How to Become a Crime Scene Cleanup Person

Cleaning up a crime scene is a nasty but necessary job.

Crime scene technicians will collect the necessary evidence from a crime scene, but call in a crime scene cleanup person to get rid of the dirty work. Common cleanup scenes involve methamphetamine labs and violent death. If you are planning to become a crime scene cleaner, you will need to understand that crime scenes are locations with stains, bodily fluids and smells. People who have a queasy stomach or are easy to upset are not suited for this line of work.

Instructions

1. Complete a crime scene certificate program. Going through a crime scene program will allow students to receive a certificate for completing courses and provide training for taking the test to receive a license. A crime scene license is not a requirement in all states, but a recommendation to prevent losing any job opportunities. Courses are available through community colleges, online programs and technical colleges. Students who attend a crime scene cleaning program will learn techniques for cleaning different body fluids, removing the smell of death, cleaning up after a fire and dealing with hazardous chemicals. Crime scene certificate programs usually cover the necessary skills for becoming a cleanup person.

2. Invest in quality equipment for cleaning a scene. Crime scene cleaners will need equipment including carpet stain removers, masks, steam cleaners, high-powered exhaust fans and powerful chemical cleaners. You want to invest in quality equipment because you'll have to clean numerous locations.

3. Learn how to communicate with traumatized and bereaved individuals. Many people are not aware that police officers don't clean up crime scenes at private homes. Family members are usually left to deal with the aftermath of a murder. Being exposed to a loved one's blood is extremely hard for even the strongest person. A crime scene cleanup person will have to deal with people who are in shock and have suffered loss. Bereaving individuals are not at their best, and the cleaning company needs to be diplomatic to make a business arrangement. Professionals working in the crime scene industry can take psychology courses to learn how to effectively communicate with people who have suffered a loss.

4. Obtain background experience relating to crime scene cleaning. Crime scene cleaning is not the typical job for the average person and requires a thick skin. You will need background experience to be successful in the crime scene industry. Background experience for a cleanup person includes jobs such as emergency medical technicians, police officers and cleaning professionals.

5. Become an ABRA member. ABRA is the American Bio Recovery Association, which is an international nonprofit organization for crime scene cleanup professionals. The organization encourages members to uphold ethical, technical and educational guidelines in the biohazard industry. ABRA is also a way to gain credibility for a crime scene cleanup company. The organization provides training and a directory for gaining customers. You will have the opportunity to network with people in the biohazard industry and learn techniques for different crime scenes.

References

• Affordable Labs: How Crime Scene Cleanup Works
• Act Remediation: Services
• Accelerated Bioscene Cleanup: Crime Scene Cleanup
• American Biorecovery: Are You Using a Certified ABRA Member for Your Project?
• Palliative.org: Coping With Grief