NJ Firm Fills a Gruesome Niche: Cleaning Biohazard Scenes

By: Tony Hanson-KYW Radio Staff

In the aftermath of a violent death, family members are often left with a gruesome task -- cleaning the scene.

But there is a growing industry stepping in to take over this awful job. And a New Jersey company was among the first in the field. Even police departments sometimes need help when dealing with the seamier tasks of law enforcement.

Bio-Clean owner Andrew Yurchuck says the job requires a strong stomach, and sensitivity to family members. He cites one case where a father sat nearly catatonic nearby as they cleaned up after a son's suicide:

"That was probably one of the most awful scenes we had ever done. He had done this in his bedroom. So here we are, stripping out basically this whole child's life, going into a biohazard box. And it was a really sad, difficult situation for everybody involved."

But Yurchuck, a former emergency medical technician, says the job also has its rewards:

"Being an emergency medical technician for all those years, it was very rewarding getting to save someone's life. But I have never been rewarded more than by the elderly woman whose husband maybe you just cleaned up -- that heartfelt thank-you that somebody like that can give you after you have done something unpleasant."

Very unpleasant, and dangerous. He says he responded to the first job a dozen years ago with just a bucket and gloves. But now there's head-to-toe protective gear, training for employees, and a national organization to address industry issues.

"You'd be very foolish not to have concerns. Basically you need to protect yourself. You have to go into every job like this person has the most infectious disease imaginable."

Yurchuck say his company was called on to help respond to the 2001 anthrax attacks in Washington, DC.

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July 28, 2008

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