City and County of San Francisco

Under general supervision, performs or supervises morgue attendants in the handling and preparation of bodies of deceased persons for post-mortem examination and burial; assists a physician in performing autopsies; performs specimen grossing on select tissue types and performs related duties as required. Nature of work involves considerable physical effort and manual dexterity with considerable exposure to disagreeable working conditions.

This is the senior-level position in the Morgue Attendant series. It is distinguished from the 2520 Morgue Attendant in that it has supervisory responsibilities, and incumbents perform work that is more difficult than that performed by incumbents in the 2520 position.

Supervises subordinates in the Morgue.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Supervises several morgue attendants in the preparation of bodies of deceased persons for post-mortem examinations and burial.

2. Prepares for post-mortem examination by setting up necessary equipment, instruments and solutions; assists a physician in all aspects of autopsy such as removing plaster casts and bandages, opening bodies, obtaining blood samples and other fluids from bodies for toxicological examinations.

3. Transports specimens from the operating room and other hospital clinics and performs specimen grossing as requested on select tissue types.

4. Checks morgue and other work spaces for cleanliness and adequacy of service supplies; checks for proper ventilation and assures that all equipment is functioning properly.

5. Correlates all information to be furnished to proper authorities; transmits all required information to personnel assigned to subsequent shifts; prepares daily reports for death registry office.

6. Performs the duties of a morgue attendant in cleaning and maintaining morgue and autopsy room, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, dispose of tissue and chemical waste, preparing bodies for examination and burial and preparers all required documentation associate with these tasks.

7. Receives animal specimens and prepares them for examination, perfoms specimen dissection, and prepares tissue for testing at a reference laboratory.

Knowledge of: The procedures involved in assisting a physician in post-mortem examinations; - techniques involved in handling and preparation of bodies for post-mortem examination or burial; hospital methods and procedures; and the care of surgical instruments and equipment.

Ability and Skill to: Use post-mortem techniques and procedures as necessary; supervise and check the work of subordinates.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:
Possession of an associate’s degree (AA) or equivalent courses with a concentration in Biological Sciences and Anatomy from an accredited college or university.

Experience:
One (1) year of experience conducting autopsies or surgical grossing in a hospital or medical examiner setting.

License and Certification:

Substitution:

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.