When it comes to crime scene cleanup, tear gas removal is one of the most challenging tasks. Most of the time, tear gas results in severe structural damage alongside the other personal property, making the cleanup very complex.
As an experienced tear gas remediation company, we have performed numerous tear gas removal operations with our highly qualified experiments and professionals. We can’t lay enough stress on the fact that tear gas removal can’t be performed just by anyone. And that’s the reason you need to hire the best professionals who have mastered the job with their knowledge and experience.
Tear gas is extremely dangerous, to others as well as the crew members involved in the cleaning process. That’s why this task is left to qualified hazmat experts.
For those who don’t know, tear gas is a powerful irritant to the mucous membrane. It is used to bring the subjects under control by law enforcement, or to resist an attack. Below are the main irritants included in tear gas :
- Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS)
- Dibenzoxazepine (CR)
- Oleoresin Capsicum (OC)
- Chloroacetophenone (CN)
The majority of people fail to believe that the irritants of the tear gas linger even after the canisters are removed and the property has been cleared up. The gas can linger around in the property for hours after the event. It can percolate in porous structures such as carpets, furniture, and even floors. Further, tear gas can also enter the HVAC system and spread into the other areas of the property. In such cases, it can continue to affect the mucous membranes of people residing or visiting those properties days and even weeks after the incident.
Why Tear Gas Cleanup Is Crucial?
It is very important to understand that teargas is extremely destructive to property. Generally, the tear gas intrusion results in damaged walls and floors, broken doors & window glasses due to the forced entry by police or law enforcement crew. Tear gas canisters are often shot into the closed areas to bring the subject under control and this leads to drywall penetration.
Many times, the tear gas is infused with dyes that tend to stain the ceilings, walls, carpets, and even the hardwood or concrete floors. Further, tear gas leaves a harmful residue that can convert into a highly toxic gas that can badly impact the mucous membranes. In the worst cases, it can even impose a life-threatening situation.
Cleaning up this toxic residue is a complex and labor-intensive process that requires the involvement of hazmat experts loaded with proper knowledge, technique, and equipment. When the tear gas is shot, the heat helps the gas to disperse in the environment evenly. Sometimes the powdery gas gets solidified after coming in contact with moisture and water, which makes the cleanup extremely difficult.
Also, law enforcement officials use numerous tear gas canisters during an incident. We have come across the scenes where hundreds of tear gas canisters were shot. This is enough to imagine the damage and the havoc caused by the tear gas.
Moreover, broken doors, crushed window glasses, broken furniture, damaged power systems, and electrical appliances are very common due to the forced entry of law enforcement officials. Further, drywall penetration is also very common at crime scenes involving tear gas intrusion. The tear gas residue can stain and spot the ceilings, walls, floors, and even furniture to a great extent. These issues can never be addressed by untrained and inexperienced professionals. Only a qualified and trusted tear gas cleaning company can perform this tedious job.
How Does The Tear Gas Removal Process Work?
360 Hazardous has been trusted by law enforcement officials, local residents, and insurance adjusters for years. We are known for dealing with the most challenging tear gas removals. Our well-trained team is available 24/7/365.
Here are the things analyzed by the estimator after arriving at the crime scene :
- Complete hazard assessment to construct the plan of attack for remediation of tear gas and or other hazardous materials.
- If there is any biohazard material such as body fluids, blood, etc around the crime scene (if so, then these are the first things to be removed otherwise they can cause further damage and spread infection).
- The amount of tear gas residue present at the scene, including reaching out to the police department to find out the number of canisters fired at the scene and the type(s) of tear gas used.
- If there is any drywall penetration due to the shooting of tear gas canisters.
- If the tear gas is incorporated with dyes. (if so, additional cleanup will be required to get rid of staining)
- Obtain videos and photographs for the documentation.
The technicians will be ready in their OSHA-approved and required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits. After arriving, they will first set up the barriers to prevent cross-contamination and further damage to the property or surrounding structures.
Our crew will start the cleanup process shortly under expert guidance and using effective cleanup and removal techniques. The team will clear the broken structures, wash the area and remove the damaged items. Specific processes might need to be duplicated to reach the desired results. Effectively managing a tear gas remediation requires a meticulous and tedious approach, otherwise tear gas residue will be left behind.
How Do We Train Our Technicians?
Apart from the on-site cleanup jobs that our team goes through almost every day, we offer weekly training to our technicians on control procedures, new techniques, hazmat cleanups, and containment protocols.
Our technicians are well-trained and then retrained in OSHA-approved equipment and EPA-rated cleaning agents. Further, our expert supervisors are always available on the cleanup site where they keep guiding and monitoring the cleanup team.
360 Hazardous works with city abatement as well as law enforcement officials to treat both commercial and residential properties in a safe and timely manner. 360 Hazardous strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry by providing high-quality, compassionate, and highly professional services to our clients. Whether you need to remediate your crime scene or require services like tear gas removal, crime scene cleanup, biohazard cleanup, feel free to call 360 Hazardous anytime, anywhere, we are just a call away!
