Stockton Borough Council is committed to providing a safe environment for everyone visiting our cemeteries.
Research shows that the average length of time that relatives actively visit graves is around 10 years, so many families may not be aware of the condition of their memorial.
While families are responsible for the upkeep and safety of the memorial upon their family grave, our duty to ensure that our cemeteries are safe for visitors and staff means that we must survey each memorial within our five cemeteries and ensure that they are safe.
Look out for details of which sections are to be surveyed in the cemetery noticeboards.
Why are memorials being tested?
There have been a number of injuries in recent years, some fatal, that have been caused by unstable memorials toppling over.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recognised the risk to the safety of visitors and employees working in cemeteries from unstable memorials. Under HSE guidelines, we are required to survey and test each memorial within our cemeteries at least every five years, to ensure that the potential danger from unstable memorials is minimised.
How are memorials tested?
Agreed National Guidelines for memorial testing have been drawn up in association with the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM). These guidelines require that memorials are able to accept a pressure of 35Kg (equivalent to roughly 5½ stones).
Memorials are tested using a hand held safety tester, which accurately measures the force applied; if a memorial cannot accept a pressure of 35Kg, the tester also records the pressure it was able to accept.
Inspections will be carried out in partnership with Memsafe Limited, a national company that specialises in memorial safety, and according to the agreed National Guidelines for memorial safety testing.
What happens if the memorial is found to be unsafe?
If the memorial upon your family grave does not pass the safety test, we will ensure that it is made safe so as not to pose a risk of injury. We will also contact you to inform you that the memorial failed the safety test and tell you how we have made it safe. We will also invite you to discuss the test with us and offer guidance on any further works that might be necessary.
We will write to the most recent contact address we have for you and place a notice upon any memorials that have not passed the safety test; if you think we might not have accurate contact details for you, please telephone (01642) 527341/42 to update your details.
What should I do if I think my memorial might be unsafe?
Our inspection team will test your memorial, however, the date of the test will depend upon the location of your family grave. Look out for notices in the cemetery, which will advise you of which sections are due to be inspected.
Many memorial masons offer a routine memorial checking service, but if you are worried that your memorial may topple before testing takes place, please contact your memorial mason. If you have taken out insurance on your memorial, or it is subject to a workmanship guarantee, you should contact your memorial mason to ensure that he or she carries out a condition survey in accordance with the terms of your policy or guarantee.
Please do not attempt to test or repair your memorial yourself; they are very heavy and could cause serious injury to you or others nearby.
For further information about our memorial inspection programme, please call Care For Your Area on (01642) 391959.
