In the UK, the equivalent job title is "mortuary assistant", whilst the preparation, evisceration and reconstruction of the deceased is performed by an anatomical pathology technician.
Formal training requirements for a diener includes manual handling, infection control, and safety procedures.
[4] Skills a diener needs includes physical strength, reasoning, problem solving, attention to detail, and stress tolerance.
[citation needed] Another skill is the ability to work with human remains, diagnostic tools, and surgical instruments involved in a death investigation.
A diener is required to be knowledgeable of lab and safety techniques including the collection and preservation of evidence and any tasks involving any chemical, biological, microbiological, pathogenic and miscellaneous hazards.
Another task done as a part of assisting with autopsies involves the removal of organs, tissues, and any fluids (such as blood) from the body.
Fingerprinting patients, removing tissues and organs, drawing and spinning blood samples are done as a part of collecting and preserving forensic evidence, which is a portion of the responsibilities for a diener.
In addition to evidence collection and record keeping, a diener has the task of explaining the process of an autopsy in entirety to other employees, law enforcement, and others interested, such as family members of the dead.
There are approximately six types of hazards that a diener is at risk for: mechanical, sharp force, electrical, chemical, radiation, and infection.
[7] Sharp force hazards categorize any bodily harm from the use of tools and equipment such as scalpels and needles which resulting in cuts or punctures.