Written by Kevin Fullerton.
You’ve seen it on the streets, blocked by police tape reading, “POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS”. Crowds gather around. Blue lights flicker intermittently, on and off. You know something dreadful has happened – but you don’t consider what happens next.
After a horrible crime has been committed, the victims are bundled into ambulances and the perpetrators thrust into police vans, the cleaning crews arrive – and they’ve got a tough task ahead of them.
These crews are never out of work – with more than 1.9 million violent crimes in England and Wales, these teams of cleaning professionals are rolled out regularly to prevent infection from blood, fluids, faeces or other harmful chemicals.
Blood fluid clean up, in particular, is vital to keeping the public safe from major health scares.
Yet these unsung heroes of the health industry have one of the toughest jobs there is, with little recognition beyond a polite thank you from nearby property owners.
Clear-up crews have stranger, bleaker locations to clean, too. Their jobs can range from the deconstruction of meth labs, making hazardous murder scenes re-habitable or attending to road accidents where the carnage can be difficult to stomach.
Indeed, it’s not a job for faint of heart. Those with a steely mind are best suited to this job – but what can they reap from it?
The clean rewards of a filthy job
For a start, the pay can be great if you’re willing to muck in. One US crime scene cleaning company, Hayden Construction Co., has made amassed a fortune from effective clean-ups.
But while steeliness is a must, your manner should never be curt.
A crime scene is a violent, horrid mess until you and your team enter to remedy the situation. Within more jaded minds, the cleaning area can be a place for jokes and japes. However, a certain degree of respect is necessary.
Like a funeral director, solemnity is appropriate when dealing with troubling situations.
The crime scene cleaning company that’ll be invited on to other projects is the one that performs their jobs with efficiency and professionalism.
This means a lot more than showing up with a mop and bucket. The chemicals necessary to clear away hazardous material can be complex, dangerous and require specialist training to properly operate.
Training schemes are, however, available from licensing boards and will give your business a heightened legitimacy.
Purchasing pricey chemicals, hiring a crack squad and undergoing the correct training for licenses can be a costly endeavour – but if your company can build a reputation for itself, it’s an effort that’ll pay off.
So, the next time you see “POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS” on the street, consider the unsung heroes saving the day in their own way.
