FORENSIC MORGUE SUPERVISOR

Definition

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief State Medical Examiner, or other higher level supervisory official in the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, or Regional Medical Examiner Office or County Medical Examiner Office in Local Government, supervises the work of the Forensic Morgue Technicians, diagnostic imaging and photography; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Supervises work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Organizes work assignments of subordinates and provides instructions.
• Trains or assigns training of new forensic morgue technicians to include safety practices and the proper use of equipment and materials.
• Establish and implement procedures and assign and oversee projects to ensure that morgue technician time is utilized efficiently.
• Receive, review and handle complaints accordingly as they arise.
• Maintain appropriate records and equipment.
• Quality review of morgue data entry and other case work.
• Preparation of schedule of morgue technician coverage in conjunction with pathologist schedule in autopsy.
• 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 accordance with standard evidentiary practice.
• 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; the cleaning of the morgue and morgue refrigerators, and the presentation and release of identified or registered bodies to undertakers.
• Responsible for the safety and sanitation of cadavers and morgue facilities instructs 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 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, bodies and personal effects received and oversees their disposition.
• Assists medical examiners with forensic post-mortem examinations and evisceration in accordance with 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 chain of custody is 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 to how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience as a Forensic Morgue Technician.

License

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

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of statutes, rules, and regulations concerning the transportation, receipt, management and release of dead-human bodies.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and the legal/medical language of instruction and communication.
• Knowledge of Case Management System (CMS)
• Knowledge of the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Knowledge of Electronic Death Reporting System (EDRS).
• Ability to comprehend and apply the principles and practice of evidence custody and handling.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to supervise the preparation of correspondence.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of 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.

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.

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.