Bio-Recovery: The R&R Interview

by Jeffrey Stouffer editor
July 19, 2010

A continually evolving and expanding segment of the remediation industry, bio-recovery – better known as “crime scene cleanup” or “trauma cleaning” – has made great strides since it first came into being as an organized segment of the business almost two decades ago. Recently, R&R spoke with Kent Berg, director of the National Institute of Decontamination Specialists and founder of the American Bio-Recovery Association, to get his take on where the industry stands today and where it’s headed in the future.

Restoration & Remediation: Briefly, what falls under the scope of work when people talk about “bio-recovery”?

Kent Berg: Bio-recovery is actually a term that was derived from the words BioHazard Cleanup and Scene Recovery. We chose that term because our industry’s scope of work is actually much broader than cleaning crime scenes. We are often thought of as the guys that will clean up anything that is nasty, repulsive, or gross, so people naturally call us to clean up human feces, animal feces, dead animals – usually rotten ones – and gross filth, as in rotting food, poor hygiene, and piles and piles of garbage. Then there’s the decomposed human body scenes, meth labs, the occasional disease outbreak, and anything else that would cause a normal person to stay a hundred feet away to keep from puking.

R&R: You’ve been part of the bio-recovery profession pretty much since before it became a profession. Since that time, what are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen, both positive and negative?

KB: When I first started, very few people in this business knew anything about cleaning and disinfecting. They just wanted to make the visible contamination go away. No one in the insurance industry had ever heard of a crime scene cleanup company, and many adjusters argued that our services were not covered. Today, the biggest changes have been in our profile. What I mean by that is the public, who had never heard of our services, now see us in TV shows, documentaries, movies, magazines, and newspaper articles. We have recognition now, and families are more aware that these services exist.

Another change has been in the performance of the cleanup itself. We as an industry are much more aware of the antimicrobials we are using, the techniques and knowledge related to home construction, vehicle dismantling, and being able to actually render a property safe on a microscopic level.

R&R: From a purely objective point of view, bio-recovery would seem to be about as “recession-proof” as any remediation specialty out there. There will always be accidents, suicides and other traumas that require a professional remediator. What are some of the pros and cons that come along with that?

KB: We know that our services will always be needed, but with a higher profile, we are seeing more and more companies starting up, and more and more fire/water restoration companies adding this service to their menus. Although the demand for our services is increasing, the individual companies’ call volumes aren’t growing as fast because there is more competition for that finite number of incidents.

The pros are that the public will have resources to respond if they need them, and that companies will have to step up their game in service quality and marketing. The cons are that the majority of these new companies are not attending training, not getting any type of certification beyond a half-day OSHA bloodborne pathogen course. It’s these companies that are dragging the good companies down when the public hears about a company throwing a bloody mattress in a dumpster, etc.


R&R: Since hindsight is 20/20, if there was one thing you would go back and change, as far as how you operated your business, what is it, and what would you do differently?

KB: I would have marketed harder. I assumed that people would need my service and seek me out. That was true for a while, but when competitors popped up with their marketing programs, the public chose who was freshest in their minds. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but one I will never forget.

R&R: Technologically speaking, what areas have seen the greatest advances? Chemicals? PPE? Containment?

KB: One of the advancements has been our recognition as a legitimate industry. Today, vendors of specialty restoration products are targeting our industry. Kimberly-Clark markets their suits with the “Recommended by the American Bio-Recovery Association” seal on them. Other products used in our industry have similar tie-ins with our trade association or at the very least mention in their advertising that their product is great for cleaning crime and trauma scenes. Even the insurance industry no longer recognizes us under their “janitorial service” heading, opting now for a “crime scene cleanup” designation for insurance coverage.

We are also seeing new technology in the form of new disinfectants, odor-remediation technology, and devices to actually measure how clean a surface really is. The National Organization for Victim Assistance is putting on a training program this fall for teaching all interested bio-recovery technicians how to better interact with victims and their families. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has sought out input so they may better understand our industry.

However, I believe the most important advancement for the industry has been the formation of training centers. Legitimate training programs help make sure that any technician who wants to be the best at their profession can attend a school that specializes in that field. By establishing a standard training and certification program, students graduate far ahead of their competitors and benefit from years of experience from seasoned industry professionals, scientists, chemists, and pathologists that helped to design the curriculum.


Jeffrey Stouffer editor
stoufferj@bnpmedia.com

Jeffrey Stouffer is editor of Restoration & Remediation magazine

Crime scene cleanup crew scours site of murder-suicideCorey Friedman

Three crosses stand in the front yard where Tracy Hedgepath once played with her three young children. The tire swing sways gently in the breeze, and bicycles lay abandoned in the scorched grass outback.

Men in blue jumpsuits walk up the front porch and inside the house. A warning sticker affixed to the front door will be removed when the crime scene cleanup crew leaves.

Five days after police say 25-year-old Austen Blake Minter shot his girlfriend and their three children before turning the gun on himself, a three-man crew from Fagala Biohazard Specialists was called to the home at 1303 Dean Drive outside Dallas. Their job is to clean up the mess Minter left behind.

“It’s a tragedy — even more so with children involved,” said Mark Fagala, founder and owner of the Gastonia-based biohazard business. “Our hearts go out to the family. This is an everyday thing for me, but when it involves children, it tugs at my heartstrings.”

Tracy Lee Hedgepath, 24, Austen Blake Minter II, 6, and Serenity Tyvon Minter, 3, died in the tidy ranch home with Minter. The oldest child, 7-year-old Destiny Miller, was shot in the face and is still recovering in a Charlotte hospital.

Hedgepath had rented the Dean Drive home in the College Park subdivision north of Dallas. The homeowners hired Fagala to remove the stains of violence and render the house habitable once again.

“We’re going to get it back to normal and just make their house safe again,” Fagala said. “This was a terrible tragedy, but these people have put their trust in me, and I’m here to do a job.”

Fagala Biohazard Specialists is certified in hazardous materials handling and cleanup and is licensed by the N.C. Board of Funeral Service. The business also cleans meth labs, sewage backups, flooded buildings and bioterrorism sites.

Mark Fagala said the Dean Drive home would take about four hours to clean.

You can reach Corey Friedman at 704-869-1828

PRESS RELEASE


Mark Fagala, owner and director of operations for Fagala Biohazard Specialists, LLC is proud to announce the addition of his brother in law John Buchanan to the family firm. "This is a great thing for our family's business" says Fagala. "John is a natural fit to our biorecovery firm." " HMC(FMF)(Ret) John Buchanan served his 20 year career as a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman, he has seen 3 different wars and has all the training needed to just step right in and go to work" Fagala said.

Buchanan's credential and accomplishments are:
* NATO trained LRRP (long range reconnaissance patrol) Medic
* Enlisted Fleet Marine Forces Warfare Specialist
* Navy Master Training Specialist
* EMT-P
* Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Instructor
* Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Instructor
* Field Medical Service Instructor

Certified in:
* Preventive Medicine and Disease Prevention
* Hazardous Waste Disposal and Management
* Infection Control
* Vector Control

Buchanan was the youngest member of the U.S. ground forces during Operation Desert Shield.

"I was hesitant about retiring because I loved what I did and always felt the need to provide my expertise and serve my fellow man." Buchanan said. "The transition was much easier since I knew I would still be in the business of helping people and using my 2 decades of training to assist families through there difficult time."

"After returning from my second tour in Iraq, a lot of the Marines in my battalion were having troubles dealing with what they had seen. A friend of mine, Chris, was dealing with his war experience while also experiencing domestic relationship issues. I got the word early one morning that he had taken his own life that night.

It was devastating to everyone that knew him. His supervisor came to me that evening and asked for some medical gloves and cleaning solution. When I inquired as to there uses he explained that he was going to Chris' house to clean-up. I couldn't believe it. I explained that he wasn't certified to clean up biohazard or medical waste and that it wasn't a good idea for him to have to see the scene. He explained that the family wanted to get into the house for some important papers and that the military wouldn't consider calling someone to clean the scene properly. So, I decided to do the clean up in order to make sure it was done right and to keep his supervisor from seeing what I knew was a bad scene.

I found that I got a great sense of pride and satisfaction in helping the family out and ensuring that the people that entered the dwelling after that were safe" Buchanan said. "I have worked with Mark since my retirement and I always get that same feeling. I genuinely like helping people and working with Mark allows me to do that. I am very happy to be here."

"John's presence by joining the Fagala Biohazard Specialist Team brings the company to another level." "I am very proud and excited to have him on my team and his training just reinforces the training that my crew already has" Fagala said. Mark and his company has been serving the Carolina's since 1988 providing post forensic and death scene cleaning. They can be reached at 877-BIO-KLEAN.

How Suicide Cleanup Is Taken Up

Suicide cleanup is a part of the broad based service of Crime Scene Cleanup which involves crime and trauma decontamination and restoring it to its previous state.

It is a a niche market in the cleaning industry and involves cleaning the biologically contaminated scene of one violent death like suicide, homicide or accidental death, or even the chemically contaminated anthrax exposed site or scene of a methamphetamine lab.

Broadly speaking, crime scene cleanup and suicide cleanup is almost same but there are few exeptions to this rule. Suicide cleanup requires some extra physical effort and psychological sensitivity that the technicians should be able to handle.

Following are some examples illustrating this. A suicide generally involves close range of weapon to body and so in-depth decontamination and thorough cleaning is required. The cleaners also have to handle family members who might be present at the scene searching for answers that why their beloved person decided to end his/her life. The technicians need to remove all traces of any evidence of a suicide so that no remains are present for family members and friends that might remind them of the tragedy. Restoring of a suicide scene also means clean and restore sentimental items that mean the lot to the family of the deceased and requires additional time and effort. On a visual inspection of any suicide scene you will generally find a lot of blood and bodily fluids, but invisible to the eye, a great amount of biohazard contamination is also bound to be there.

The suicide cleanup technicians have to search thoroughly in all areas, even those that can not be seen or accessed easily and remove all traces of them from the scene. Most suicide cleanup services have their staff trained in not only dealing up with decontaminating and cleaning up issues but also about dealing with family and friends with sensitivity and compassion. Since most of such companies work in association with leading insurance companies so they can even help you to bill the insurance company directly thus saving you all the hassles. A suicide cleanup consists of the following steps. Firstly the scene should be evaluated. Next all contaminates should be located and decontaminated. A thorough search should me made again to decontaminate any traces of contaminates that might have been left out. All types of bio hazardous agents should be properly disposed of. Any microscopic remains should b treated with chemicals and the environment should be treated for odors.

Last but not the least all tools and equipments should be disinfected. But before you attempt to clean a suicide scene on your own it is always better to consult a trained professional first.

Dealing in Death

By Sam Boykin

GASTONIA — Mark Fagala was just 17 when he got into the business of death.
As a volunteer for the Gaston County fire and rescue squad, the local coroner asked Fagala to drive down to Hilton Head to pick up a body. Fagala went to the coast on a Saturday morning to load the body on a stretcher and into the back of a station wagon. Driving back to Gastonia, the reality of what he was doing started to sink in.
“For the first hour, I was just praying to Jesus, ‘Get me home,’” he said. “The stretcher was rolling back and forth; I was scared to death and swore I’d never do this again. But after another hour went by, I found a good radio station and forgot the body was back there. I was like, this ain’t nothing, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Today, Fagala, 38, is president of Fagala Mortuary and Biohazard Specialists, LLC, a company in the dirty business of cleaning up crime scenes and decontaminating homes and businesses after suicides and accidents. Fagala is the guy that shows up after the news crews and police leave; he helps family members and property owners handle an unsavory but necessary task.

“Most folks think that the police will clean up after a shooting or suicide,” Fagala said. “They’re shocked to learn it’s the property owner’s responsibility.”
It’s a niche business that’s increasingly competitive. Ten such companies are listed on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Victim and Family Resource Guide. Fagala expects more entrepreneurs to enter the market as job opportunities dwindle in the economic downtown. Fagala said that over the last year or so, he’s observed a noticeable increase in the number of suicides.“More people are having money problems, they start drinking, get depressed, and think this is the only way out,” he said.

According to the N.C. Division of Public Health, the number of suicides statewide rose from 1,021 in 2004 to 1,160 in 2008. Mecklenburg County suicides decreased slightly, from 79 in 2004 to 71 in 2008.

Kathleen Jones-Vessey, interim director of the State Center for Health Statistics and manager of the Statistical Services Unit, said that while the number of suicides has increased, so has the population, which means more deaths of all kinds. Good news for folks looking to get into biohazard cleanup.

The field is unregulated and doesn’t require certification or training. The result, according to Fagala, is a number of what he calls “Johnny Scoop Shovel Services.” Fagala prides himself on being one of the state’s few crime scene specialists certified by the American Bio-Recovery Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes education and ethical standards.

Steve Alsop, on the other hand, discounts the importance of certifications, saying many certifying agencies are fly-by-night money-making enterprises. Fagala questions his comment by saying what are his credentials. Fagala is not only on the national registry with ABRA, but went in length in showing me all of his certifications. Fagala has received public, media and personal recognition and awards from agencies throughout the Carolinas.

Alsop is president of Charlotte’s Reo-Clean, which cleans up crime scenes and provides other biohazard services. For most of his career, Alsop worked as a police officer for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in the explosive ordinance canine detection unit. He started Reo-Clean in 1997 as a side business, turning it into a full-time enterprise after retiring from police work in 2004.

Over the years, Alsop has cleaned some truly grisly scenes, including a case in Charleston where five people, including young children, were murdered.
“Of course, it’s tough to deal with that kind of situation,” he said. “But you can't get involved in the why, how, who of it. Many times I don't know if the victims were black, white, old or young. I don't care. It’s my job to clean out everything that says crime scene.”

Some of the worst cases, he said, involve a natural death that goes unreported.
“The body decomposes pretty quickly,” he said. “And the stench is so bad it permeates everything. It’s even been known to penetrate steel. It takes a lot of cleaning and scrubbing to get that out. Sometimes I even have to cut out plywood sub flooring and floor joists.”

Fagala, too, has seen it all, from a man decapitated in an industrial accident to gruesome homicides. He cleaned up after a 2003 quadruple murder in Belmont in which a man killed three women and a man with a 9 mm handgun. He also specializes in chemical spills, drug labs and homes that have been trashed or filled with refuse.
The roots of his business took hold in 1990, when Fagala and his father bought a mortuary company and began transporting bodies for the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Fagala often encountered grieving, overwhelmed family members and property owners who had a rude awakening when they learned the police didn’t clean up after traumatic deaths.

Seeing a promising business niche, Fagala expanded his services in 2001 to include cleaning up suicides, homicides and industrial accidents. The 2003 quadruple homicide in Belmont was his first big case, and it helped get his name out. He developed relationships with police and medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, Victim Advocate's as well as other non-profit associations such as Children of Hoarders, NOVA-National Organization for Victims Assistance and Helpinghoarders.com who has referred him to people needing his services.

Fagala’s tools of the trade include two bio-recovery vehicles equipped with full-body biohazard suits, respirators, and a variety of chemicals and enzymes as well as the state of the art equipment. "We Use Real Bio recovery Vehicles We do not tote a along a trailer full of equipment using the family minivan, truck or SUV. Our state of the art bio recovery trucks are equipped with a spill recovery system to protect the environment, and our service vans are treated with Line-X on the inside for that same eco friendly protection. There are too many rouge companies that use the family minivan, truck or SUV, which creates a danger to their own family, friends and loved ones by cross contamination. Just think…. they use that very same vehicle to bring the groceries home in. All of our vehicles are computerized to expedite all insurance paperwork.

Our Trucks are Professionally Marked We do not use the pull away magnetic signs commonly used on the family minivan, truck or SUV. More than likely if you see a company with magnetic decals on a vehicle, this means that you may be contracting with an individual who is not committed to this line of work full time. They have a full time job elsewhere to where they are hiding their part time hobby from their employer. Fagala Biohazard Specialists is dedicated to your need full time. He runs the business from his home, located in a picturesque suburban neighborhood in Gastonia. It’s an unlikely setting for such a grisly line of work. Fagala and his wife have three children, and his office is cluttered with a crib, baby stroller and toys. Next to an armoire filled with diapers and baby clothes, a table holds EMS and fire rescue pagers that fill the room with chatter and static.

Two full-time employees and about a dozen part-timers from the local fire and rescue squad help out as needed. Over the years, Fagala estimates, he’s cleaned thousands of crime scenes.

“You’ve got small ones that just require a quick cleanup, but some are large scale — like a shotgun to the head — where there’s bone fragments on the ceiling and brain matter splattered everywhere,” he said.
He knows that his line of work may sound gruesome. But every time he enters a crime scene, his mind simply “flips a switch.”

“I go into a different mode,” he said. “If you don't, you'll go crazy.” Fagala also has started another unique service called Bio Protect, LLC. http://www.bioprotectnow.com/ Mark and his good friend Gordy Powell, owner of A 1 Bio Clean out of Atlanta were reacting to calls for MRSA and H1N1 and swine flu for years. They can now not only clean a property for anything that has a potential virus such as MRSA, but can now apply a anti microbial barrier that guarantee's the property for 3 years. For more information on any of Fagala's company's he can be reached @ mark@carolinacrimescenecleanup.com or 877-246-5532.

Why you need crime scene cleanup services

By Alex Thomson

Crime scene cleanup or trauma scene cleanup after the death of someone either violently or naturally is by and large the responsibility of the victim’s family. Even till few years ago, there were a handful of cleaning companies that specialized in trauma cleaning service. But today this niche service has emerged as a lucrative business and there are many companies who provide this service.

Trauma cleaning service requires special experience, skills, equipment and expertise to deal with different types of bio-hazardous waste and dispose them efficiently with the minimum possible emotional stress to the victim’s family.

The most traumatic form of death is violent death and leaves the victim’s family feeling both victimized and traumatized. Coming to terms with the unnatural death of a loved one is in itself an uphill task for the bereaved family, and to top it they have to deal with other practical matters like making funeral arrangements, dealing with insurance issues, contacting surviving family and friends and locating wills. Furthermore, in case of violent crimes the police and the media are also involved. This can really overwhelm any family. Here is where trauma cleaning service comes to your rescue. They lighten one of the heaviest burdens, that is of dealing with the horrid murder cleanup. They will take care of the crime scene cleanup, ensuring that the scene is restored to its pre-incidental state as far as possible and in the most quick and efficient manner thus allowing you to deal with other important matters. Most service providers work discreetly and protect the confidentiality of the sufferer and family.

Most of the times, the crime scenes are so ghastly that they can induce additional emotional trauma in victim’s friends and family. By hiring professionals for cleanup, you can reduce this emotional stress. Immediately after death the nature begins its process of breaking down the body. Unattended death scene and dead bodies can be dangerous as it gives rise to blood borne pathogens, mold spores and bacteria. You may try to clean the area by yourself but the exposure may result in flu-like diseases or direct attack on the respiratory system. So it is advisable to leave this job to professionals who specialize in bio fluid and blood remediation.

The total cost involving a trauma scene cleanup will depend on a number of factors. One of the most major factors is that how many technicians will be needed for the job, how long will the job take and the quantity of hazardous material that needs to be treated and disposed of. It can range anywhere in the range of $100 to $1000 per hour. Some people might call this business as capitalizing on death but it is still essential and indispensable in case of a death.

Crime Scene Cleanup: What It Involves

A crime scene cleanup service is not without its complications. Crime scene cleaning encompasses restoring the crime scene to its original state. When a crime is usually discovered, crime scene cleaners are not called until after officers of the law, like the crime scene investigators, have done their jobs first and have given the go ahead for the cleaners to come in. If you intend to hire a crime scene cleanup company, you must make sure that they are well equipped and fit right to get the job done. A crime scene presents challenging conditions.

The Use Of Protective Gears:
Crime scenes can very well involve the use of hazardous or deadly substances. For safety reasons then, it has become imperative that crime scene cleaners use protective clothing, in addition to protective tools and gadgets. You must see to it that they have all the necessary protective gears and gadgets. The protective clothing can consist of disposable gloves and suits. A disposable gear is preferred nowadays since it offers the best protection against contamination. You use it one time and get rid of it. That way, the dangers of contamination is virtually brought down to zero percent. Protective clothing extends to respirators and the use of heavy-duty industrial or chemical-spill protective boots.

Among the gadgets that a crime scene cleaning company must have are special brushes, special sprayers, and wet vacuum. These special tools ensure added protection against getting into contact with the hazard could very well be present in the crime scene. There is large, special equipment such as a mounted steam injection tool that is designed to sanitize dried up biohazard materials such as scattered flesh and brain. You would also need to check if they have the specialized tank for chemical treatments and industrial strength waste containers to collect biohazard waste.

Of course, any crime scene clean up must have the usual cleaning supplies common to all cleaning service companies. There are the buckets, mops, brushes and spray bottles. For cleaning products, you should check if they use industrial cleaning products. A crime scene cleaning company must have these on their lists:

1 - Disinfectants including hydrogen peroxide and bleaches - The kinds that the hospitals used are commonly acceptable.

2 - Enzyme solvers for cleaning blood stains. It also kills viruses and bacteria.

3 - Odor removers such as foggers, ozone machines, and deodorizers

4 - Handy tools for breaking and extending such as saws, sledgehammers, and ladders

Established crime scene operators also equip themselves with cameras and take pictures of the crime scene before commencing work which. The pictures taken may prove useful for legal matters and insurance purposes. You never know which.

Needless to say, a specially fitted form of transportation and proper waste disposal is also needed. These requirements are specific. As you can imagine, crime scene cleaning is in a different category on its own. A home cleaning or janitorial service company may not be able to cope up with the demands of a crime scene. A crime scene cleanup service requires many special gears and tools that a home cleaning or a janitorial service company does not usually have or does not require. Crime scene cleaning if not done correctly can expose the public to untold hazards.

What Else To Look For In A Crime Scene Cleanup Company
You may also want to hire a company that has established itself. An experienced company with a strong reputation is always a plus but it could be expensive too. You will do well to balance your needs with what is your budget. There are several companies that offer specific prices such as for death scene clean up categories and suicide clean up categories. Most companies own a website and have round the clock customer service as receptionists.

When looking for a suitable crime scene cleaning service, among the first things you need to do is to scout for price quotes. Crime scene cleanup services usually provide quote after they have examined the crime scene and then they give you a definite quote. Factors that are usually considered include the number of personnel that will be needed to get the job done. It also includes the amount of time that might be needed. The nature and amount of the waste materials that need to be disposed will also be factored in. You can be sure that the more sophisticated equipments needed the more expensive it will get.

Crime Scene Cleanup And Your Insurance
For homeowners, the best approach is always to make sure that crime scene cleanup services clauses and provisions are written down on the contracts or policies. The inclusion of crime cleanup services clauses is very common and has become standard clause in most homeowner’s policy. Make sure that you are covered for this unforeseen event. Make sure that your policy directs the crime scene cleaning company to transact directly with the homeowner insurance company. A crime scene cleaning service is usually a standard clause in many homeowners’ insurance clause. These companies often do the paperwork in behalf of clients.

If for some reason you do not have such coverage by any policies relating to crime scene cleanup on your home, there are ways to keep your expenses controlled.

Finding the right company can be very taxing, especially that you have to deal with the emotional stress stemming from the crime itself, especially with a crime scene involving death.

There are many crime scene cleanup companies in operation nowadays. There are reliable professionals that you can hire and prices are relatively competitive. As of recently, crime-scene cleanup services can cost up to $600 for an hour of their service. A homicide case alone involving a single room and a huge amount of blood can cost about $1,000 to $3,000.

In recent years, crime scene cleaning has come to be known as, "Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination or CTS. Basically, CTS is a special form of crime scene cleaning focusing on decontamination of the crime scene from hazardous substances such as those resulting from violent crimes or those involving chemical contaminations such as methamphetamine labs or anthrax production. This type of service is particularly common when violent crimes are committed in a home. It is rare that the residents move out of the home after it has become a scene of a crime. Most often, the residents just opt to have it cleaned up. That is why, it is very important to hire the best crime scene cleaning company out there. The place needs to be totally free from contamination of any kind. You have to make sure that the company is able to remove all traces of the violent crime that took place. This includes cleaning biohazards that are sometimes invisible to the untrained eye.

Legally speaking, federal laws state that all bodily fluids are deemed biohazards and you should make sure that the cleanup service company you hire understands this and includes it in the cleanup. These things appear as blood or tissue splattered on a crime scene. You must be able to hire a company that is equipped with special knowledge to safely handle biohazard materials. The company must have the knowledge what to search for in any give biohazard crime scene. For instance, the company should be able to tell clues such that if there is a bloodstain the size of a thumbnail on a carpet, you can bet that there is about a huge bloodstain underneath. Federal and State laws have their own laws in terms of transport and disposal of biohazard waste. Make sure that the company you hire has all the permits necessary.

It will also be a huge plus if you could hire people who not only has the special trainings but also who have the nature to be sympathetic. If you are close to the victim and have the cleaning done at the behest of the victim’s relatives, it would matter that the cleaners tread the site with some level of respect. It is a common site that family members and loved ones are often there at scene. In general, when looking for a suitable crime scene cleaners, you would take into considerations the kind of situation that the crimes scene presents and the demands that it require. Crime scene cleaning companies handle a wide variety of crime scenes and prices may vary from one to the other crime scene and one to the other company.

Each type of scene requires its own particular demands not only to make the crime scene look clean and neat on the surface but to make it germ free, and clean inside and to make it free from all deadly and infectious substances. The cleanup cost for biohazards may vary depending on degree of the bio hazard(s) on the scene. There may even be a category that changes the cleanup pricing which usually involves decomposing bodies and carcasses. Likewise, a cleanup of chemical hazards vary, depending on the amount of chemical hazards as well as the grades i.e. how hazardous the substance is in terms of human contact. Prices are also determined by the number of hours and personnel that it would to get the crime scene cleaned. In addition, the "gross factor" from crime scene involving death and gore needs to be taken under consideration regarding the chemicals that will be used as opposed to those crimes' that do not have gore involved.

Traumatic Grief

By Nancy Crump

Since the late 1980’s, we have seen an increase in interest and research on the effects of trauma on the grief process. We have learned that the grief process from the sudden, unexpected, and often violent deaths of suicide, homicide, auto accidents, natural disasters, and other types of deaths, is very different from the grief process of those who have died from natural causes, old age, or long-termed illness. Many, if not all, of the deaths faced by Bio Technicians fall into the category of traumatic. Those family members who hire you have usually been touched by the trauma of the death. Understanding the traumatic grief process and its differences from other types of grief may be of some help to you as you deal with these family members.

There are several key elements that make the responses by family members to a traumatic death difficult. First is the suddenness of the death. Family members usually did not have time to prepare themselves for the death and to make the psychological adjustments to cope with the news of the death. Also, the suddenness of the death does not give the family an opportunity to say goodbye to the victim before their death. Second, the violence of the death may leave the family with horrific memories and nightmares that often interfere with the grief process. Third, many of these types of deaths require police intervention and the family is often not given the support, information, and compassion they need at the time. Another element can be the presence of the media at the time of the death, as well as weeks and months later if legal issues follow the death. Most traumatic deaths involve young people who’s parents, grandparents, and siblings may still live. Certainly, the death of a child or young person is very difficult to cope with.

Reactions to a traumatic death can be very different, more intense, and longer lasting than other types of death. The emotions following a traumatic death are often conflicting and intense. There is a tendency to relive the death event over and over in an attempt to make it real. Intrusive thoughts and nightmares are very common. Intense physical responses such as inability to eat or sleep, stomach aches and headaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure and a decrease in the autoimmune system are also common. Many times, the survivors must deal with intense feelings of guilt or remorse, feeling that they were somehow responsible or could have prevented the death “if only”. Family members have the need to tell the story of the death over and over again in an attempt to gain a sense of the reality of the death. They often have an overwhelming need to learn all they can about the circumstances of the death - how the person died, whether they were in pain, did they know they were dying, what were their last words, who saw what happened, and in cases of homicide, who committed the murder. All of these reactions are ways the survivors use to grasp the reality of the death and to begin the grief process.

As Bio Technicians, you are often called by family members or meet them upon arrival to the scene. Understanding some of the dynamics of trauma on the grief process may help as you help the family. Understanding the “normalcy” of the reactions you may see can help you feel more competent and assured to speak with family members without wondering whether or not you are saying the “right” thing. Some suggestions are listed below, but the most important thing is to convey sincerity and compassion to the family. They are very vulnerable and sensitive to words, expressions, and body language. Just make sure that what you say and do is congruent with how you feel or you will come across as insincere and uncaring.

Soon after a traumatic death, most survivors simply need to tell the story to anyone who will listen. It is important for their recovery to be able to do this. If you have time to listen, do so. They are not necessarily looking for any input from you; they just need someone to listen.

Remember that there are two basic rules for grieving people – you don’t hurt yourself or someone else. If, during the conversation, you hear comments that indicate the person is thinking of either, you might suggest they go talk to someone else before making a decision to do something like this. Create a list of counselors, therapists, or mental health centers to hand out at times like these. Take comments about thoughts of suicide seriously and offer to call a friend or family member to be with the person and get them help. Suicide rates often increase after a sudden, traumatic death of a loved one. These are very difficult situations for you as a caregiver, but you need to set limits as to what you can and cannot do. Listening and having resources available are all you need. The survivor needs to take some responsibility for them, and others who are better trained to handle these situations need to be contacted.

Although many reactions may look and feel “crazy”, most are normal reactions to the situation. Again, as long as they don’t hurt themselves or someone else, they are probably reacting normally to an abnormal situation. Helping normalize these reactions is very helpful to the survivor. Encouraging the survivor to talk and to express what they are experiencing is also helpful. Making a simple statement such as, “I think I’d feel the same way if this happened to me”, helps the survivor feel less out of control.

There are many support groups available to survivors that would make a good resource for them. Creating a list of those in your community or in nearby communities is a great gift for survivors. They may not want to attend a support group, but usually someone from the group is always willing to talk to them by telephone or offer assistance.

In the work you do, you may find yourself in situations of dealing with survivors who have needs you do not feel comfortable or competent in dealing with. That’s okay as it is not your responsibility to be all things to all people. However, there are these simple steps you can take to help your families in a meaningful way. You can listen. You can refer. You can offer resources. Having some general knowledge of the traumatic grief process may make you feel more competent in dealing with your families and knowing that you are being supportive and helpful in a meaningful way.

Below are some national organizations that offer support groups in almost every locality. They are specific to either the type of death or the relationship to the person who died and are more appropriate to traumatic deaths. They all have web sites or central telephone numbers that can be contacted for local information.

The Compassionate Friends – for parents’ whose child has died of any cause.
MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Drivers offer support for parents who a drunk driver killed child
Widowed Persons Service – sponsored by AARP for spousal death
SOS – Survivors of Suicide support groups
POMC – Parents of Murdered Children and other victims of homicide.

These and many other groups may be listed at your county’s Victim Assistance Office usually located in the office of the District Attorney. Also, check with your local hospices or hospitals. They offer support groups that are open to the public. Some local churches may also host support groups. As you create your list, don’t try to keep up with the dates and times of group meetings as they change frequently. All you need is the name of the group, a telephone number, and possibly a contact person. Leave it to the survivors to take the responsibility to make the calls on their own behalf.

PRESS RELEASE: Statement from Town and Gown Players

ATHENS (MyFOX ATLANTA) - The three people we lost yesterday were a part of the rich 50-year history of this theater and, more than that, were vital members of the Town and Gown family.

Ben Teague, loving husband of UGA's Dr. Fran Teague for more than 40 years, was not only a friend but also a father figure to all at the theater. One would be hard pressed to find a Town and Gowner who had not learned at least one life lesson from this wise and kind hearted man. His wife wishes to say, "Yesterday Ben was murdered, which is hard to comprehend and impossible to accept. It was a beautiful day, however, and he was in his favorite place with the people he loved." Ben was a translator of German, Russian and English.

Marie Bruce was the binding force that held the Town and Gown community together. Having worked with Town and Gown for over 20 years, at one time or another she served in every capacity at the theater, artistically and administratively, from leading lady to president of the board to chief cook and bottle washer. A local attorney, Marie was the mother of two young children.

A gentle presence, Tom Tanner breathed life into every corner of Town and Gown through his quiet diligence and astounding creativity - most would call him genius. Father of an equally amazing daughter, Tom would tell you that while he enjoyed his work as director of the Regional Dynamics Economic Modeling Laboratory at Clemson University, his heart lived and thrived in the theater.

Ben, Marie and Tom were a part of our family, and as painful as their loss is for us, we know it is even more painful for their families. We want to extend our deepest sympathy to their immediate family and close friends outside the theater community. There are no words we can use to adequately express our grief.

We would like to thank the Athens Police department and the media for their respectful treatment of this tragedy. We want to thank the American Bio Recovery Association and A1 BIO-Clean Service for the generous donation of their services in our time of need. We also want to thank the Athens Community for their support. This tragedy effects everyone in the community in some way, and we know you share in our loss. We ask that the media continue to be respectful of our privacy during this difficult time.

Custodian’s stress-disorder suit restored

Meghann M. Cuniff / Staff writer

A custodian who sued her school district after being forced to clean up the bloody scene of a student’s suicide had her lawsuit reinstated Tuesday by the Washington Court of Appeals.

Debbie Rothwell, who still works at Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a lawsuit filed in May 2007 by her lawyer, William Powell, of Spokane. The 16-year-old student shot himself in the head inside the school’s main entrance in 2004. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2008 by Spokane County Superior Court Judge Greg Sypolt, who ruled the incident was covered by the Industrial Insurance Act.

But the Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 ruling, disagreed and reinstated the suit.

“There are people who do clean up the mess after one of these horrible murders or suicides happen,” Powell said Tuesday, referring to private professionals. “But the superintendent in this case chose not to do that. He should have known better.”

Along with former Superintendent Michael Green, now superintendent of the Woodland School District in Western Washington, the lawsuit names the Nine Miles Falls School District, Stevens County Sheriff Craig Thayer, two sheriff’s detectives and an unidentified man as defendants.

None was available for comment. Like most civil suits in Washington, the complaint seeks unspecified damages.

Rothwell’s complaints center around her task of cleaning up the suicide scene, then being asked to move a backpack she later learned belonged to the victim and contained a suspicious device that authorities detonated using a robot.

She stayed at work until after 4 a.m., cleaning the mess of blood, brain and bone alone, becoming “emotionally distraught and physically ill” before returning to the school less than four hours later at Green’s orders to serve cookies and coffee to grieving students and keep the media from the school, according to the suit.

At issue in the court decisions was whether Rothwell’s claim of post-traumatic stress disorder fell under the industrial injury act, which prohibits lawsuits based on industry injury or occupational disease.

Judges John A. Schultheis and Dennis J. Sweeney ruled it didn’t because it wasn’t the result of one work order. Her trauma grew over several days, according to their written opinion. Judge Teresa C. Kulik dissented.

Dirty Jobs: crime scene clean up

SHELBY
Mark Fagala has seen more dead people than most.
He has cleaned up things most wouldn't.

At 17, he begged the coroner for a job. And while most teenagers were consumed with getting their driver's license, Fagala was behind yellow tape seeing things most couldn't dream of. "I thought it was cool I could go inside the crime scene tape," said Mark Fagala, now owner of Fagala Biohazard Specialists, LLC.

Fagala's company is a contract agent for the N.C. Medical Examiners Office, where he is currently assigned to Cleveland and Gaston counties. "I begged the coroner for a job at 17 and he put me on part-time," he said. "I picked up bodies for the medical examiners office."

Fagala has been in the industry for over 20 years and, in 2001, moved to cleaning up scenes pertaining to unattended deaths, suicides, homicides and industrial accidents.
"We started the cleanup in response to family members mistakenly thinking the police would clean the scenes," he said. "After being told that they didn't, they had no other options but to clean it themselves. ... We are going to flip that crime scene, by the time we are done the place looks like it was new." Fagala said there are two traumas to every scene - the loss of a loved one and the thought of having to clean it up.

He has seen a lot throughout his years in the business. Most notable are the homes so filled with trash that you can't see the floor.
"They will drink their beverage of choice, then toss it ... five years later you can barely open the front door," he said.

All of Fagala's technicians are trained in evidence recovery. He said he has found bullets from murder scenes that were lodged into subfloors, walls and ceilings.
"Once we find something we stop all operations, call police and have them come out and process the evidence," he said.

Most people couldn't stomach his line of work, but Fagala said it is a mindset.
"It makes me feel good to go and alleviate one of the traumas for the family to deal with."