Neighbourhood Services

BEREAVEMENT SERVICES

Registration Scheme

East Ayrshire Council agreed at committee to introduce a dedicated Memorial Masons registration scheme. This ensured that all future memorials erected within council churchyards and cemeteries would be done so in line with the National association of Memorial Masons (NAMM),Code of Safe Working Practice.

A pilot scheme was implemented during January 2003 and run for a period of 3 months, with Masons being asked to make their views known to the council. Many Memorial Masons responded and the scheme was introduced in July 2003. The scheme is now reviewed and re-issued every April.

The scheme requires Memorial Masons to fix memorials in line with the NAMM Code of Working Practice. This scheme protects both the public and the council,

The council also agreed to set up a cemetery safety squad to inspect and make safe dangerous memorials within their premises. The squad inspect memorials using methods approved by the ICCM and NAMM. All cemetery staff have been trained to certificated standards on the Safe Methods of Inspection.

It is estimated that there are over 60,000 Memorials and Headstones in East Ayrshire Councils cemeteries and churchyards. Of these it is further estimated that there are between 25% and 33% of stones that fall within category 1 (see FAQs for a description of categories).

The council have informed members of the public and lair owners of their programmes of inspection and making safe via a number of different methods, which include,

• Newspaper Reports
• Council's Magazine
• Awareness Days
• In Writing (Where Appropriate)
• Radio
• Community Council Meetings
• Notices in the Cemeteries. Churchyards,Local Shops, etc.
• Committee Reports

A number of questions are raised regarding the work of our safety squad and what methods of testing we use. The first test we carry out is a walk round visual test. we then carry out a finger tip test which involves pushing the memorial at 1 metre or shoulder height using our finger tips. A machine called a Topple Tester may be used by staff as this measures a push pull test to a force of 35KG.

Photographs of staff carrying out a finger tip test and machine test are shown in the Safety Unit page of this site. (Link to the Safety Unit)

There are also a number of questions regularly asked on this subject and we have shown these on the Safety Unit's Page. (Click Here to view FAQs on Memorial Safety )

You may also wish to view the NAMM Code of Safe Working Practice on the NAMM web site. (NAMM)

Click on the link below to see a detailed copy of East Ayrshire Council's Memorial Masons Registration Scheme.

Memorial Masons Registration Scheme