Memorial (Headstone) Safety Inspections

Memorial Safety Inspections are taking place. Each headstone will be inspected to make sure it is not at risk of falling over and injuring someone. The council has to ensure that all grave memorials are of an approved type and are erected in a safe and satisfactory manner by authorised and experienced companies. We carry out these checks as part of a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The Bereavement Services team are inspecting the stability of thousands of gravestones across Doncaster as part of a rolling programme.  

Inspection Process

This begins with a visual inspection of all gravestones followed by a test to check stability.

Any memorial found to be in need of attention will have a small red circle sticker placed on in to inform the owners and any members of the public.  Where possible the owners will also be contacted by letter to let them know.  Where a headstone is more unstable it is made safe by carefully laying it down.

Temporary notices will be placed to inform members of the public of the work taking place.

The memorials remain the responsibility of the family that owns the plot.

Records of the work are kept at the Bereavement Services office at Rose Hill Crematorium.  tel 01302 736900, email cems@doncaster.gov.uk

Inspection Results

New memorials erected since September 2005 should all meet the new standards introduced to ensure that memorials remain secure and stable for many years. It is also normal that masons would be responsible for repairs should they be needed within the first 6 years of a memorials erection.

Once the repairs have been made you will then need to contact us to approve the repairs and we will do this free of charge.

How can you help;

If you own a memorial headstone, check that we have the correct contact details for you by calling the Bereavement Services office.

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