Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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Section 4.2: Identification of Human Remains—Administration/Morgue OperationsI. Establish Morgue OperationsPrinciple. Establishing morgue operationsduring a mass fatality incident may requireexpanded operations. The medical examiner/coroneris usually responsible for coordinatingthe logistical requirements tosupport sustained operations in an orderlyenvironment.Procedure. Consider the following functionalareas in order to sustain the morgueoperations from intake to release/disposition—A. Identify the morgue operations supervisor,usually the medical examiner/coroner or designee, responsible fordirectly supervising the followingindividuals:1. Public information officer (PIO).2. Safety officer.3. Liaison officer for interagencycoordination.B. Identify the operations section leader(not necessarily a forensic specialist),who is expected to:1. Report directly to the medicalexaminer/coroner.2. Supervise the overall morgueoperation.C. Plan in advance of the incident for theuse of forensic identification specialists(e.g., DNA analysts, fingerprintexaminers, forensic anthropologists)who are expected to report to themedical examiner/coroner.D. Establish the following resource managementunits:1. Resource unit (for tracking availableresources and staff work schedules).When the medical examiner/coroner requiresteams of forensic specialists, ensure that teamleaders are selected and introduced to the medualsdesignated to serve as the functionalical examiner/coroner. Team leaders are individgerprints,forensic anthropology, odontology).heads of forensic identification teams (e.g., finThey are responsible for organizing and directingthe teams’ activities. Effective team leaderstypically have experience working a mass fatalityincident and understand the forensic issuesinvolved. Team leaders may also have specializedcertifications in their disciplines.2. Situation unit (for collecting andentering data, preparing reports,and developing projections).3. Documentation unit (for organizingand maintaining all records).4. Demobilization unit (for releasingthe scene).Summary. Establishing an effectivemorgue operation helps ensure properinvestigation, identification, and return ofremains and personal effects to the legalnext of kin.II. Establish Workstation FlowPrinciple. Ensuring the systematic andcomprehensive examination of the remainseffectively leads to a positive identificationand preservation of evidence.Procedure. The following functional activitiesare suggested in the order listed, butthat order may be altered to accommodatethe situation (see appendix C for workflowdiagrams for forensic identification andforensic information management andcoordination)—19
SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05A. Establish and secure an intake/admitting/triage area:1. Assign escorts (one escort per bodyor set of remains).2. Assign a case number.3. Establish a case file.4. Weigh (and measure if applicable)the remains.5. Conduct triage.B. Photograph remains and personaleffects.Summary. Effective and organized workstationsat the morgue facility provide foran orderly and consistent operation andreduce the potential for error.III. Establish a ForensicIdentification TeamPrinciple. The medical examiner/coroner isresponsible for establishing an identificationteam of specialists from a variety offorensic disciplines. These identificationspecialists are expected to compare antemortemto postmortem records and reporttheir findings to the medical examiner/coroner for review and final approval.Procedure. Depending on the extent ofthe incident, consider the following forensicidentification specialists for comparingantemortem to postmortem records—A. Evidence technician.B. Fingerprint examiner.C. Forensic anthropologist.D. DNA analyst.E. Odontologist.F. Forensic photographer.G. Pathologist.H. Radiologist and radiographic technicians.I. Toxicologist.Summary. A forensic identificationteam is an essential part of the forensicinvestigation.IV. Other ConsiderationsPrinciple. In addition to overseeing morgueoperations, the medical examiner/coroneris expected to consider other details criticalto the efficient collection, identification,documentation, and release of remainsand personal effects.Procedure. The medical examiner/coroneris expected to consider the following—A. Use recognized, standard forms forthe collection, collation, and matchingof antemortem with postmortemrecords.Many of these sample forms are availablethrough agencies via the Internet or onCD–ROM. Many of the agencies listed inappendix A offer electronic forms.B. Establish and/or maintain a simple,concise, and continuous numberingsystem.C. Conduct regular team briefings:1. Consider scheduling and conductingdaily briefings for all personnelinvolved.2. Schedule briefings to cover shiftchanges, personnel transitions,duration of work, and rumor control.D. Establish morgue security by restrictingmorgue access to authorizedpersonnel.E. Prohibit personal photography.F. Monitor the physical condition andemotional well-being of those allowedto assist in the morgue operation.20
Page 3 and 4: JUNE 05Mass Fatality Incidents: A G
Page 5 and 6: Message From the DirectorEvery acti
Page 7 and 8: Technical Working Group for Mass Fa
Page 9 and 10: Cook County HospitalChicago, Illino
Page 11 and 12: AcknowledgmentsThe National Institu
Page 13 and 14: Appendix D. Procedures for DNA Samp
Page 15 and 16: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05III. Consid
Page 17 and 18: Section 2: Arriving at the SceneI.
Page 19 and 20: MASS FATALITY INCIDENTS: A GUIDE FO
Page 21 and 22: Section 3: Processing the Scene I.
Page 25: Identification of Human Remains SEC
Page 34 and 35: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05idiosyncras
Page 36 and 37: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05inventory,
Page 38 and 39: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05b. Train in
Page 40 and 41: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 0530g. Conduc
Page 42 and 43: Section 4.5: Identification of Huma
Page 46 and 47: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05remains. A
Page 48 and 49: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05C. Establis
Page 50 and 51: Section 4.8: Identification of Huma
Page 52 and 53: Section 5: Disposition of Human Rem
Page 56 and 57: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 58 and 59: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 60 and 61: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Federal Avi
Page 62 and 63: Appendix B. Disaster Mortuary Opera
Page 64 and 65: Appendix C. Facilities/Organization
Page 66 and 67: Appendix D. Procedures for DNASampl
Page 68 and 69: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Potential L
Page 70 and 71: Appendix F. Dental Numbering System
Page 72 and 73: Appendix G. Sample Remains ReleaseA
Page 74 and 75: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05AFIP, Office
Page 76 and 77: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Indiana Stat
Page 78 and 79: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05National Gov
Page 80 and 81:
SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Tarrant Coun
Page 82 and 83:
About the National Institute of Jus
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Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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