Crematory Operator Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a crematory operator job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a crematory operator. Feel free to use our crematory operator job description template to produce your own crematory operator job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a crematory operator.
Who is a Crematory Operator?
A Crematory Operator is an individual employed to provide crematory services and manage the mechanical processor and crematory unit. For a crematorium or funeral home, a crematory operator performs the cremation services. Crematory Operators use machinery to burn human or animal remains, converting them to ash and bone pieces. Then the bone and ash fragments are treated and processed in cremators until they resemble powder. The demand for licensed and registered cremators and cremation arrangers will rise as more people choose cremation for themselves or a deceased family member.
Crematory Operators are also called Crematory Technicians. Although there are a few professions at pet crematoriums, crematory operators primarily deal with human remains. They must operate controls on crematory machinery by municipal and state standards to pulverize the remains. Alkaline hydrolysis or calcination are two more methods of cremation. A crematory operator’s responsibilities include making sure the body is handled with care, tagged accurately, and deposited into the cremation chamber. A crematory operator must possess the necessary abilities to carry out their job with sensitivity and reverence to the family because some places permit family members to observe the cremation.
Operators of crematories, which are used to burn human remains, are in charge of running them. Crematories need to be closely watched and maintained for them to function successfully and safely. To maintain public safety, crematories are also subject to several rules and requirements. To properly manage their crematory, crematory operators must have a full awareness of both these laws and requirements as well as how their particular crematory works. It can be emotionally taxing to cremate a baby’s, child’s, or adult’s body. Because it takes strength to lift, push, and pull throughout a standard shift, employment working in crematories is also physically demanding. Evenings and weekends are part of the lengthy and erratic workday. Driving prowess is necessary since crematory operations must respond quickly after a death, regardless of high traffic or perilous road conditions.
Having a degree in mortuary science or a field related to funeral services will prepare you to operate crematories. You can do an apprenticeship or an internship at a funeral home while finishing your school. Equipment operation, safety, ethical behaviour, and learning how to assist grieving families are all part of the training. Additionally, you will require certification from a recognized cremation group. Before beginning your job, you may need to obtain extra state licenses in some states. You must obtain a state license if you intend to provide funeral services in addition to operating a crematory.
A career as a crematory operator may be financially and personally rewarding. Before embarking on the journey to become a crematory operator, it is crucial to take into account the different facets of this employment. You must be able to bear the emotional demands of this profession in the first place. Daily interactions with mourning families will require that you maintain your professionalism and compassion at all times. Additionally, you must be physically capable of lugging large urns and caskets about the site. Finally, you need to be well-versed in the legal regulations related to cremation.
Crematory Operator Job Description
What is a crematory operator job description? A crematory operator job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a crematory operator in an organization. Below are the crematory operator job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a crematory operator job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Crematory Operator include the following:
- Make necessary modifications while keeping an eye on the equipment to make sure the operation is running smoothly.
- Carry out fundamental housekeeping and cleaning tasks like dusting, vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, and changing the linens and curtains.
- Offer emotional support to bereaved family members.
- Operate machinery, such as furnaces or boilers, by state laws to dispose of bodies.
- Keep equipment that is used in cremation procedures, like machines that turn bones into powder clean.
- Adhere to safety precautions to prevent exposure to potentially dangerous substances or dust particles.
- Learn about the construction of the cremation furnace, its operating features, its control system, and the computer that regulates its operation. Also, become familiar with the technical documentation of the cremation system.
- Obtain desired temperature in the cremation furnace and prepare it.
- Set the proper cremation computer program.
- Bring the body from the storage facility and place it in the furnace with the casket.
- Monitor the cremation process.
- Choose, maintain, and control the cremation furnace’s operational temperature.
- Watch the technological aspects of the cremation process while flying.
- Analyze the cremation process’s digital records.
- Check the furnace’s fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels.
- Ensure control over how exhaust filters work.
- Keep an eye on the automatic collecting of ashes into the container and cool them off after cremation.
- Grind ashes, add them to the urn, and then cover them.
- Add the information about cremated people to the cremation book.
- Take care to reduce fuel use and exhaust emissions.
- Make sure the building is maintained spotless and organized all day.
- Work with the manufacturer in the case that cremation equipment malfunctions.
- Follow the guidelines for managing the cremation process rigorously.
- Respect the laws governing fire safety, environmental protection, and health and safety.
- Use a cremation chamber by personally placing remains inside and keeping an eye on the procedure.
- Organize services, schedule appointments, answer phones, and create records, among other administrative activities.
- Prepare bodies for cremation by trimming body hair, removing organs, and draining blood.
Qualifications
- GED/high school diploma.
- Work experience within a bereavement setting.
- Knowledge of statutory cremation legislation.
- Cemetery and Crematorium Management ICCM qualification.
- The Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management (ICCM) or the Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities (FBCA) crematory operation qualification.
- Understanding of the procurement process.
- Practical experience in sensitive environments.
- Knowledge of laws and rules governing data protection.
- Good interpersonal and communication abilities.
- The capacity to handle extremely delicate issues with diplomacy and compassion.
- Excellent detail-orientedness
- Physical stamina to operate machinery and lift big stuff.
- Outstanding organizational skills, including accurate timekeeping.
- Ability to set effective priorities for tasks and adhere to deadlines.
- Positivity regarding going to training to advance skills.
- Open to suggested modifications to working procedures, including the use of new technologies to enhance service.
- Knowledge of COSHH and other health and safety procedures.
- Flexibility to work on weekends, public holidays, and evenings.
- Possesses the capacity to create and strengthen strong working relationships within a team and the willingness to assist others in their roles.
- Proficiency in Office 365 and other IT systems.
Essential Skills
- Physical stamina: Operators of crematories frequently put in entire shifts, which can be physically draining. It’s essential to have physical stamina if you want to be productive all day. Additionally, you might have to use physically demanding equipment like machinery and hard lift hefty objects.
- Organizational skills: Having organizational skills is being able to manage several duties and obligations. You may have to do numerous tasks simultaneously as a crematory operator. For instance, you might be assisting one family while concurrently getting ready to cremate another body. You can stay focused on the task at hand and finish all the stages quickly by having organizational abilities.
- Time management Skills: Crematory operators who want to finish all of their tasks on time must have good time management skills. They must know how long each work takes so they can prepare accordingly because they may have a defined timetable and obligations that they must follow. For instance, the operator should be aware of when to begin the cremation process if it takes two hours, so they can complete it before their shift is through.
- Empathy: Those who run crematories ought to feel compassion for the families they assist. They ought to be able to relate to the sorrow that families are going through and show them respect and sympathy. They can better appreciate the value of their work and the part they play in the grief process by developing empathy.
- Communication skills: The capacity to communicate ideas are referred to as communication skills. Operators of crematories need to be able to interact with coworkers and the families of the deceased successfully. They must be ready to clarify the cremation procedure and respond to any inquiries from relatives. Additionally, they must be able to describe the various memorialization alternatives and the accompanying costs. They also communicate directions to other workers or respond to queries from clients who are interested in the procedure. Having good interpersonal relationships can be facilitated by having strong communication abilities.
- Safety precautions: Operators of crematoriums need to be well knowledgeable about safety protocols. To protect their safety of themselves and those around them, they should be able to adhere to all safety rules and guidelines. Additionally, they ought to be able to recognize potential risks to safety and take precautions to avoid mishaps.
- Grief counselling skills: The capacity to support people as they go through their grieving processes following a loss is known as grief counselling skills. Working with families that have experienced a death and need direction on how to handle the funeral ceremony may come up for you as a crematory operator. You may help them through this process and make sure they’re at ease the entire time by using your expertise in grief counselling.
- Transportation skills: Crematory operators must be proficient in transportation because they frequently drive their vehicles to transport bodies and equipment. The ability to drive the company car, which you might need to pick up or deliver remains at hospitals or funeral homes, makes having a driver’s license crucial.
- Attention to detail: Crematory operators need to pay close attention to detail to make sure they accurately follow all rules and procedures. The deceased must be handled properly, the body must be prepared for cremation, and the cremated ashes must be disposed of, among other cremation-related activities. When working with the deceased, crematory employees need to be able to follow directions accurately. As cremation is a complex process that needs specific settings for each body, they also need to pay special attention to details like temperature and time. Paying close attention to the little things can assist in guaranteeing that all the remains are correctly disposed of and that after the process is through, the crematorium is free of any personal effects or other stuff.
How to Become a Crematory Operator
Step 1. Education
Crematory operators typically require a high school diploma or GED to qualify for the job. An associate’s degree in mortuary science or a degree in funeral services is preferred by some businesses. Numerous jurisdictions require crematory operators to complete a six- to eight-hour in-person or online crematory operator certification course offered by cremation groups like the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The handling of human remains safely, ethically, and legally is emphasized in the curriculum. Operators of crematories are also trained on the job. Numerous crematoriums now demand certification even if it is not required by state law because of the rise in litigation resulting from the misidentification of cremains.
Step 2. Training and Experience
You can do an apprenticeship or an internship at a funeral home while finishing your school. During training, participants will learn how to operate machines, practice safety and ethics, and assist grieving families. Typically, training for crematory operators is done on the job. Depending on the size of the crematory and the difficulty of the cremation procedure, this training may last a few weeks or a few months. Safety protocols, the cremation method, and how to utilize the computer systems at the crematory are frequently covered in training.
Step 3. Certifications and Licenses
Employers may demand that candidates complete a certification exam unique to the business to demonstrate their general expertise. Before beginning your job, you may need to obtain extra state licenses in some states. You must obtain a state license if you intend to provide funeral services in addition to operating a crematory. The states’ regulations for crematory operators’ licenses differ. Some necessitate passing a training course specific to crematories and obtaining a license that must be updated every five years. Some offer a voluntary Certified Cremation Technician (CCT) certificate but do not require a license. The International Conference of Funeral Services Examining Boards’ licensing guide outlines the laws that apply to cremation jobs in each state.
Where to Work as a Crematory Operator
Crematory operators are typically employed in cremation centres, mortuaries, funeral homes and cemeteries where they perform their tasks. They frequently put in full-time hours, which may include weekends and evenings. Crematory Operators must be able to lift and carry heavy bodies into the cremation chamber. They must also be capable of operating the cremation machinery and keeping the crematory neat and organized. Crematory operators must be able to handle the emotional burden that their line of work might bring because they interact with the deceased.
Crematory Operator Salary Scale
The salaries of Crematory Operators in the US range from $17,620 to $122,222, with an average salary of $28,699. In the UK, Crematory Operators’ Salaries range from £12,000 to £17,400 a year. With more experience, a person can earn over £20,000. The average crematory operator average salary in Canada is $36,353. They also earn an average bonus of $542. The annual average salary for Crematory Operator in Germany is €35,028. A person working as a Crematory Operator in Nigeria typically earns around 2,880,000 NGN annually. Salaries range from 1,524,000 NGN to 4,368,000 NGN annually.