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15 February 2006 - Memorial Directive
Causing Added Grief
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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:
Memorial Safety Checks
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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