make safe imageMakesafe for Unsafe Memorials

Unsafe memorials can cause distress to bereaved relatives and potential liabilities to councils and authorities.

Odlings MCR have created a solution to unstable memorials, we have named our system the “Makesafe”.

The Makesafe is a simple and easy to use system of securing head stones. An make safe image 2unsafe headstone can be secured in a matter of minutes, stopping the need to lay the headstone down which can be upsetting to relatives and an ugly sight in a cemetery.

The Makesafe system includes:

Background information on unsafe memorials in cemetery grounds.

mafe safe 2Highlighted in special report from the Local Government Ombudsman:

In recent years, a number of local communities have been shocked and aggrieved by the actions of councils laying flat hundreds of grave memorials as a result of health and safety inspections. To people visiting after the event it has looked as though vandalism on a large scale has desecrated their cemeteries.
Numerous complaints have been made to us as a consequence. In our investigations we have identified a number of issues. We have found a maladministration in the failure to ensure adequate publicity/notification before carrying out stability testing or laying down individual monuments which failed the test; not having in place a proper system for risk assessment and subsequent prioritisation of work; lack of proper training for those carrying out testing and the failure to seek advice from a suitably qualified person.
We have issued a number of reports against particular councils. However it is clear that there is a continuing public concern on this very sensitive issue. This is not limited to England. So we are publishing this Special Report as our first joint report with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales setting out some general guidance on memorial safety testing so that burial authorities may better avoid causing widespread offences to the public. We believe that it is possible to do so without compromising local authorities’ important duties to protect the health and safety of the public
Our main message is simple. In our view it should not be necessary for burial authorities to lay down grave memorials on any large scale.
Local government Ombudsmen Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

March 2006