A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Directive calling for councils to inspect memorials at least once every five years, has caused many councils throughout the UK to come under fire from relatives who tend memorials as to the methods of inspection used during the assessments.
The method used to determine whether gravestones, more than 30 months old, are safe or not is one of shaking the stone to test stability prior to using the "topple tester" device and laying down of the headstone.
The "topple tester" tool measures the amount of pressure applied at a given point, up to 35kg. If the memorial moves prior to reaching the 35Kg point, the memorial has failed the assessment. The reading on the "topple tester" is recorded. However, if the memorial withstands the 35kg of pressure, the memorial is classified as secure and no Improvement Notice is issued.
St. Edmundsbury Council is just one of the councils who have come under fire from angry relatives following inspections of gravestones having been badly damaged by the use of the "topple tester" tool by Council Safety Officers.
Improvement Notices were issued at Haverhill, causing families who tend the gravestones to face a bill of £200 in order to make memorials safe.
West Suffolk MP Richard Spring, who met with families in Haverhill said:
“This is sickening bureaucratic madness. I've been left speechless with disgust and I've been deeply moved by what I have seen.
“The idea that small modern headstones, which mostly come up to knee height, are going to be a source of danger is ridiculous. If no relatives can be found and a stone has been pushed over it is simply left which is totally disrespectful.”
A spokesman for the borough council defending the St Edmundsbury policy said:
"The council had no choice but to carry out the Health and Safety directive.
“This is something which is happening across the country. We have identified only those stones deemed dangerous and it is the responsibility of the owners to have them repaired.”
Keith Rackham, President of National Association of Memorial Masons said:
"I have never heard of an injury caused by a modern headstone in my 36-year career.
"However, St Edmundsbury had done everything correctly and had only been following procedure."
The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) have produced a summary guidance as to the correct assessment methods which should be used when testing for stability of headstones, some of which are as follows:
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The "topple tester" be used by trained person at force of 35Kg.
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The "topple tester" must not be used on Historic value or listed memorials.
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Risk assessments initially to be one of visual assessment.
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Memorials up to height of 2.5m are to be done by hand shaking only.
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Memorials up to height of 1.5m assessed by hand and "topple tester".
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Memorials below 500mm assessed by hand only.
The ICCM summary guidance can be accessed by clicking the following:
Installation, Inspection, Management and Maintenance of Memorials Summary
Further information can also be accessed from the ICCM website, by clicking the following:
Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management
Wyre Forest District Council have a very informative webpage on Memorial Safety Checks which can be accessed by clicking the following:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
