Exposure to traumatic death is common in natural and man-made disasters and is a significant psychological stressor that can make victims of rescuers. The handling of the remains of the dead following natural disasters, disasters of human origin, terrorism and other forms of traumatic death is known to cause distress. The stress of anticipation has important psychological and physiological effects. Profound sensory stimulation is often an extremely bothersome aspect of handling the dead. Identification or emotional involvement with the deceased may produce a high degree of distress. Close supervision is important for monitoring the welfare of the worker as well as the accomplishment of the many tasks associated with recovery and identification of the dead following a disaster. Numerous strategies are used to cope with the stresses of body handling. Most appear to be effective in the short run; however, which are more effective and their long-term consequences are unclear.