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Memorial safety checks

Making sure our cemeteries are safe to visit and work in is very important. There have been a small number of tragic incidents in other areas where people have been killed or injured as a result of unsafe memorials and headstones.

Since April 2009, we have examined around 3,000 memorials in Belfast City Cemetery to check they are secure. Families whose headstones have failed our assessment have been contacted, and we are currently making safe any graves classified as dangerous.

The work is the result of a directive from the Health and Safety Executive, the organisation responsible for cemetery safety in the UK. We eventually hope to extend the checks to our other cemeteries, subject to resources.

Who carries out the inspections?

Inspections are carried out by Belfast City Cemetery staff. They have been fully trained in how to assess graves and identify potential hazards by the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM). As part of their work, they also assess roads, paths, low branches and walls in the cemetery to ensure they do not pose a risk to visitors.

All our staff are aware of the sensitivities surrounding graves and memorials and aim to carry out their work as quickly and carefully as possible. However, if you are a grave owner who would like to be present when a grave is tested, you can make an appointment by calling the Cemeteries and Crematorium Central Office on 028 9027 0296 or the Belfast City Cemetery site office on 028 9032 3112.

So far, we have examined around 3,000 memorials to check they are secure. Inspections in sections R, Q, N and F2 are now complete, and a list of memorials which have failed our checks is available below.

• Download list of headstones and memorials which have failed safety checks (Word - 50KB)

What do the checks involve?

Headstones and memorials are divided into three categories:

• High risk
  If a memorial or headstone fails our test and requires immediate attention, it must be made safe straight away. Our inspector will decide how to do this, for example, by staking and strapping a headstone, cordoning it off or laying it flat. Memorials will only be laid flat as a last resort.
  
  If your memorial falls into this category, we will attach a notice to it informing you of the results of our inspection. We will also try to contact you directly. It is important that we have your correct contact details - if your information has changed, call the Cemeteries and Central Office on 028 9027 0296 or email cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.uk

• Medium risk
  If a memorial is leaning, rocking or flawed but remains upright during our test, it will be considered safe for the moment but will be re-inspected in a year.

• Low risk
  If a memorial shows no signs of undue movement, it will be marked as safe and re-inspected in five years.

Who is responsible for repairing memorials?

If your headstone or memorial does not meet health and safety standards, we will attach a notice to it informing you of the results of our inspection. We will also try to contact you directly if we have your details on record.

It is important that we have your correct contact details - if your information has changed, call the Cemeteries and Central Office on 028 9027 0296 or email cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.uk

Please be aware that grave owners are responsible for maintaining memorials and headstones and carrying out any repairs needed.

If repairs have not been carried out after six weeks, we will arrange for the memorial to be fixed. Owners will then be charged for this work. Alternatively, if you prefer, we can carry out repairs on your behalf and then charge you for the work.

In some circumstances, we may not be able to contact a grave owner. Examples include:

• if the grave owner has died and burial rights to the plot have not been transferred
• if the owner has changed address without notifying us.

More information

We understand the sensitivities surrounding headstones and memorials and always try to carry out checks as quickly as possible, with minimal disruption. For more information, contact us at:

Cemeteries and Crematorium Central Office
City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS

You can also call us on 028 9027 0296 or email cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.uk