Morgue Attendant Grade B

Clerical and Technical generic job description

Family: Clinical
Job Code: 534

Representative duties:

  • Prepares bodies for postmortem examinations. Washes, dries, measures, and positions bodies
  • Selects and lays out surgical instruments and supplies. Prepares preserving solutions
  • Maintains cleanliness of work area and equipment. Maintains inventory of supplies
  • Sets up visual aids for classroom instructions
  • Performs additional functions related to autopsy activities

The job duties listed above are representative and characteristic of the duties required and the level of the work performed in the job title. The duties will vary from incumbent to incumbent in the job title.

Required knowledge:

  • General knowledge, high school level; detailed but narrow work-related knowledge
  • Limited acquaintance with University organizational policies and procedures

Required skills:

  • Copies data from standard or easily understandable formats
  • Understands non-routine notes, written instructions, and general policy statements
  • Writes short, informal notes, fills out simple forms
  • Occasional use of machines that require little training to operate
  • Performs one or more simple, prescribed tasks

Office and administrative skills:

  • Refers callers and visitors to the appropriate individual

Experience, education and formal training:

  • One year of related work experience and a high school level education, or an equivalent combination of experience and education

Complexity and organization:

  • Job tasks composed of routine steps/processes

Interpersonal relations:

  • Little or no involvement outside immediate unit
  • Offers or obtains basic information or provides assistance on general matters
  • Understands and conveys simple messages and instructions verbally

Supervisory guidelines:

  • Work is closely reviewed for adequacy and accuracy daily
  • Supervisor and incumbent plan, assign and schedule work jointly
  • Instruction provided only in new situations, methods and procedures

Independent judgment:

  • Established procedures/policies govern many work situations
  • Little opportunity to exercise independent judgment or initiative
  • Problems solved by using established procedures

Leadership responsibility:

  • Occasionally provides general orientation to routine procedures/policies

Impact and consequence of error:

  • Work affects only immediate work unit
  • Errors are not difficult to recognize and correct and only affect own work

Working conditions:

  • Slight possibility of safety risks
  • Occasional conflicting demands, time pressure, deadlines or emergencies
  • Some sustained concentration
  • Some physical effort or dexterity

Example 1

General purpose:

Under the supervision of manager/faculty member, assist in preparation of human remains and maintenance of teaching.

Essential duties of position:

  • Prepare bodies for postmortem examination. Wash, dry, measure and position bodies
  • Select and lay out surgical instruments and supplies. Prepare preserving solutions
  • Maintain cleanliness of work area and equipment. Maintain inventory of supplies
  • Assist in retrieval of histological and cytological slides and set up visual aids for classroom instruction
  • Enter specimen data into database using the CoPath system
  • Convey appropriate information to families, funeral homes, local authorities and other personnel
  • Perform additional functions related to autopsy activities

Education and training:

  • One year related work experience and a high school level education or an equivalent combination of experience and education
  • Preferred: One year of experience in Pathology

Skills and abilities:

  • Ability to retrieve and file Histological & Cytological slides; general computer knowledge
  • Must be able to move 150+ lbs
  • Preferred: Experience with CoPath system