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Weekly Newsletter | |
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Frequently asked questions - Memorial Testing
Hertford Town Council is undertaking a programme of memorial testing and repair in the closed churchyards and cemeteries of Hertford. The work is necessary to ensure the safety of those visiting or working in Hertford's graveyards.
Why are we testing memorials?
In 2001 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a 'Be Respectful, Be Safe' campaign to try and improve the safety of cemeteries and churchyards. More recently, all local authorities that are responsible for cemeteries and churchyards are being asked to carry out safety checks on memorials, to ensure that they are in a good and stable condition and not likely to topple over. The safety checks are in line with advice from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and ICCM, which highlighted the fact that across the country there have been 21 serious accidents, including seven fatalities during the last ten years.
What do the safety tests involve?
All inspection and testing will be carried out by trained cemetery staff using a procedure recommended by Local Government Ombudsman, Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and Ministry of Justice.
The inspection consists of three stages:
Visual inspection This identifies those memorials that are too dangerous to test manually.
Manual test This is aimed at identifying those headstones that may be unable to withstand the machine test.
Machine test If a memorial fails either of the first two stages, a confirmatory test is performed using a calibrated topple tester. This test allows the inspector to exert a force, not exceeding 35kg, to the top of the headstone.
All memorials under two metres (approximately 6 feet 6 inches) will be subject to a hand test and confirmatory testing with force measuring equipment if required. All memorials over two metres (approximately 6 feet 6 inches) will be subject to testing by a specialist structural engineer. All those memorials below 500 millimetres (approximately 1 foot 8 inches) will be risk assessed to decide on the most suitable type of inspection.
What happens if we find a problem?
We notify the holders of the Exclusive Right of Burial of any memorials which we find to be unstable. We would ask all Exclusive Right holders to please contact us on 01992 552 885 or email pat@hertford.gov.uk with your current address if your details have changed since the deed was issued.
We will publish a list of all failed memorials on this site as soon as reasonably practical after the event.
Although the council has a duty of care to ensure the cemetery is safe, the responsibility for memorials lies with the owner of the Exclusive Rights of Burial.
We recommend that you should contact the memorial mason that supplied the memorial as soon as possible to arrange for it to be fixed and made safe. All memorials installed by stonemason who are members of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) will insure their for 10 years and install to an approve Code of Practice and therefore, we only allow accredited masons to work in our cemetery
We fully appreciate that this may be upsetting for bereaved families and we are very sorry for any distress it may cause. Memorials are a lasting tribute to our loved ones and through careful testing to ensure their safety, we would like to work with you to ensure that all the memorials in our cemeteries and churchyards remain a fitting tribute for years to come.
Why are memorials failing?
The majority of older memorials are constructed from a single piece of stone, whereas more modern memorials are constructed from several sections that are joined together. The main reason for memorials becoming unstable is the failure of these joints.
Can I repair the memorial myself?
No. You must contact the memorial mason that supplied the memorial as soon as possible to arrange for it to be fixed and made safe. An accredited stonemason will ensure that work carried out on the memorial is done to the proper professional standards issued by the National Association of Memorial Masons.
What will the council not do?
The council will NOT :
remove the memorial from its site
lay the headstone flat on the ground, except in exceptional circumstances when the memorial is likely to present a serious hazard soon
make a memorial safe until at least two months after we have sent a second notification to the holder of the Exclusive Right of Burial.
What will happen if memorial owners cannot be traced?
Where a memorial has failed the testing and the grave owner cannot be traced the council will make the memorial safe by either partially sinking or by repairing. Care will be taken to ensure, where possible, that inscriptions are not affected. This will enable a full repair at a later stage if required.
What have we done to inform visitors and owners of memorial testing?
Notices were placed on gates, notice boards and around every burial section in Hertford Cemetery, All Saints, St Andrews, Holy Trinity and St Leonards churchyards to let people know in advance that this work will be taking place. In addition notices have been posted in local newspapers. Notices were also placed in the Town Council newsletters and public demonstrations of the testing process have been held.
What have we done to inform visitors and owners of memorial sinking?
The first letter to all contactable holders of Exclusive Right of Burial explained that we would allow 30 days for the owner to contact the Council or carry out repairs. As long as the owners have contacted the Council within this time, no further action will be necessary.
In addition notices will be erected in the cemeteries at the end of October 2009 to advise that sinking or repair of memorials will take place where, despite publicity and extensive research, nobody has come forward as the memorial's owner and we are not aware of any living relatives.
Will we need to carry out testing again in the future?
Yes. The testing of memorials will need to be effectively monitored and will require an ongoing programme based on the first round of testing.
After a period of six months from us originally notifying you that the memorial had failed testing, we will contact you again to ask what action you have taken to make the memorial safe. If you tell us that the memorial has been made safe, we will update our records and re-test the memorial in:
one year, if you have carried out the work yourself or if the work has not been carried out by a professional stonemason
five years, if the work has been carried out by a professional stonemason
Where do we have cemeteries/churchyards?
North Road Cemetery, All Saints Churchyard, St Andrews Churchyard, Holy Trinity Churchyard and St Leonards Churchyard.
How many memorials are there?
There are over 5,000 in Hertford.
How do I find out more?
Please contact the Cemeteries Officer on 01992 552 885.
Cemetery Officer
Hertford Town Council
The Castle
Hertford
Herts
SG14 1HR
Phone: 01992 552 885
Email: pat@hertford.gov.uk
Information about Exclusive Rights of Burial
Other useful contacts:
The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management
Chief Executive
National Office
City of London Cemetery
Aldersbrook Road
Manor Park
London
E12 5DQ
Phone: 020 8989 4661
Fax: 01753 770 984
http://www.iccm-uk.com
tim.morris@iccm-uk.com
Why are we testing memorials?
In 2001 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a 'Be Respectful, Be Safe' campaign to try and improve the safety of cemeteries and churchyards. More recently, all local authorities that are responsible for cemeteries and churchyards are being asked to carry out safety checks on memorials, to ensure that they are in a good and stable condition and not likely to topple over. The safety checks are in line with advice from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and ICCM, which highlighted the fact that across the country there have been 21 serious accidents, including seven fatalities during the last ten years.
What do the safety tests involve?
All inspection and testing will be carried out by trained cemetery staff using a procedure recommended by Local Government Ombudsman, Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and Ministry of Justice.
The inspection consists of three stages:
All memorials under two metres (approximately 6 feet 6 inches) will be subject to a hand test and confirmatory testing with force measuring equipment if required. All memorials over two metres (approximately 6 feet 6 inches) will be subject to testing by a specialist structural engineer. All those memorials below 500 millimetres (approximately 1 foot 8 inches) will be risk assessed to decide on the most suitable type of inspection.
What happens if we find a problem?
We fully appreciate that this may be upsetting for bereaved families and we are very sorry for any distress it may cause. Memorials are a lasting tribute to our loved ones and through careful testing to ensure their safety, we would like to work with you to ensure that all the memorials in our cemeteries and churchyards remain a fitting tribute for years to come.
Why are memorials failing?
The majority of older memorials are constructed from a single piece of stone, whereas more modern memorials are constructed from several sections that are joined together. The main reason for memorials becoming unstable is the failure of these joints.
Can I repair the memorial myself?
No. You must contact the memorial mason that supplied the memorial as soon as possible to arrange for it to be fixed and made safe. An accredited stonemason will ensure that work carried out on the memorial is done to the proper professional standards issued by the National Association of Memorial Masons.
What will the council not do?
The council will NOT :
What will happen if memorial owners cannot be traced?
Where a memorial has failed the testing and the grave owner cannot be traced the council will make the memorial safe by either partially sinking or by repairing. Care will be taken to ensure, where possible, that inscriptions are not affected. This will enable a full repair at a later stage if required.
What have we done to inform visitors and owners of memorial testing?
Notices were placed on gates, notice boards and around every burial section in Hertford Cemetery, All Saints, St Andrews, Holy Trinity and St Leonards churchyards to let people know in advance that this work will be taking place. In addition notices have been posted in local newspapers. Notices were also placed in the Town Council newsletters and public demonstrations of the testing process have been held.
What have we done to inform visitors and owners of memorial sinking?
The first letter to all contactable holders of Exclusive Right of Burial explained that we would allow 30 days for the owner to contact the Council or carry out repairs. As long as the owners have contacted the Council within this time, no further action will be necessary.
In addition notices will be erected in the cemeteries at the end of October 2009 to advise that sinking or repair of memorials will take place where, despite publicity and extensive research, nobody has come forward as the memorial's owner and we are not aware of any living relatives.
Will we need to carry out testing again in the future?
Yes. The testing of memorials will need to be effectively monitored and will require an ongoing programme based on the first round of testing.
After a period of six months from us originally notifying you that the memorial had failed testing, we will contact you again to ask what action you have taken to make the memorial safe. If you tell us that the memorial has been made safe, we will update our records and re-test the memorial in:
Where do we have cemeteries/churchyards?
North Road Cemetery, All Saints Churchyard, St Andrews Churchyard, Holy Trinity Churchyard and St Leonards Churchyard.
How many memorials are there?
There are over 5,000 in Hertford.
How do I find out more?
Please contact the Cemeteries Officer on 01992 552 885.
Cemetery Officer
Hertford Town Council
The Castle
Hertford
Herts
SG14 1HR
Phone: 01992 552 885
Email: pat@hertford.gov.uk
Information about Exclusive Rights of Burial
Other useful contacts:
The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management
Chief Executive
National Office
City of London Cemetery
Aldersbrook Road
Manor Park
London
E12 5DQ
Phone: 020 8989 4661
Fax: 01753 770 984
http://www.iccm-uk.com
tim.morris@iccm-uk.com
| Health and Safety Executive | ||
| National Association of Memorial Masons |
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