What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Crime Scene Cleaner
The job of a crime scene cleaner is not like any other job due to its demanding nature. It mainly involves cleaning and sanitizing an area, after a violent crime has happened. Such workers have to brave long hours of physical labor and emotional trauma when dealing with different cases.
Truth be told, a crime scene cleanup career is not for everyone. Nonetheless, some individuals are willing to take up the challenge and pursue such a job. But like most jobs, crime scene cleaners have to meet the following qualifications:
1. Education and Training qualifications
As a crime scene cleaner, a high school diploma or GED is the only academic requirement that you have to satisfy. Most of the actual training is offered in an on-the-job-training style. You, however, will be required to hold different certifications in:
• Respiratory protection training
• Heat-illness awareness training
• Hazardous communication training
• Personal protective equipment Training
• Medical waste handling and transporting training
• Bloodborne pathogen training
2. Other Qualifications
Other than holding academic qualifications, a crime scene cleaner is also required to meet additional requirements, such as:
• Willingness to learn
The job comes with different safety regulations and training, which a cleaner should be willing to participate in, to gain the necessary skills and certification. Even though every tragedy will be different, and the tasks involved may vary, the skills acquired after training will still come in handy.
• Strength
Physical and mental toughness are vital since the job involves long hours of physical work while having to wear full-body protective equipment. Also, a trauma scene cleanup technician should be mentally strong to deal with the traumatizing situations involved in cleanups.
• Empathy
Crime scene cleaners should be in a position to interact with the affected families and comfort them while the cleanup process continues.
• Commitment
Crime scene cleaners have to be available when needed since tragedy can strike at any time regardless of the time or season. As such, a cleaner should be ready to go when their assistance is required.
• Detail-Oriented
Crime scene cleanups have to be thorough for the safety of others who may enter the area after the process is completed. As such, a crime scene cleaner has to be someone with great attention to detail all the time.
• Integrity
As a crime scene cleaner, one has to be at the top of their game to deliver quality results. To ensure that they perform their tasks correctly, cleaners are subjected to drug tests and background checks as well.
In conclusion,
Indeed, a crime scene cleanup career is not for everyone, but then again, we all have different callings. If you feel like you are up to the task and have the met the qualifications discussed in this article, then this might be the right job for you.