Hemswell Civil Cemetery

Notice of a programme of memorial safety checks in the civil cemetery on Hemswell Lane, Hemswell.

Why are you carrying out safety inspections?

Hemswell Parish Council is a Burial Authority with a duty to ensure the cemetery is a safe place for you to visit. In recent years there have been several serious accidents in cemeteries across England, including fatalities caused by unsafe memorials. We have a legal obligation to regularly inspect our cemetery which includes visual inspections, hand-testing and making detailed records of the results. The inspection will follow Guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice 'Managing the safety of Burial Ground Memorials', Health and Safety Legislation, and the Parish Council's Memorial Safety Policy. You will see notices at the cemetery, the village noticeboards and on our website and Facebook page to keep you informed and explaining what happens if a memorial is found to be unsafe.

What work will you be doing in the cemetery?

The work begins with a visual inspection of each memorial, looking for signs of damage or erosion, broken kerbstones or damaged bases, movement such as rocking or leaning, ground disturbance, vegetation issues, unstable foundations or insecure joints, or other hazards that could be a risk to your safety. Records will be made and photographs may be taken.

Tablet and vase memorials do not usually require any further assessment provided they do not pose a safety hazard such as a trip hazard. Headstones under 500mm in height will not undergo any further assessment unless the visual assessment combined with other factors indicate further testing is needed. 

After visual inspection there may be memorials showing visible signs of damage or instability which then require a ‘hand test’. A hand test will be undertaken on all memorials over 625 mm high to make sure they are not at risk of falling and causing injury. In most cases, there will be no movement, so a record will be kept that the memorial has passed the test and re-inspected in five years’ time, or sooner if damage is seen earlier than this.

When visiting the cemetery you may see safety checks being undertaken and during this time or beyond, there may be some memorials that have been ‘made safe’ by supports, cordons or have been removed for repair.

What does the hand test involve?

The ‘hand test’ involves applying a firm and steady pressure to the memorial in different directions, using one hand only, to check for movement or instability. The inspector will ensure their own personal safety while undertaking these tests. If some instability is detected during the hand test, the inspector will assign a 'risk rating' to that instability to determine the most appropriate action(s) to be taken. The result of the test will be recorded for future inspections. The risk rating is a judgement as to the degree of risk to health and safety presented by the degree of movement of the memorial and any possible injury that might occur. The judgement takes into account the size and shape of the memorial, whether it returns to a stable position after testing, its location, and when and how it was installed. Memorials that are not considered an immediate danger, but are not fully stable will be monitored every 12 months. This process allows the Parish Council to advise grave owners of the potential unsatisfactory condition of the memorial and provide sufficient time for them to arrange and pay for repair work to be carried out.

However, if the memorial moves to an extent that it is considered an immediate danger to the public, it will fail the test and actions will be taken to ‘make it safe’.

What happens to memorials that fail the test and how can a memorial be ‘made safe?’

There are several ways a memorial can be ‘made-safe’ depending upon the level of risk it presents and where the memorial is positioned. For example; placing warning signs, cordoning off the area with netting or tape, a temporary fix using a 'stake and bands' to stop it from toppling over, refixing the memorial to current standards, and in extreme cases, ‘laying flat’ the memorial. The Parish Council will work sensitively to balance the need for safety and the methods by which memorials are made safe. 

What happens if a memorial needs fixing and who is responsible for repairing it?

In all cases where temporary measures (e.g., staking and bands) are needed to make a memorial safe, steps must be taken to make permanent repairs as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the holder of the Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial to maintain the memorial in a safe condition and of the stone mason to erect the memorial to the appropriate standard of the time. It is not the responsibility of the Parish Council to pay for repairs to memorials and this is why memorial insurance cover to cover the cost of repairs or refitting might be appropriate, either as a specialist policy or added as a specified item to a home insurance policy. 

If a memorial requires attention, the Parish Council will notify the family of the deceased or deed holder and discuss with them the options for repairing the memorial and the likely costs involved. It is the responsibility of the holder of the Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial to keep the memorial headstone in a safe condition, so for memorials that fail a safety inspection, the Grant Holder will be asked to get it refixed or repaired by a suitably qualified or registered memorial mason. Where the Parish Council has contact details a letter will be sent to the registered owner. Given that some burial records are very old, it is likely that some contact details will be out of date and the Parish Council will need to post notices near the affected memorial asking the owner to contact the clerk as a matter of urgency.

What to do if a memorial you are responsbile for has failed a safety inspection

We know that signs and notices appearing on memorials can be very upsetting and the Parish Council will work with the family of the deceased and with local memorial masons to provide a proportionate, sensible, and sensitive solution for memorials that pose a safety concern. If a memorial fails the inspection and safety test, you will need to contact a qualified memorial mason to have it assessed for refixing or repair to current standards. You will also need to contact the Parish Council to approve the repairs that have been made. You must NOT move or attempt to make repairs to the memorial yourself.

Our contact details are on the notices at the Cemetery and in the village and if you have any concerns about the work we will doing, or the safety of any memorials, please contact us immediately.

Clerk to Hemswell Parish Council