Forensic Autopsy Technician
About The Position
The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Office of the State Medical Examiner is hiring a full-time Forensic Autopsy Technician in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Medical Examiner program’s forensic pathologists assist Kentucky coroners and law enforcement with medicolegal death investigations, primarily by conducting forensic autopsies to help determine cause and manner of death. The technician performs well-defined procedures and assists forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists, odontologists, and criminalists with medicolegal autopsies and complex cases requiring advanced forensic techniques. The role requires maturity, reliability, and self-discipline. The successful candidate will work with four full-time forensic pathologists and three other forensic autopsy technicians, receiving hands-on training under the guidance and supervision of an attending pathologist and senior technicians in Frankfort and Louisville.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, criminal justice, anthropology, forensic science, biochemistry, medical technology, anatomy, mortuary science, funeral services, or a related field.
- Alternatively, two years of experience as an autopsy technician, licensed embalmer, sworn law enforcement officer, certified coroner or deputy coroner, or in a forensics field may substitute for the required education; qualifying experience may be combined to total two years.
- Alternatively, certification and two years of experience as a radiological technician, medical laboratory technologist, or operating room technician may substitute for the required education.
- Alternatively, licensure and two years of experience as a practical nurse or registered nurse, emergency medical technician, or paramedic may substitute for the required education.
- Regularly handle sharp surgical instruments and be exposed to noxious odors and chemicals, with possible contact with contagious diseases; comply with applicable safety procedures.
Responsibilities
- Assist with dissection; collect and properly store body fluids for chemical testing; and remove foreign bodies and materials for evidentiary purposes.
- Assist in collecting trace evidence and maintaining chain of custody.
- Perform x-rays, document histology, and take photographs as directed.
- Ensure proper labeling of decedents and compare paperwork, photo labels, and evidence labels.
- Prepare for medicolegal autopsies by selecting appropriate materials and cleaning the autopsy suite and instruments.
- Assist forensic personnel with photographing bodies; oversee collected evidence and contact appropriate agencies to collect it.
- Receive and make calls related to autopsies; receive, log, and release decedents entering and leaving the morgue.
- Transport bodies to and from the morgue and autopsy suite.
- Ensure bodies are clean and restored to their former state of integrity for release; collect, store, and dispose of tissues as appropriate.
- Maintain autopsy instruments in proper working order and ensure adequate stocks of equipment and supplies.
- Maintain work areas, do laundry, and assist in serving as safety officer.
- Type and file correspondence and reports; update policies and procedures concerning chemical spills, emergency plans, incident reports, and hazardous chemicals.
- Coordinate annual staff safety education and assist in maintaining logbooks for annual report statistics.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Family healthcare
- Flexible spending accounts
- Participation in the state retirement system
- Option to participate in the deferred compensation program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
