Securing your headstones

Several of you out there have asked about the reference to "topple-testing" headstones, so here are the original recommendations sent out by our insurance brokers:

Recent publicity about Local Authorities using a “topple tester” on headstones in their cemeteries has caused clergy and church councils to be concerned about safety in churchyards. The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group have confirmed that they consider the use of topple testing to be excessive and that a “kneel test” is sufficient. In a “kneel test” the headstone is considered to be safe if it can support the weight of a person leaning on it to get up from the kneeling position.

The church council should use the “kneel test” to check the safety of the headstones on a regular basis, and record their findings. If a stone is found to be insecure they must make every effort to locate the family whose responsibility the stone is. If the family cannot be located the council must deal with the matter themselves as it is possible they could be held responsible for any injury arising. This, of course, would be subject to Faculty provisions. For a closed churchyard responsibility rests with the Local Authority.

The Public Liability cover will protect the interests of the church council in the event that they are found to be legally liable for any injury. The proviso is, as with all aspects of the insurance, that they have taken all reasonable steps to mitigate any loss. If they do the above they will have done all that could be expected of them.

And here, by popular request, (OK, one person, but she is a popular person), are my additional regulations:

Following the circular issued by the Diocesan Communications Officer on the Security of Headstones in Churchyards, please note that the following additional regulations should be applied in parishes in the deanery from 1 April 2007.

APPOINTMENT OF PARISH HEADSTONE TOPPLING PREVENTION OFFICER
A parish Headstone Toppling Prevention Officer (HTPO) should be appointed by the PCC at the next Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). This person will be required to under go all the usual checks, including CRB, HSE, BSE, ABC, CDM and bar. The term of office is for life.

In additional the APCM should have in place a HEADSTONE TOPPLING PRVENTION POLICY, draft versions of a recommended policy are available in the report and handbook “Flat on our Faces? Faith in our Churchyards” from the Diocesan Office. Training for kneel-testers is now being drawn up by the diocesan training department. This will be a four year course, leading to a Diploma in Headstone Toppling Prevention, validated by the University of Llandrindod Wells.

SELECTION AND TRAINING OF KNEEL-TESTERS
A list of kneel-testers should be prepared by the HTPO, and a rota for testing drawn up and published in the church porch. Remember that the names and personal details of all kneel-testers are to be made available to anyone who asks under the Freedom of Information Act, and that to comply with Data Protection you must keep this information safe and never reveal it to anyone. The additional costs of the kneel-testing team may be offset by hiring them out as professional mourners.

HTPO; QUALIFICATIONS
Please note that equal opportunities legislation requires that the person appointed should be neither male nor female. The ideal HTPO would be aged between 30 and 40, six foot three, with good muscle tone. Dark wavy hair and smouldering brown eyes are desirable but not essential. If an ideal candidate cannot be found, anyone with a pulse and the ability to rise from their knees without assistance or artificial aids will have to do. In practice it is likely to be someone who is not present at the meeting, or who has just popped out to make the tea.

KNEEL-TESTING: SETTING UP A PROCESS
The HTPO should conduct a visual survey of the churchyard noting
The total number of headstones
The number of headstones deemed to be liable to topple
Any hazards of which the kneel-testing team must be aware (eg. uneven ground, nettles, snakes, open graves)

The team can then get to work, dividing up the churchyard in pairs, one testing and the other recording findings on the sheets which will be provided in the handbook. This process should be carried out fortnightly until the end of time. In the event of the Second Coming of Our Lord, it is the HTPO’s responsibility to give an account on the Dreadful Day of Judgment.