Family coffin bearers ban
Saturday 16th June 2007, 3:09PM BST.
Mourners are set to be banned from carrying coffins of their family members to gravesides in Shrewsbury after several “near-misses”, it emerged today.
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has recommended that coffins are carried within the cemetery and lowered into the grave by trained bearers only.
Council leader Peter Nutting today said he thought the suggestion went too far and families should be allowed to carry coffins if they wish.
He said: “I think it is over the top and if people want to carry coffins it is my view that they should be able to. There are a lot of big issues about health and safety around the borough at the moment but I am all in favour of personal freedom.”
Shrewsbury funeral director Aubrey Kirkham said: “Many people feel that the final duty they can give to a family member is to carry them and escort them to the grave.
“That can give comfort to the family and to be deprived of that is unfortunate.”
Cabinet members will discuss the proposal – a recommended practice in Shrewsbury – on June 25 following a risk assessment of funerals at the council’s cemeteries.
A report says the authority would be liable for any injuries sustained if untrained bearers were allowed to carry coffins in its cemeteries.
The report by environmental health manager David Wraith says: “The resultant bad publicity should an accident or incident occur would be damaging for the council’s reputation and standing in the community.”
However the officer recommends that councillors still allow family bearers to carry coffins from the hearse to the chapel.
The report says: “Following a risk assessment of funerals taking place at the council’s cemeteries, and based on experience of near-misses of incidents during burials attended by family bearers, it was decided to advise funeral directors of the need for a change in how burials are managed.
“The main financial implication may be from any criminal or civil litigation, which may follow should there be any injury sustained by untrained family bearers.” It claims family bearers may not be used to carrying heavy loads.
By Andy Robbins
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THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE FOR GODS SAKE WHO EVER THE IDIOT WAS WHO CAME UP WITH THIS I SUGGEST YOU SACK THEM, AS THEY QUITE CLEARLY ARE STRUGGLING FOR SOMETHING TO DO DURING THERE WORKING DAY TO DREAM UP THIS SILLY IDEA
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If i want to carry any1 of my loved ones to their place of rest i will do and no one would stop me ,i dont know the area but why cant they stop the traffic for a while,i mean lets face it it could be a very close member of the family.
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This is outrageous. As Andrew Finch says, the lunatic who has come up with this should be sacked.
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obviously a ‘jobs worth’!! If I want my sons and nephews to be bearers for my coffin (when the time comes), then that is what I will have!!
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For Goodness sake! It does not say there will be a ban. I WISH the Shropshire Star journalists READ what they WROTE!
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I agree with the idea Andrew !!
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No, its a valid point given this countries ridiculous move towards litigating against anything that moves.
Shrewsbury council needs to protect itself against legal claims, but quite why it doesn’t just insist that untrained pallbearers simply sign a disclaimer I’m not sure??
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I am not a person who writes to councillors or newspapers at all but I feel strongly about the proposal the council seem to be considering re not allowing bearers to be family members in the cemetery at Shrewsbury.
My husband was buried there and my 2 sons and 2 sons-in-law acted as bearers on this occasion. The weather was as bad as it could be and conditions far from ideal but the undertakers Pughs were wonderful and guided us throughout the whole procedure.
Our roots are in Ireland so tradition is that family do all the bearing and it is very important to us.
I am sure this applies to other cultures too. If SABC bring in this rule we cannot even make a decision not to use this cemetery as I will be buried with my husband. A funeral is a very trying time for relatives and to impose more rules and regulations will only add to the distress.
I am sure that many more of Shrewsbury people feel the same way and I think it is wrong for the council to take this decision without some consultation with the people.
If the council are saying they are liable for any accidents – how do other councils cope with this?
I have been looking on the internet at what other councils advise and have not found any who take this stance.
I have emailed all the councillors and think we should make our feelings clear on this issue.
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Madness.
Utter madness.
If some H & S busybody tried to prevent me from being a coffin bearer at the funeral of a loved one, that odd feeling he / she would experience would be my boot up their backside.
Idiots.
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My uncle’s coffin was carried by trained bearers and they dropped one corner and all the wreaths fell off and went under the coffin, so someone had to jump down into the grave and fish them out.
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this is great – lets asess the health and saftey of a tradition spanning back thousands of years.
I for one wish for people i love to carry my coffin, not strangers who begrudginly do it to get paid – no matter how respectful they may seem to appear.
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It is the responsibility of the undertaker to make sure all goes smoothly and to ensure the pallbearers, whether their own men or the family, can handle the coffin properly.
Disparities in height, strength etc need to be resolved and if necessary the undertaker can add his men to the family members to ensure there are no accidents. They could even ‘practice’ beforehand with a dummy coffin if he has any concerns.
There is no way SABC or any other authority should ban family from carrying out this last sad duty; they would do better to emphasise to undertakers that the carrying of the coffin is under their management and it is their responsibility to ensure everything is done safely as well as with respect and dignity.
It is also the responsibility of the sexton (gravedigger) to ensure that the graveside is safe and not slippery in wet conditions – and that IS the responsibility of the cemetry management – so this sounds like the council trying to blame others for occasional problems caused by their own failings.
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Health and Safety gone mad. Bureaucrats sometimes can be totally insensitive and self-serving. So much for the compensation culture in this country!!
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I have been to many family funerals and the coffin has been put on a BIER ,I dont want the bearers of my family or friends getting hurt just because it is the done thing.pulled muscles etc can be very painful,.
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I speak as both a health and safety consultant and someone who also carried a family coffin recently. Unfortunately the council does have a duty of care to people both in their employment and not, and can see their concern. However, any reputable undertaker will also provide basic instruction and support where required during the event.In our situation we carried the coffin in and out of the church. At the cemetery we pushed the coffin on a bier provided by the undertaker. At the graveside the council staff took over. A little forthought and planning made the day run smoothly in all directions. Perhaps this council could take a leaf from the operating procedures of South Tyneside
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