FORENSIC MORGUE TECHNICIAN

DEFINITION:

Under the close  supervision of Forensic Morgue Supervisor or other 
supervisory official in the  Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, 
Department of Health, or Regional Medical Examiner Office or a County 
Medical Office in local government, does the routine work of receiving 
and preparing dead bodies and anatomical material for post mortem 
examination; does other related duties as required.

NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes 
only.  A particular position using this title may not perform all duties 
listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on 
the job may not be listed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Assists a pathologist in post-mortem examination or autopsy to 
determine the cause of death.

Assists in the preparation and unclothing of body for autopsy or 
post-mortem examination and maintain and safeguard clothing 
in an adequate, evidentiary status.

Prepares, labels, or packages clothing, personal effects or other 
articles, or items received with, in or on the body.

Receives, stores, and disposes of  non-human remains or specimen 
thereof, after completion of post-mortem examination, autopsy, or 
testing procedures.

Manages the handling, routing and disposition of all cadavers 
in the morgue; cleaning of the morgue and morgue refrigerators, 
and presentation and release of identified or registered bodies to 
undertakers.

Responsible for the safety and sanitation of cadavers and morgue 
facilities; guides new technicians in safety rules and sanitation 
procedures.

Attends to the fixation or refrigeration, or special handling of 
submitted specimens and tissues removed at autopsies, 
including specimens for post mortem toxicology analysis and 
prepares solutions for the preservation of specimens and tissues.

Prepares and maintains a permanent inventory of reagents and 
supplies utilized in the morgue; request replenishment as indicated 
on inventory file.

Prepares reports on cases received and disposed, as required for 
operating analysis and work distribution.

Maintains essential records and files of materials processed, 
specimens and bodies received and their disposition.

Assists physicians with forensic post-mortem examinations and 
evisceration in accordance with instructions delegated by standard 
autopsy procedures.

Provides Forensic Photography support in the Autopsy Suite as
 required.

Follows all morgue and safety standard operation procedures in 
the handling of decedent remains and samples taken for testing, 
ensuring that chains of custody are not breached.

Transport specimens to local hospitals for testing.

Supports Body Removal and Transport services as required. 

Provides support to the Body Release Office as required.

Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic 
and/or manual recording and information systems used by the 
agency, office, or related units.

REQUIREMENTS

PHYSICAL:

Must be able to lift and manipulate human remains as needed to 
remove from the place of death and for the completion of 
postmortem examinations.  Must be able to withstand prolonged 
hours of standing.

LICENSE:

Appointee must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey

KNOWLEDGES AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of basic human anatomy.

Knowledge of packaging and labeling of various article used in the 
forensic laboratory and morgue.

Knowledge of various basic sample taking techniques for laboratory 
processing.

Knowledge of various methods on how to keep the laboratory clean 
and sanitized.

Ability to interpret and apply statutes, rules, and regulations 
concerning the transportation, receipt, management and release 
of dead human bodies.

Ability to comprehend the legal/medical language of instruction
and communication.

Ability to comprehend and apply the principles and practice of 
evidence custody and handling. 

Ability to follow instructions.

Ability to guide personnel engaged in morgue operations, 
sanitation, and maintenance.

Ability to prepare solutions as required for the preservation of 
anatomical specimens.

Ability to maintain essential records and files.

Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or 
manual recording and information systems used by the agency, 
office, or related units.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in 
English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American 
Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable 
forms of communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can 
perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable 
accommodation.  If the accommodation cannot be made because 
it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may 
not be eligible.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
01581
S
N
40
13
N/A
A14
-

This job specification is for state government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 9/11/2021