The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 requires all burial authorities to ensure that memorials are safe so that the potential for injury to those visiting and working in the cemetery is reduced.

 

 

The safety testing is to assess whether memorials can withstand a reasonable pressure, which may be applied to the memorials by users of the cemetery. For instance, if someone slips and uses the memorial to try and steady themselves. The safety testing involves visually inspecting the memorials for signs of instability followed by a nationally recognised hand test.

 

If your memorial is deemed unstable it may be temporarily laid down without your knowledge. It could be cordoned off, supported with a small stake or secured with bonding adhesive. Those showing signs of instability, but not an immediate threat, will be assessed again in 12 months.

 

We will attempt to contact the last known grave owner in accordance with our registers.

 

It should be noted that under the provisions of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 (LACO) Article 3 empowers us to make safe dangerous memorials.

 

 

Grave owners and their families have a responsibility to make sure their memorial remains in good repair. Therefore, if you are notified that your memorial needs attention, you should contact an approved stonemason for which the mason will charge a fee. Do not attempt to repair or remove a memorial yourself.

 

We apologise in advance for any distress this may cause, however we are required to carry out this work.

 

 

You can help us by

 

• Keeping your contact details up to date
• Being aware that cemeteries are potentially dangerous places. Please stay on the footpaths and avoid touching any memorials. Children should be supervised at all times.