The Tough Challenges Of Being A Trauma Cleaner

Crime scene cleaning is, without a doubt, a field where not many are willing to venture in. The public perception of this form of work doesn't aid the situation either. This field of work is rife with danger and numerous challenges.

Although workers in this field get highly trained, they remain to be people too and are susceptible to stressful conditions just like any other work. Below are some of the challenges they go through.

Psychological Dysfunction

Although workers go through training and seem to do a pretty job in keeping it together, the constant sight of blood courtesy of homicide, suicide, accidents, and unattended death during their course of duty take a toll on them psychologically. Workers may end up being depressed, moody, or irritable and in extreme cases, engage in drugs to get by through the job. Property owners or victims to the deceased don't do a good job either as they expect them to do a thorough job despite the murkiness of the situation. Sometimes, it requires one to have a strong stomach and a cold disposition towards the job.

Lack of Proper Working Tools

In today's profit-driven world, employers are more concerned with profit-making at the expense of their worker's welfare. These workers expose themselves on a daily to bio-hazard materials and contaminated blood causing HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, or C, among other health complications yet, trauma cleaners are not availed with the necessary types of equipment for proper functionality.

Emotional Inconsideration

Most workers in this field trace their origin from the medical profession, such as nursing. Sometimes, the job turns out to be one big roller coaster of emotions, particularly from the victim of the deceased. A worker has to deal with two sets of emotions. Trying to connect with the victim emotionally can be a big hurdle, mainly if you, too, are an emotional wreck courtesy of your job. In most cases, victims view people in such professions as cheats in that they are there to get their money and leave without utter consideration of their welfare. In most cases, it turns ugly.

Handling of Perilous Bio Hazards and Bodily Fluids

Despite such workers getting immunized from deadly diseases such as Hepatitis B, among others, they are still not 100% protected. Every scene is bound to come up with its challenges. From handling bodily fluids from a homicide, or unattended death to cleaning meth labs and exposing oneself to harmful chemicals such as methamphetamine, the list of toxic exposure is endless. Further to this, blood cleaners are candidates of the liver, lungs, and kidney malfunction due to the chemicals used in cleaning the blood.

Exaggerated expectations

Survivors of victims sometimes have expectations that such workers can't meet. Trying to keep up with their expectations while handling dangerous situations is an uphill task for such workers. They fail to understand that they, too, are humans and doing their best to protect you from exposure to such harm.

The rest of the house remains untouched- the plastic laundry basket is still filled with clean clothes and sits neatly on the clean floor, a pair of freshly ironed shirts hang in the wardrobe and the portrait of a man and woman holding their baby seats neatly at the dressing table.

This industry is in the business of rebuilding lives after death. It is time we accorded it the much respect and consideration that its workers deserve, just like any other job. I don't think anyone would like to come home to a sanctuary full of drenched blood on the couch.

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