What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forensic Lab Technician - Forensic Services - 1 position at Brazos County?
General Summary:
Under direction, provides assistance to doctor(s) performing postmortem examinations and autopsies, including weighing human cadavers; removing clothing and articles of personal property from human cadavers prior to autopsy; washing human cadavers to remove excess blood; assisting doctors in opening abdominal, thoracic, and cranial cavities of human cadavers; measuring/weighing organ/fluid specimens and internal organs; closing incisions with sutures; returning human cadavers to storage cooler after completion of autopsy; exposing and developing x-rays of bodies and specimens; assisting as needed in collecting daily toxicology samples and identification photographs; timely packaging, sealing, and releasing of property and evidence.
Maintains cleanliness and orderliness of autopsy and morgue equipment and materials. Maintains chain of custody for all evidence obtained. Packages specimens appropriate as needed for toxicology and histology. Releases bodies to funeral homes, including transferring property to funeral homes and helping with lifting bodies. Performs related administrative work as required. Monitor and maintain equipment and supply inventory; perform related duties as required.
Essential Duties: Receive, photograph, tag, store decedents along w/associated evidence/personal effects. Undress, wash, weigh, measure, photograph, and eviscerate during autopsy as required. Assure that the decedent is released to proper next of kin as defined by Texas Law. Collect and prepare specimens in accordance with proper procedures; performs and processes x-rays, fingerprints, and performs other trace evidence collection and maintains inventory. Enters data into computer system and maintains monthly files of lab test results. Cleans and maintains instruments and equipment and supplies properly. Available for on-call rotation for weekends and holidays as needed.
Other Duties as assigned.
Supervision
Received: Administrative Manager
Given: None
Education
Required: High School Diploma or G.E.D
Preferred: Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or related field
Experience
Required: 1 year experience in a laboratory environment
Preferred:
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Required:
Preferred:
Physical Demands
Typical: Sitting, standing, walking, stooping, climbing, kneeling and reaching. Pushing/pulling heavy weights up to 250 pounds and standing for extended periods will be necessary periodically.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Typical: Knowledge of health and safety standards and practices; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; must adjust to rapidly fluctuating situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, employees of county and other governmental entities, outside agencies, news media, and the general public. Able to operate x-ray machine, x-ray developer, centrifuge, transcriber, computer, camera and other various lab equipment.
Work Environment
Typical: Usually in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors causing moderate physical discomfort from such things as dust, fumes or odors. Requires sitting, standing, walking, stooping, climbing, kneeling, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. There is also frequent exposure to blood/body fluids or potentially infectious material or other hazardous material.