid of clinical waste
• Clearing up any debris
• Disposing of biohazardous materials

Only professional trauma cleaners should attempt to clean up crime scenes as they are very dangerous to be exposed to.

Without the right personal protective equipment (PPE), people could put themselves in close contact with biohazards and are at risk of serious health problems. They probably will not have the specialist products and equipment to properly sanitise the area, either.

Do you need qualifications to become a crime scene cleaner?

There are no formal education requirements, like a degree. However, you will need to have completed an approved crime scene or forensic cleaning course.

These courses cover essential topics like PPE, using a fogging machine, bloodborne pathogens, and medical waste handling. You should know any related regulations, too, like how to dispose of biohazardous materials, as well as health and safety procedures, such as risk analysis.

What key skills and qualities are required for crime scene cleaning?

• A strong stomach: you will regularly be exposed to upsetting and unpleasant scenes.
• Attention to detail: if you do not remove all the biohazards and fully decontaminate the area, you might leave behind a dangerous environment.
• Compassion: trauma scenes are normally associated with very sad circumstances. You must be sensitive to the loved ones of the victim and support them throughout the process.
• Flexible: you may be required during unsociable hours due to the emergency nature of crime scene cleaning.
• Physically fit: you might have to perform a lot of manual tasks for long periods of time while wearing full PPE.

What you need to do to become a crime scene cleaner

1. Complete a course in trauma or crime scene cleaning.
2. Get an entry-level job in the field with a company that is authorised to handle the clean-up of biohazards. Here, you can gain experience and receive on-the-job training.
3. Pass a background check. You will need to access police and crime scenes, as well as sensitive information, so only reliable and trustworthy people can be considered for this role.
4. Enhance your skillset by doing additional courses on specialist topics like sharps removal, risk assessments, and hoarder clean-up. Our technicians, for example, receive training on a range of topics, including how to support the family and friends of the victim throughout the cleanup process.

Crime scene cleaning is a tough role, and not for the faint of heart. But it can also be a very rewarding career as you protect public health and make people’s properties safe.

Get in touch

In the event you require crime scene cleaning services, our technicians will arrive discreetly in unmarked vans, thoroughly clean up the biohazards, dispose of them, and decontaminate the affected area. Our technicians also provide broader trauma cleaning services, including undiscovered death and traffic accident clean-up. 

To find out more about our trauma clean-up services, get in touch with our team on 0208 066 0360 or at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk for a free, no-obligation quote. We are available nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year.