The recent tragic death of a 4-year-old boy in a Lancashire Cemetery has again highlighted concerns regarding memorial safety. It cannot be overstated that ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring a memorial does not pose a danger to the public lies with the grave owner.

Although local authorities conduct safety inspections in cemeteries, they do not repair headstones that are found to pose a danger. Factors that make a headstone unsafe include tilting, leaning, or being wobbly. In such cases, councils will take appropriate action, which may mean laying the headstone flat.

Any headstones fixed by Sarsfield Memorials are done so to British Standard (BS) 8415. This specifies the size, type and installation methods for ground anchors and the steel dowels which attach the memorial to its base and the ground. It gives guidelines for testing memorials to assess safety risk, setting out minimum safety requirements, including the force they should be able to withstand without falling.

BS8415 is not legally binding, but is adopted by both the British Association of Memorial Masons (BRAMM) and the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM). Most local authorities will only allow masons who are registered with one or other of these organisations to carry out headstone work in their cemeteries. Therefore, there is peace of mind for customers purchasing and restoring memorials, as they meet rigorous safety standards. All headstones installed by Sarsfield Memorials are attached by steel dowels to a concrete foundation, which is anchored to the ground.

It is a sad fact of life, however, that vandalism takes place. Last month, 40 memorials were maliciously damaged in a  Glasgow cemetery. Local authorities do not accept responsibility for this, and it is up to the grave owner to ensure damaged memorials are made safe again.

StoneGuard Memorial Insurance offer a range of policies that give peace of mind in respect of memorial safety. Underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance, they offer cover against damage due to storms, attempted theft, and vandalism, with policies starting from as little as £25 for five years. They can also insure against any legal claim that may be made against you due to injury or death, which is really important as it is wrong to assume the local authority is responsible, even if you were unaware the memorial had become unsafe.

If you have any concerns about the safety of your memorial and would like to discuss measures that we can take or arrange a StoneGuard policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.