How Does a Morgue Tech Worker Spend a Workday?

The Role of a Morgue Tech

A morgue tech worker, also called a morgue technician, works directly under the supervision of a forensic examiner. The role of a morgue tech is to assist the forensic examiner throughout the workday.

The job duties of a morgue tech worker require knowledge in the medical field. Job qualifications vary by area. Generally morgue tech workers have at least a four-year college degree with a major in funeral service studies.

Beginnig of the Day

A typical day starts with the morgue tech preparing the autopsy room for an autopsy. The room is sterilized and sterile equipment needed for the procedure is placed in the room. The morgue tech worker brings the body into the room and prepares the body for autopsy.

Assisting in Autopsies

The morgue tech assists the forensic examiner in performing autopsies. In a given day, there may be multiple autopsies to perform. Duties that the morgue tech assists in include:

1) Removing, tagging and bagging clothing and personal items of the person being autopsied.

2) Assisting the forensic examiner in performing autopsy procedures.

3) Performing and developing x-rays.

4) Assisting the forensic examiner in dissecting organs.

5) Taking pictures of the deceased body.

After an Autopsy

After the forensic examiner performs the autopsy, the morgue tech prepares the body to be brought to the funeral home by sewing up any incisions and cleaning the body. The body is then brought back to refrigerated storage to keep the body preserved.

After the morgue tech finishes preparing the body to be brought to the funeral home, he cleans the autopsy room and sterilizes medical tools.

Transportation of the Deceased Body

When the driver arrives to pick up the deceased body for transport to the funeral home, the morgue tech fills out the chain of custody paperwork. A chain of custody is a record documenting each person who has a specimen, evidence, or body in their custody.

The End of the Day

At the end of the day, the morgue tech thoroughly cleans the autopsy room and other work areas in preparation for the next day.

Other Duties of a Morgue Tech Worker

A morgue tech worker has many duties that she is responsible for besides assisting in the autopsy room. Some of her other responsibilities may include:

1) Putting evidence into a sealed container and documenting the evidence on required forms.

2) Packaging body fluid, tissue samples and clothing samples for transport to a lab and documenting the samples and a chain of custody.

3) Taking fingerprints and pictures of the deceased person.

4) Disposing of medical waste.

5) Obtaining the past medical records of the deceased person.

6) Filling out necessary information for death certificates.

Summarizing the Morgue Tech Job

Each work day in the job of a morgue tech worker can bring new situations. Autopsies can have unexpected results. No work day is exactly the same. The job requires vigor, an inquisitive mind, an ability to work around blood and smell strong unpleasant smells, and a morgue worker needs to exhibit sensitivity when dealing with friends and families of the deceased.

Resources

• St. John's University - Funeral Service Studies