Who is liable for the clean-up after a traumatic traffic accident?

Friday 11th March 2022

2 minute read

In the year leading up to June 21, traffic accidents reduced drastically due to travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to government statistics, there were 1,390 documented road deaths in the year ending June 2020, down 11% from the previous year, and there were 119,850 casualties of all types, down 9% from the previous year.

clean-up-traumatic-traffic-accident

Despite the huge drop, 121,240 people still were involved in a road traffic accident (RTA), and each incidence may necessitate a trauma clean. So, who is responsible for cleaning up the trauma scene after an RTA? This article seeks to provide an answer to that question.

What is the appearance of a traumatic RTA scene?

Severe road traffic accident (RTA) scenes are often gruesome and distressing. It's crucial to keep in mind that these scenes are handled by specialists who have been trained to deal with both the physical and emotional consequences of such an event. Please do not attempt to clean up the situation yourself if you are unfortunate enough to witness a terrible RTA. Leave it to the professionals.

When it comes to trauma cleanup, who is involved?

When it comes to trauma cleaning, there are a number of different professionals who may be brought in to help. Examples of professionals who work in the field of law enforcement include:

  • Police officers
  • paramedics
  • firefighters
  • vehicle removal firms
  • highways agencies
  • trauma scene cleaners are

The trauma scene cleaners are in charge of the physical cleanup of the scene.

What is the repair process in terms of trauma cleaning?

Graham Hickman from the trauma cleaning company Complete Environmental Services explains "No two trauma scenes are the same when it comes to road traffic accidents, however the clean up process remains fairly constant."

The approach for dealing with a traumatic RTA scenario will differ based on the circumstances. It does, however, usually entail the following steps:

  • Assessing the situation
  • Establishing the extent of injuries inflicted
  • Removing any bodies or body parts from the scene
  • Cleaning up any blood or other bodily fluids from any aspect of the highway or impacted property
  • Disposing of any medical waste

"Our purpose is to support the roads agency and emergency services in dealing with the effects of an RTA in a timely yet safe manner, with the ultimate goal of reopening the road as soon as possible," Graham continues.

What are some of the health concerns of cleaning up a trauma scene?

Trauma scene cleaning carries a lot of health concerns, including exposure to dangerous bacteria and viruses, skin irritations, and breathing issues. When cleaning up a trauma scene, it's critical to put on the right personal protective equipment (PPE). There are also possible concerns from a traffic management standpoint when attempting to clear up a trauma occurrence on a roadway.

What psychological impact can witnessing a horrific event have?

The psychological impacts of witnessing a traumatic event include shock, bewilderment, anxiety, guilt, and despair. Trauma cleaners have been specially trained to deal with the emotional repercussions of terrible events, and their companies offer them with support structures. This support is critical to their health and well-being because it allows them to seek expert care if they experience any of these symptoms.