Embalmer Job Description

The Embalmer prepares bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

Tasks for Embalmers

• The Embalmer must conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirement concerning embalming is met.
• The Embalmer applies cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.
• The Embalmer incises stomach and abdominal walls and probe internal organs, using tracer, to withdraw blood and waste matter from organs.
• The Embalmer closes incisions, using needles and sutures.
• The Embalmer reshapes or reconstructs disfigured or maimed bodies when necessary, using derma surgery techniques and materials such as clay, cotton, or plaster of paris and wax.
• The Embalmer makes incisions in arms or thighs and drains blood from circulatory system and replace it with embalming fluid, using pump.
• The Embalmer dresses bodies and places them in casket for viewing and burial.
• The Embalmer performs the duties of funeral directors, including coordinating funeral activities.
• The Embalmer joins lips, using needles and thread or wire.
• The Embalmer conducts interviews to arrange for the preparation of obituary notices, to assist with the selection of caskets or urns, and to determine the location and time of burials or cremations.

The Embalmer needs knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. The Embalmer needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Embalmer needs knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. The Embalmer needs a good knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Embalmer needs knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. The Embalmer needs knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. The Embalmer needs knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. The Embalmer needs knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual differences in ability, personality, and interests, learning and motivation; psychological research methods, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. The Embalmer needs knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills for Embalmer

• The Embalmer gives full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• The Embalmer must actively look for ways to help people. Since many of his clients are deceased it is usually the family members and friends that he tries to help.
• The Embalmer adjusts actions in relation to others’ actions.
• The Embalmer must be able to convey information to others so that they can comprehend what is about to happen during their time of stress and grief.
• The Embalmer must be able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• The Embalmer uses scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• The Embalmer must be aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react and they do.
• The Embalmer uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Work Activities for the Embalmer

The Embalmer observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources. The Embalmer enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in written or electronic magnetic form. The Embalmer provides personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. The Embalmer must perform for people or deal directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receives clients or guests. The Embalmer must keep up-to-date technically and apply new knowledge to the job.