To become a crime scene cleaner, you’re not required to hold a college degree or certification. Within the crime scene cleanup industry, there is no such thing as a national certification. Instead, many companies offer the certification and training which many technicians have.
If you want to pursue your career as a crime scene cleaner, of course, you really need to know what requirements and qualifications you should meet. Thankfully! This post will show you the requirements and qualifications to apply for a crime scene cleaner. Okay, let’s dive into our post below!
Requirements and Qualifications to Become a Crime Scene Cleaner
You may know that a crime scene is a hard location to work in, in terms of both physical safety and mental wellbeing. Of course, there are certain requirements and qualifications you should meet to become a successful crime scene cleaner.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Education
The only academic degree that you must have for most crime scene cleanup businesses is a high school diploma or GED. Well, it is because on-the-job training is available for those technicians.
In fact, any reputable companies will require the technicians to gain certifications in subjects such as hazardous materials transportation, blood-borne pathogens, airborne pathogens, personal protective equipment training, and hazardous waste generation.
2. Personal Background
Technicians must be physically fit, since it can be a strenuous job. Well, there is a lot of manual labor to be completed, from moving furniture to days-long cleaning jobs. It is known that most companies will check for a clean criminal background and of course, you should pass a drug test. Well, random drug tests should also be required to maintain your position.
3. Experience
That said, the crime scene cleaners are not required to have a background in crime scene cleanup. However, if you have some experience with emergency medicine forensics or public health, the skills will be extremely beneficial. That’s also a point plus if you are understood for using a variety of tools and machinery to complete work-related tasks.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Extensive Training
As a crime scene cleaner, you need to know how to approach a crime scene clean up safely from start to finish. It means that you have obtained the training in the use of analysis techniques to figure out health and safety dangers such as pathogens, as well as the use of industrial chemicals to disinfect biohazards.
Although there are no set industry training programmes for crime scene clean-ups, all employees should be trained in the use of their equipment and have knowledge of the legalities behind their work including the knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
2. Extensive Cleaning Experience
Crime scene cleaning is not an entry-level cleaning job. Of course, this sort of work needs an impressive level of composure and experience. They really require extensive experience in the handling of industrial chemicals and also experience working in traumatic locations and with bereaved, often shocked families and friends.
3. Personal Protective Equipment
It is such an obligation for a crime scene cleaner to have access to and be qualified to use a wide range of PPE, ranging from rubber gloves to full-face respirators. Of course, they should be trained in the use of their PPE, to make sure that it is worn safely and correctly throughout the clean-up operation.
4. Stamina
You may already know that the job of a crime scene cleaner is physically challenging and of course, requires you to wear biohazard suits, respirators, full face masks and multiple sets of gloves.
It’s an important requirement of any crime scene cleanup to follow stringent health and safety regulations, since there is a wide range of dangers that should be identified and removed. Basically, a crime scene clean up will involve removing deadly objects and weapons, as well as dealing with any potential infected sharpies and blood or fluid-borne viruses which can linger on surfaces for days.
Well, any crime scene clean-up will also require biohazard waste to be disposed of legally and safely. So, it is very important that a clean-up technician can carry out the removal of waste effectively.
Additionally, a crime scene cleaner also needs strict health and safety procedures including support for tb staff involved and detailed risk analysis.
5. Integrity and Commitment
Since the customers believe crime scene cleaners with their personal property, home and safety, of course, integrity is a must. A lot of crime scene cleanup companies will require random drug testing and allow candidates to pass a background check.
It is so normal if families will need crime scene cleaners during odd hours. Thus, the crime scene cleaners must be dedicated to the work and have flexible availability.
6. Attention to Detail
It is known that crime scene cleaners will result in some health risks. It is a must to follow protocol and pay close attention to detail.
Well, those are some requirements and qualifications that you have to meet if you want to pursue your career as a crime scene cleaner.
Requirements of a Crime Scene Cleanup Company
In addition to knowing the requirements and qualifications that a crime scene cleaner meets, you also need to know the requirements that a crime scene cleanup company should meet.
Even though there is no industry license required to operate a crime scene cleanup company, there will be state and local licenses and permits required to conduct certified business. Well, depending on where the company has an office or offices, it will be needed to gain a:
- Medical Waste Transportation Permit
- Biohazardous Medical Waste Transporter Registration
- Trauma Scene Waste Practitioner Permit
- Biomedical Waste Transporter Registration
- Infectious Waste Transporter Permit
- Hazardous Waste Transporter License Certificate
Well, it’s very important for those companies to operate vehicles which obey strict laws governing transportation of biohazardous materials. Of course, it’s equally essential for crime scene cleaners to abide by OSHA standards, dictating how all businesses and employees handle blood-borne pathogens, working in confined spaces and respiratory risk, all of which apply to crime scene cleaning.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
