Becoming a Crime Scene Cleanup Specialist 

Table of Contents

1. Education and Training 
2. Physical Fitness
3. Equipment 
4. Learn More About Crime Scene Cleanup Training at Hazmat School 

As a crime scene cleanup professional, you’re responsible for cleaning and sanitizing areas following criminal incidents such as murder or drug production. These scenes may be filled with blood, bodily fluids, chemicals and other substances that pose a threat to you and your clients. This risk requires extreme attention to detail.

With such an important responsibility, what are the requirements for being a crime scene cleanup specialist?

Summary of Content

• National certification and college attendance aren’t always required for crime and trauma scene cleanup certification.
• Education and training can be provided on the job. It typically covers bloodborne pathogen training, medical waste handling training, personal protective equipment (PPE) training and hazard communication (HAZCOM) training.
• Crime scene cleanup training jobs are physically demanding. They require you to lift heavy loads and be active for several hours at a time.
• Crime scene cleanup equipment is specially designed for crime scenes and is used once before being safely disposed of.
• Meeting OSHA standards for crime scene cleanup is critical for safety and legal compliance.
• OSHA crime scene and biohazard cleanup training compliance can’t be achieved with a single certification.
• Hazmat School helps managers simplify training for their teams by offering a one-step solution to keep everyone compliant and safe.

Education and Training

National certification isn’t required to clean up crime scenes professionally, and you don’t need to attend college to earn an academic degree. However, having a background in forensics, medicine or even cleaning can strengthen your chances of landing a job.

Most crime scene cleanup organizations provide on-the-job training to teach you how to handle biohazards without risk to yourself or others. Here are some of the training programs you’re likely to experience:

• Bloodborne pathogen training
• Medical waste handling and transportation training
• PPE training
• Hazardous communication training

Crime scene cleanup training programs are an important part of helping you develop core skills.

Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is a key requirement for working crime scenes. These cleaning jobs are physically demanding, often requiring you to lift heavy loads and work on your feet for hours at a time. During each project, you must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including a heavy hazmat suit, boots, gloves and a full-face respirator to protect yourself from bacteria and dangerous pathogens.

Equipment

Whether you want to own your own cleaning business or work for one, having the right crime scene equipment will ensure you’re effective and efficient. Unlike traditional cleaning equipment, many tools and gear designed for crime scenes are used only once before being disposed of in hazardous waste containers. Here’s a look at some of the crime scene items you’ll need to clean various spaces:

• Disposal containers
• Cleaning cloths, mops and sponges
• Peroxide and bleach
• Deodorizers
• Shovels
• PPE
• Enzyme solvents
• Long-reach cleaning brushes

Equipment knowledge and familiarity help to prepare you for a career as a specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime Scene Cleanup Training

You may have concerns about crime scene and biohazard cleanup training requirements. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a crime scene cleanup specialist.

What Are the Training Requirements for Crime Scene Cleanup?

The core training requirements for crime scene cleanup roles include bloodborne pathogens, PPE and HAZCOM qualifications.

Which Online Courses Meet OSHA Training Requirements for Crime Scene Cleanup?

Hazmat School’s bundled crime scene cleanup training courses offer a one-step solution to keep your team fully compliant with OSHA’s training requirements. This bundle includes courses on bloodborne pathogens, HAZCOM, respiratory protection and first responder awareness with spill cleanup. These combined courses help to achieve OSHA-compliant biohazard cleanup training.

Do I Need Bloodborne Pathogens Training Only or Additional Courses for My Team?

You need additional courses. Bloodborne pathogens training is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. Comprehensive crime scene cleanup training needs to include PPE knowledge and risks of cleaning agents covered by HAZCOM. These additional courses ensure worker safety.

Can I Purchase Training for Multiple Crime Scene Cleanup Employees at Once?

Yes. Purchasing training for multiple crime scene cleanup employees at once is a convenient way of keeping your team safe and compliant. Hazmat School simplifies training for your entire team with group discounts that help managers easily enroll employees and track their certification progress.

Learn More About Crime Scene Cleanup Training at Hazmat School

Hazmat School delivers high-quality training experiences to give you and your employees the skills necessary to succeed as crime scene cleanup professionals. Our training courses align with industry standards set by organizations like OSHA and EPA and are taught by our experienced remote instructors, who are always available to answer your questions.

Ready to begin learning through Hazmat School? Contact us online to learn more about our crime scene cleanup training courses today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime Scene Cleanup Training

Kirstie Chisholm

Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.