Crime and suicide scenes and dilapidated houses reeking of animal carcasses are not a pretty sight, but somebody needs to clean them up.
That’s when Karen Howe steps in.
Howe, a registered nurse and former forensic investigator and emergency medical technician-paramedic, started Bio-Scene Solutions Inc., a specialized cleaning and decontamination service for biohazardous materials and other contaminants.
“It’s sometimes hard, because it’s not a situation where you typically get repeat business,” she said.
Her motivation for starting the Pasadena business originated when some of her friends’ family members committed suicide, she said.
“We would try to really work with the homeowners, because they’re already grieving,” Howe said.
The process sometimes involves removing furniture, flooring, walls and wall coverings, among other objects, to deodorize, disinfect and sanitize affected areas of crime and suicide scenes, Howe said.
Bio-Scene also could clean “filth houses,” the name given to extremely dirty houses, frequently where animals have died.
Howe’s small business secured one major client, the Maryland Transit Administration, which has contacted Bio-Scene when some light rail cars have become contaminated with blood, among other hazardous materials, she said.
“It may look like overkill, but you have to consider the presence of what you don’t see. Blood can linger for days,” said Brett Howe, a bio-recovery technician and Howe’s brother-in-law.
An MTA representative was unavailable for comment.
Karen Howe said her business is one of the few in Maryland to offer this unique service at a high level, noting it is certified by the American Bio-Recovery Association, an international, nonprofit representing a growing segment of the biological hazard remediation industry.
She now is working with her state Del. Steven Schuh, R-Anne Arundel, in hopes the industry can become better regulated.
No set procedure for cleaning up at these scenes exists, leaving homeowners or cleaning services to handle the cleanup, she said.
Like waste from a doctor’s office, Bio-Scene packages the waste in specified bags and place them in biohazard boxes, which are collected and disposed by a medical waste company.
Residents and organizations can contact Bio-Scene for a free estimate, and the services are then paid by the homeowner or property insurance carrier, Howe said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To contact Bio-Scene, call 410-255-3111 or visit bioscenesolutions.net
