00:00 Crime scene cleanup is a horrific and demanding job that requires a specific type of person, and it only lasts an average of about eight months before burnout.

03:57 Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination (CTSDCon) is a cleaning service that deals with dangerous and graphic tasks such as cleaning up blood, picking up bone fragments, and scraping brain off of walls in order to return the scene to its original condition.

08:08 Crime scene cleanup technicians encounter three main scenes: violent death (homicide, suicide, accidents), decomposing bodies, and meth labs (which often explode and require decontamination). Meth labs are particularly dangerous due to the toxic residue that can make people sick even years later.

12:08 Crime scene cleanup technicians require specific tools such as biohazard bags, putty knives, steamers, and a no-touch cleaning system, as well as carpentry tools, ladders, and a camera for insurance purposes. Insurance often covers the cost of crime scene cleanup, and the state or federal government may cover it in the case of a homicide. Decomposing bodies create a particularly nasty mess, with swelling, insect infestation, organ digestion, liquefied skin, and a strong ammonia smell, requiring the removal and disposal of maggots.

16:00 Crime scene cleanup can be expensive, with prices ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 for one room with a lot of blood, and the industry itself is not nationally regulated, although companies generally follow OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standards.

20:07 Crime scene cleanup waste must be disposed of properly, often requiring incineration, and special permits and procedures are necessary for transporting and disposing of the waste, including waste from meth labs, which cannot be taken to regular dumps.

23:51 Crime scene cleanup can cost up to $3,000 per room, but the Crime Victim Reparation Act may cover the cleaning bill for homicides.

28:20 Crime scene cleanup companies make money off of tragedy, and while some argue that there is a commercialization of death, others believe that these companies provide a necessary service that would otherwise fall on the family or friends of the victim.

32:22 The podcast continues discussing various aspects of prison life, including the use of ramen noodles as currency, escapes from the prison, and slang terms used by inmates.

36:04 The podcast concludes with a reminder to send emails to stuffpodcast at howstuffworks.com and includes ads for Colette guided tours and Discover credit cards.