Meth labs spawn testing, cleanup industry

By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer

Roy Wilkinson waved the meth scanner around the kitchen pantry.

The red ''Meth'' light on the futuristic-looking, hand-held scanner blinked on at numerous spots, indicating a positive hit.

Not a good sign, since the property owner had cleaned the pantry to get rid of the meth spill in the Akron home.

So Wilkinson, owner of Safety Elements in Akron, double-checked the scanner, which can provide false positives. He conducted two separate swab tests that are 99.9 percent reliable.

Each one came up negative. No methamphetamine.

Wilkinson and others who test for and clean up after meth labs are experiencing a business boom because of the ongoing meth problem in Ohio. Last year, the Summit County Drug Unit busted 68 meth labs, which turn homes, motel rooms, storage lockers and anywhere else the drug is made into a toxic waste site.

The need for professional testing and cleanup services is expected to keep growing, experts said, as people become more aware of the potential health hazards of living in a former meth lab.

Landlords, hotel owners and others also are starting to understand the legal ramifications of renting homes, apartments or rooms used in meth operations without first cleaning them.

''We get tons of phone calls regarding meth labs. We get them every day,'' said Marc Onesta, owner of Bio Clean Services in Hudson, which began offering the testing and cleanup services in 2006. ''Companies like mine are benefiting from other people's crimes.''

Public awareness has grown thanks to media reports about the meth problem and Web sites such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Clandestine Laboratory Register and Summit County Meth Awareness. Both sites identify locations of busted meth labs.

''The awareness is out there,'' Onesta said. ''Everybody knows what a meth lab is. I don't have to explain to anybody. Meth lab? Bad. Two years ago, no one really knew.''

Meth is a drug manufactured by cooking ingredients, including over-the-counter medications. The cooking process creates dangerous chemical residues that can seep into walls and carpeting.

Exposure to those chemicals can cause headaches, chest pain, nausea, dizziness and other problems, depending on the length and type of the exposure, according to health experts.

No regulation

Despite the hazard, Ohio and most other states have no cleanup standards that determine when a meth-tainted property is safe again.

Ohio also doesn't regulate meth testing and cleanup companies.

Anyone can start a meth cleanup company or add the service to an existing firm without training or knowledge about the drug. That's happening, industry leaders said, because companies can make a lot of money.

It can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,200 for the tests and $2,000 to $6,000 for the cleanup. Those costs can be higher if the meth exposure is severe, and those costs do not include replacing carpeting and drywall or other repairs.

Meth isn't something that can just be wiped up, vacuumed or painted over — that can actually spread the chemicals, experts said. They worry that shady operators could pocket money without removing the health hazard.

''What's an expert and who's qualified?'' said Dale Cillian, president of the American Bio-Recovery Association and owner of BIOPRO in Gilbert, Ariz. ''That's a real big problem.''

Ohio should license meth workers similar to plumbers and electricians to ensure they know what they are doing, industry leaders said. The state also needs to develop cleanup standards, they said.

''Everyone knows you have to clean up a meth lab, but you have to do it the right way,'' Onesta said.

Congress approved the Methamphetamine Research and Remediation Act that requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop cleanup guidelines for states and municipalities. The EPA is still working on the guidelines and expects to release them by the end of September.

State Rep. Stephen Dyer, D-Green, a former Beacon Journal reporter who wrote about the local meth problem, has proposed legislation to require disclosure by property owners and to direct the Ohio Department of Health to develop statewide cleanup standards.

His proposal also would allow victims — property owners whose homes or apartments are damaged without their knowledge — to tap into state funding set aside for crime victims to help pay for cleanup.

Considering the increase in meth testing and cleanup companies, the state also should explore whether those operators should be regulated, he said.

Testing

Wilkinson, who also is a full-time Akron firefighter and served last year on the Summit County Methamphetamine Property Awareness Task Force, carries a giant black and yellow toolbox around in the back of his Porsche Cayenne on meth calls.

The toolbox contains a $5,000 CDEX meth scanner and other gadgets, such as an item that works similarly to a pregnancy test and allows him to identify the presence of meth.

Wilkinson started his company a year ago after seeing firsthand the damage caused by meth as a firefighter and member of the Summit County HazMat team.

Wilkinson returned to an Akron home recently to retest the property. He had been there once and found meth residue in a kitchen pantry, where a bottle filled with meth had exploded.

The property owner decided to try to clean the pantry himself and called in Wilkinson to make sure he had done it right.

Wilkinson wore blue booties and purple gloves for protection as he entered the home. In other cases, he wears a mask or even HazMat suit, depending on the extent of the meth damage.

He said he receives calls all the time for testing and advice, including calls from car rental companies, motels, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and Summit County Children Services.

''People don't know what to do,'' Wilkinson said.

''There are hundreds of houses that have been contaminated [in the Akron area],'' he added. ''It's unbelievable . . . ''

Meth aftermath

Tom Dubetz, who owns apartment complexes in the Akron area, was shocked when police busted a meth lab at one of his units in Kent last year.

He said he didn't want to worry about the potential health effects for future tenants and he didn't want to be slapped with a lawsuit because he didn't do anything to clean up the property.

He also knew that the apartment would show up on government-sponsored meth lab Web sites.

So he hired Bio Clean to ensure the property would be safe to lease again.

He estimated that he spent $8,000 for the cleanup and another $3,000 for new carpeting, paint and drywall.

''They were very professional and very good with what they were doing,'' Dubetz said. ''I don't have to worry about it now because everything was done professionally.''

Want to learn more about methamphetamines? Go online to:

• U.S. Department of Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/methawareness/

• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/seizures/index.html

• Summit County: http://www.co.summit.oh.us/scma.htm

• Bio Clean Services: http://www.biocleanservices.com

• Safety Elements: http://www.hazmatandmore.com

Crime Scene Leftovers Pose Problem For Sanitation

Call it the Case of the Bloody Mattress.

City sanitation workers in southwestern Kentucky were recently left with the problem of how to dispose of a bloody mattress put out with the trash.

The mattress came from a home where police say a 37-year-old man appears to have died from self-inflicted stab wounds. The problem came when trash collectors realized they couldn't pick up a potential biohazard, but didn't want to leave it by the side of the road in a residential neighborhood in Hopkinsville.

"This was an area of concern for us because blood is considered a biohazard and not only can our trash trucks not pick it up, but it could be dangerous for people in the community," said George Hampton, a route supervisor for Hopkinsville Solid Waste Authority.

The Kentucky New Era reports that the mattress disappeared by midweek, but sanitation officials didn't take it and were still trying to make sure it was properly disposed of. The location of the mattress remained a mystery at week's end.

Hopkinsville sanitation workers received an anonymous call reporting a mattress, possibly covered in blood, that had been set on a curb outside of a home. That was the concern of the anonymous caller, Hampton said, who said children in the neighborhood could start to play on the mattress and come into contact with the dried blood that might have diseases.

Because there was blood on the mattress, sanitation workers couldn't haul it off with the rest of the trash.

"It raises a question for us about where we take it from here," Hampton said. "Someone has to clean up messes like these and we can't do it."

Solid Waste Superintendent Bill Bailey said sanitation workers aren't allowed to pick up possible biohazards, including blood, from the side of the road. Instead, Bailey said, the department needs to call other landfills to see who will pick up and take the items.

"Sometimes we can process and wrap it in plastic and dispose of it that way. But other times we have to contact a company that deals with disposing of medical waste."

Charlotte Write, a spokeswoman for Stericycle, a national company that specializes in medical waste disposal, said medical waste is generally burned to kill pathogens that can live in dried blood.

"It is important to dispose of all medical waste, especially waste that comes from the body, so as not to spread diseases," Write said.

Hopkinsville Police Chief Guy Howie said the families must clean up the scene of a murder or suicide or pay to have it done.

"It doesn't sound very friendly, I know, but that's just how it has to be handled," Howie said. "Someone has to clean it up and someone has to dispose of all of this, it's just a matter of figuring out who. It's amazing that just one mattress on a curb can raise so many questions."

Someone solved sanitation's problem by taking the mattress from in front of the home. Bailey said sanitation workers didn't remove it, but finding out what became of the mattress is important. It had to be properly sterilized and disposed of.

"We can't just stick it in our landfill and be done with it," Bailey said. "Whether it's on that curb or not, it's still hazardous material."

Three arrested in SR 136 meth lab

The People's Defender

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is investigating a methamphetamine manufacturing lab that was located by deputies on May 16 at 1764 state Route 136, north of Manchester. Three suspects are in custody, and their cases have been bound over to the grand jury.

The deputies detected suspicious activity at the residence while on routine patrol. An investigation revealed manufacturing in progress of methamphetamine in a garage located beside the residence.

The deputies, along with officers from the Manchester Police Department, were able to secure three people that were inside the garage and detain them.

The Manchester Fire Department/Rescue Squad, Adams County Hazardous Material Unit and the Drug Enforcement Agency were contacted for clean up and investigation. The crime scene was held for several hours as the clean up and recovery operation was conducted.

Those arrested for operation of the lab were Edward J. Henschen, 38, and Terra A. Rigdon, 31, both of Manchester, and Jonathan J. Breeze, 24, of Geneva. They are being held in Adams County Jail on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, which is a felony of the second degree.

On May 26, all three suspects appeared in Adams County Court for a preliminary hearing, which they waived. The cases are expected to be presented to the grand jury by the Adams County Prosecutor's Office at a later date.

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.

Crime Scene Clean-Up Takes Emotional Toll On Crew

CLEVELAND -- Murders, suicides, tragic accident and terrible occurrences all have one thing in common: Somebody has to take on the task of cleaning up the crime scene after police finish their investigation.

NewsChannel5 crime beat specialist Joe Pagonakis reported that dollar-for-dollar, crime scene clean-up is physically, emotionally and psychologically one of the toughest jobs in northeast Ohio.

Last month, police were called to Hopkins International Airport when a man attacked officers, and then was shot and killed. Crime scene tape went up, and the coroner's office took pictures.

And just this week, police surrounded a Euclid office building where a man was holding his girlfriend hostage. EMS was called to the scene, but then the suspect took his own life.

Images: Crews Clean Up After Crimes

After tragedies such as these, professional clean-up crews, like Bio Clean Services of Hudson, must suit up for an incredibly tough job.

"There are times I want to leave, I just want to quit, but the family depends on me to get the work done," said Bio Clean owner Mark Onesta.

Onesta and his crew arrive on the scene of a job as police are leaving. Long after police cars are gone, the team deals with the aftermath: blood-stained rooms, biological hazards, and families that will never be the same.

"You're dealing with the emotional aspects of grieving family members. It's no 'CSI' on TV, it's the real deal," said Bio Clean's Stephen Frazier.

Through their digital crime scene pictures, Bio Clean employees tell a tale of a job that's not for everyone: body outlines burned into floors from severe decomposition, and homes so contaminated by biohazards that entire floors had to be removed.

The job is very physically demanding as well.

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.