Embalmers

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Embalmers

Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

Activities
Degrees
Abilities
Interests
Knowledge
Wages
Related
Skills
Tasks
Environment
Personal Styles
Personal Needs
Personal Values

Degrees

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General

Mortuary Science and Embalming + Embalmer

Abilities

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Visual Color Discrimination

The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Manual Dexterity

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Static Strength

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Control Precision

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Multilimb Coordination

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Extent Flexibility

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

The ability to see details at a distance.

Depth Perception

The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Gross Body Coordination

The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.

Dynamic Strength

The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.

Speed of Limb Movement

The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.

Wrist-Finger Speed

The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Response Orientation

The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Auditory Attention

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Speed of Closure

The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Hearing Sensitivity

The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Peripheral Vision

The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.

Spatial Orientation

The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.

Glare Sensitivity

The ability to see objects in the presence of glare or bright lighting.

Gross Body Equilibrium

The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

The ability to see under low light conditions.

Sound Localization

The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

Interests

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Second Interest High-Point

Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

First Interest High-Point

Primary-Rank Descriptiveness

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service

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.

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.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

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.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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.

Administration and Management

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.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Philosophy and Theology

Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Therapy and Counseling

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Sales and Marketing

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Sociology and Anthropology

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Personnel and Human Resources

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Economics and Accounting

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Communications and Media

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

History and Archeology

Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Foreign Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Food Production

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Wages

District of Columbia

Ohio	$35,970.00

Related Careers

Agricultural Technicians

Set up and maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens and record data to assist scientist in biology or related science experiments.

Skills

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Listening

Giving 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.

Teaching others how to do something.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Equipment Selection

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Management of Material Resources

Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Management of Financial Resources

Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Operation Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Technology Design

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Tasks

Conform to laws of health and sanitation, and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming are met.

Apply cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.

Incise stomach and abdominal walls and probe internal organs, using trocar, to withdraw blood and waste matter from organs.

Close incisions, using needles and sutures.

Reshape or reconstruct disfigured or maimed bodies when necessary, using derma-surgery techniques and materials such as clay, cotton, plaster of paris, and wax.

Dress bodies and place them in caskets.

Make incisions in arms or thighs and drain blood from circulatory system and replace it with embalming fluid, using pump.

Conduct 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.

Join lips, using needles and thread or wire.

Perform the duties of funeral directors, including coordinating funeral activities.

Attach trocar to pump-tube, start pump, and repeat probing to force embalming fluid into organs.

Perform special procedures necessary for remains that are to be transported to other states or overseas, or where death was caused by infectious disease.

Maintain records such as itemized lists of clothing or valuables delivered with body and names of persons embalmed.

Insert convex celluloid or cotton between eyeballs and eyelids to prevent slipping and sinking of eyelids.

Wash and dry bodies, using germicidal soap and towels or hot air dryers.

Arrange for transporting the deceased to another state for interment.

Supervise funeral attendants and other funeral home staff.

Pack body orifices with cotton saturated with embalming fluid to prevent escape of gases or waste matter.

Assist with placing caskets in hearses, and organize cemetery processions.

Serve as pallbearers, attend visiting rooms, and provide other assistance to the bereaved.

Direct casket and floral display placement and arrange guest seating.

Assist coroners at death scenes or at autopsies, file police reports, and testify at inquests or in court, if employed by a coroner.

Arrange funeral home equipment and perform general maintenance.

Press diaphragm to evacuate air from lungs.

Career Activities

Handling and Moving Objects

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

follow infectious materials procedures

use health or sanitation standards

use knowledge of relevant laws

Assisting and Caring for Others

administer enemas, irrigations, or douches to patients

administer injections

prepare bodies for interment

Getting Information

interview family members to arrange funeral details

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers

provide customer service

Performing General Physical Activities

arrange decorations or furniture for banquets or social functions

assist in carrying casket

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

determine funeral arrangements

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

interview customers

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

ensure compliance with government regulations

Scheduling Work and Activities

arrange for transportation or accommodations

schedule activities, classes, or events

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

coordinate activities of assistants

direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff

direct funeral services

Controlling Machines and Processes

use hair, cosmetic, or nail care instruments

Thinking Creatively

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others

consult with customers concerning needs

testify in court for accident and criminal cases

Performing Administrative Activities

file documents in court

maintain records, reports, or files

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

maintain or repair work tools or equipment

Career Context

Face-to-Face Discussions

Contact With Others

Freedom to Make Decisions

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Structured versus Unstructured Work

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Deal With External Customers

Exposed to Disease or Infections

Frequency of Decision Making

Responsible for Others' Health and Safety

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Exposed to Contaminants

Work With Work Group or Team

Electronic Mail

Coordinate or Lead Others

Consequence of Error

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Letters and Memos

Physical Proximity

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results

Public Speaking

Spend Time Standing

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection

Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body

Level of Competition

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment

Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting

Frequency of Conflict Situations

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions

Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather

In an Open Vehicle or Equipment

Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions

Outdoors, Under Cover

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled

Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling

Deal With Physically Aggressive People

Exposed to High Places

Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings

Spend Time Walking and Running

Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance

Exposed to Whole Body Vibration

Career Styles

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Concern for Others

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Adaptability/Flexibility

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Stress Tolerance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Social Orientation

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Career Needs

Workers on this job do their work alone.

Workers on this job have steady employment.

Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

Workers on this job have work where they do things for other people.

Supervision, Human Relations

Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.

Ability Utilization

Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

Workers on this job are paid well in comparison with other workers.

Supervision, Technical

Workers on this job have supervisors who train their workers well.

Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

Company Policies and Practices

Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.

Workers on this job have something different to do every day.

Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

Workers on this job receive recognition for the work they do.

Workers on this job have opportunities for advancement.

Workers on this job are looked up to by others in their company and their community.

Workers on this job are busy all the time.

Workers on this job have co-workers who are easy to get along with.

Workers on this job try out their own ideas.

Working Conditions

Workers on this job have good working conditions.

Workers on this job give directions and instructions to others.

Career Values

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Occupations that satisfy t