The life of a crime scene cleaner might not be glamorous, but it’s well-paid. These folks swoop in after the CSI-type stuff is over, and transform crime scenes back into homes, places of business, and public spaces.
(Photo Credit: Max_Knight/Flickr)
Crime scene cleaners may, over the course of their careers, assist law enforcement agencies, social service agencies as well as private property owners. The events leading up to the need for crime scene cleaners are distressing, but the work is necessary and often appreciated.
The job requires more than just good cleaning skills. Crime scene cleaners are outfitted in heavy, hot Hazmat suits, complete with special boots that resist chemical burns and heavy-duty respirator systems. All of this is for good reason. Crime scenes may be contaminated with combustible chemicals, poisons such as anthrax, as well as bodily fluids which may or may not carry communicable diseases. There may be visible as well as invisible toxins in the air.
It goes without saying that decomposing bodies or loose body parts must be removed from crime scenes and disposed of. CNN Money quoted Ron Gospodarski, president of Bio-Recovery Corp. in New York City, as saying, “…the medical examiner takes the big pieces, the crime-scene cleaners take the rest.”
Higher education is not job requirement for crime scene cleaners, and many do not have a college diploma. However, crime scene cleaners often must take, as a prerequisite to employment, certification courses in the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standards and procedures for cleaning crime scenes and dealing with and disposing of hazardous materials.
The hours vary, so having a flexible schedule is a good thing. You may work a few hours one day, then not work again until next week, when you put in three 16-hour days. It really depends upon what is happening in the area.
If you want to earn six figures and can handle the job of cleaning crime scenes, it is best to live in or near a big city. It’s not the most pleasant thing to think about, but the big messes tend to happen in areas that are relatively crowded.
There is another, more human side to the job of crime scene cleaner. Cleaners make life a little bit easier for survivors, who are often traumatized and understandably cannot deal with the necessary cleaning. Crime scene cleaner is a vital service, and a degree of compassion is an element of this job.
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Dear Tom. Youre an idiot and dont have any idea what people these days have to do to get a job. Baby boomers wont retire or die quick enough to open spaces in jobs and theres an over population issue. Like a major one. Id like to see you say this isnt a real job after a family member is murdered or commits suicide. Fuck you Tom. Get your head out of your ass
Please send more information on biohazard cleanup in the Dallas Tx area
Hi to you all. I have my own pest control company which has been going now for over 3 years. I got involved with the trauma side of things due to the body fluids attracting insects. I found it fascinating watching these guys in white suits, basically cleaning. Never really done anything about it for a little while but it was always on my mind niggling away as some things do. Eventually, “yes” I done a course, but I did… Read more »
I’m currently training for this field of work and honestly I feel kinda offended by your comment.Considering I’m 21! Tom
I have been providing cleaning services for clients of all needs for the past 7 years (from semi-bad to extreme hording cases including human feces and skeletal remains, and i do it very well! What i am interested in is Bio Recovery specialties. I’ve dated morticians so cadavers are not new to me nor is the decomposition. Can you refer me to where i would go in Ontario Canada to apply for a position with a reputable Bio Recovery company,… Read more »
I’ve been working a funeral home for the last two yrs.trying to earn an make enuff for my little family.well not going good yet haven’t had a opportunity to move up.been really interesting or amazed an wanted to know what kind of steps I need to do to go farther in a career I think I might like.I’m kinda fascinated with the dead an crime stuff.
I notice that the first commenter’s name (marc) is a link to a company offering to hire and train crime scene cleaners; in other words, a spam link. Seems like one of the companies that Tom is talking about.
In the author’s defense, I didn’t read this as a “get rich quick” scheme. She’s just reporting on sourced information.
as a crime scene cleaner, I am still amused at articles like these touting how much you can make doing this line of work. Should not be seen as a get-rich quick scheme as so many believe.
I have been providing cleaning services for clients of all needs for the past 7 years (from semi-bad to extreme hording cases including human feces and skeletal remains, and i do it very well! What i am interested in is Bio Recovery specialties. I’ve dated morticians so cadavers are not new to me nor is the decomposition. Can you refer me to where i would go in Ontario Canada to apply for a position with a reputable Bio Recovery company,… Read more »
I could do this American job from Mexico !
It is funny to read these articles. Ten years ago you could make a good living. The only guys making money are those peddling their training classes. Everyone is cleaning up scenes now. Almost none are trained or qualified, but are willing to do it. It’s unfortunate since these companies do more harm than good. Many of the big franchise janitorial / restoration companies have the money to advertise so they get most of the jobs. They send some clueless… Read more »