Death, Crime Scene and Biohazard Cleanup in King County

This page covers death cleanup, crime scene and trauma cleanup, and other biohazard cleanup across King County, from Seattle and Bellevue to Kent, Renton and Federal Way. In King County, biohazard and trauma cleanup is done by independent private companies that a family, landlord or property manager hires directly. When a death is sudden or unexpected, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office¹ acts first, and cleanup can begin only after officials release the property. Biohazard Network can connect you with an independent local company that serves your part of the county.

Biohazard Network is a connector only: it does not clean, and it does not send or supervise anyone. A biohazard is biological material, such as blood or other body fluids, that may carry bloodborne pathogens, which are germs in blood that can cause disease.

The medical examiner acts first

King County uses a medical examiner system. A medical examiner is a public office that investigates deaths to find their cause. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office¹ investigates sudden, violent, unexpected, and suspicious deaths that occur in King County, and its web page sits under Public Health – Seattle & King County². Under RCW 68.50.010, jurisdiction over the deaths that law lists, including deaths from unknown causes and deaths under suspicious circumstances, rests with the county coroner or medical examiner.

At the scene, the investigation includes photographs, evidence collection, and information from family and other witnesses, so nothing should be cleaned or moved yet. Scene release is the point when police or the medical examiner tell you they are finished and the property is back in your control. Ask the investigator whether that has happened before you call a cleanup company. For questions about an investigation, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office¹ lists 206-731-3232, ext. 5, as its death investigation line, available 24/7.

While the examination is under way, you will be asked to choose a funeral home or crematory, and the office asks families to decide within 3 days. Personal effects collected during the investigation go to that funeral home, so ask there about belongings. Families are not charged for the investigation or examination. Evidence that contributed to the death is not released to the family; it goes to the investigating law enforcement agency.

When Public Health – Seattle & King County matters

Public Health – Seattle & King County² is the county health department, and its main phone number is 206-296-4600. Several of its programs connect to cleanup:

• Biomedical waste and sharps. Biomedical waste is a legal category in Washington that includes discarded human blood and sharps waste, meaning used needles, syringes, scalpel blades and lancets. If you find a needle first, the department has guidance on how to handle used or found sharps.
• Septic and sewage. If a septic system or sewage spill is part of the problem, see its On-site Sewage/Septic System Program and its information on sewage releases in Seattle and King County.
• Mold. The department offers mold education but does not conduct mold assessments; how biohazard cleanup fits with water, fire and mold restoration explains where those jobs overlap.
• Rodents and unsafe housing. The department takes rodent complaints. State law also requires a local health officer to prevent, control or abate nuisances that harm public health, and cities may adopt rules on dwellings that are unfit because of problems such as uncleanliness or inadequate sanitary facilities.

Reaching the property

Water and highways shape how a company reaches you, so describe the location clearly. Only two transportation facilities cross Lake Washington: the I-90 and SR 520 floating bridges. I-90 links Seattle with Mercer Island and the Eastside, and SR 520 links Seattle with the cities on the lake’s east side. I-405 and SR 167 form the only north-south highway alternative to I-5 in the region.

Vashon/Maury Island is reachable only by water, and the Fauntleroy ferry terminal carries riders between West Seattle, Vashon Island and the Kitsap Peninsula, so ask whether a company serves the island. Rural Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County surrounds Duvall, Carnation, Snoqualmie, North Bend and Skykomish, plus Fall City and Snoqualmie Pass. Rural Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River lies east of Renton and Kent and extends to the Kittitas County line. In either area, give the nearest town and ask whether the company covers it.

Once the scene is released, arranging cleanup soon helps, because porous materials, meaning surfaces like carpet and drywall that soak up liquids, get harder to clean over time.

If the home involves hoarding

Hoarding is a recognized condition, and the person living in the home should decide what to let go. Ask any company how it includes that person or the family when sorting belongings. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) covers unincorporated King County and 25 contracting cities, including Bellevue and Kent, while the Seattle Animal Shelter, Renton Police Department Animal Control and the City of Federal Way’s Animal Services Unit serve those cities. For an older adult or a person with a disability, Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County, can be asked about support.

Paying for cleanup

Homeowners insurance sometimes covers this work, so ask your insurer what your policy includes. Ask each company for a written estimate and whether it will work with your insurer.

Checking a company

Ask any company how its crew follows OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, and the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup, published by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a non-profit organization for the cleaning and restoration industries. Then look the business up in the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) tool, Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business, and read the certifications guide for what each one means.

Cities in King County

• Seattle is an incorporated city that includes Discovery Park and Pike Place Market.
• Bellevue is an incorporated city with Bellevue Downtown Park and the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
• Kent is an incorporated city with the accesso ShoWare Center and the Green River Natural Resources Area.
• Renton is an incorporated city with Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and the Renton Highlands neighborhood.
• Federal Way is an incorporated city served by I-5 and State Highways 18, 99 and 509, with Celebration Park and Steel Lake Park.

For other counties, start from the Puget Sound overview.