What is a CTS Decon company?

Jonna Bobo

 

Many times, we are asked questions pertaining to guidance that we do not know the answers without first researching an area.  A question was recently posed at the Two Days in May conference about what questions to ask a crime scene cleaning company when determining to whom a victim should be referred. 

 

First, it is important to determine if they perform cleaning or restoration.  There is a big difference in the two areas.  Cleaning is just that—-cleaning.  Imagine that body fluids are on a carpet.  A “cleaning” will steam clean the area to “remove” it; while leaving debris in the pad & into the flooring.  Restoration involves literally removing any contaminated area.

 

Certification is also important as it requires exposure to all OSHA requirements (blood born pathogens, decontamination, hazardous waste removal, etc). Several companies in the United States offer crime scene cleaning; however, there are no state regulations requiring companies that have had crime or trauma scenes involving human blood, body fluids, and/or tissues to be properly cleaned and decontaminated by trained and certified personnel using an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant. With the exceptions of California and Louisiana there are no regulations for Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination (CTS Decon) companies. (California regulates the scenes but not the technicians and Louisiana regulates the technicians but not the scenes.) Currently, a Texas-based company, Amdecon, is attempting to lobby state representatives to make them aware of this issue via a website (http://www.bloodyshame.com/) by explaining these issues in detail & showcasing graphic photos to drive their point home.  Still yet, even though no certification is required, many agencies do invest in certification & continual training to keep their skills up to date.

 

A third question to ask pertains to the equipment & chemicals used.  Do the technicians wear apparel that will reduce further contamination (gloves, suits, SCBA apparatus)?  Are they trained to understand what could be potential evidence?  What action do they take if they discover material that could be considered evidence?  What type of disinfectant is used? It is important to find out if they clean or remediate.  Cleaning normally does not remove debris on any level other than a superficial one. 

 

Normally, trauma restoration is covered by insurance.  It is important to know if they know what information to turn into the insurance company.  While we provide a detailed report to the insurance company and to the family of the victim with our services, not every company does.  It is extremely beneficial to the family of the victim to not be concerned with submitting claim forms, verifying information after the event or even have to worry about whether or not their insurance will fully cover the remediation. 

 

Finally, it is also important to know the history of the company.  How & why did they start the company?  Admittedly, this industry can be extremely lucrative, which is why many carpet cleaning, domestic service, and even towing companies have begun to form their own crime scene cleaning businesses.  While this may not be a comfortable question to ask, it is beneficial to understand if they have any background or experience in law enforcement or human services.  Cleaning a crime scene is more complex than just steam cleaning a carpet or wiping down a wall.  One must be familiar with the type of trauma and the impact that it leaves upon the survivors.

 

Therefore, the following questions make an excellent starting point in researching a company.  Check to see if the company you are investigating has a website.  The following set of questions should aid in determining whether or not to refer the survivors to the company:

 

1. Do you provide cleaning or restoration services?
2. Are you certified?  What company issued the certification?
3. What type of equipment & chemicals do you use?
4. Do they assist in filing insurance claims?
5. How & why did they start the business?

 

Finally, don’t be hesitant to ask for referrals.  Granted, many of the companies may not have been in business for very long as the industry is relatively new.  Still yet, even one or two referrals can give you an idea of whether or not one chooses to take the risk of referring the survivors to a company.  Find out if they are willing to set up an appointment to better help you to understand exactly what services the company provides.  Sometimes, a 20 minute meeting can give peace of mind that lasts much longer.