Rules and Regulations for Funeral Directors and Grave Diggers
Rules and Regulations for Funeral Directors and Grave Diggers at
Bardney Cemetery
1. These rules and regulations are to be strictly observed by all Funeral Directors who employ Grave Diggers working in Bardney Cemetery and should be read in conjunction with the general cemetery rules and regulations. Any persons or companies found to be in contravention may be prohibited from working at the cemetery.
2. No grave can be dug in Bardney Cemetery without the permission of the Parish Council.
3. Funeral Directors are to provide their own grave diggers subject to approval by the Council
and it is their responsibility to ensure that the grave diggers employed by them are familiar
with the cemetery and abide by these Rules and Regulations. Funeral Directors must advise
the council of the details of all Grave Diggers prior to the commencement of any work.
4. Funeral Directors are responsible for ensuring that Grave Diggers work in a responsible and
safe manner and observe all Health and Safety legislation and codes of practice in force at the
time of the excavation. No full grave or cremation plot should be dug more than 24 hours
before the interment, except by prior arrangement. All excavations must be shored up and if
left unattended for any period of time boarded and appropriately guarded. Secure covers must
be used if an excavation is left overnight.
5. Grave Diggers or their employers must supply a copy of their Public Liability Insurance and
Health and Safety Policy (risk assessment and method statement) to Bardney Group Parish Council
prior to working at Bardney Cemetery.
6. Grave Diggers must follow the ICCM Code of Safe Working Practice for Cemeteries and
must ensure the safety of all staff, contractors and visitors to Bardney Cemetery as a result
of their work.
7. Bardney Group Parish Council may undertake spot checks at any time.
8. The grave space set aside for each burial shall not exceed 2.44m x 1.069m (8 feet long by 3’6” feet
wide). No part of the coffin shall be at a depth less than 1.0m (3 feet) below the level of the
surface of the ground adjoining the grave.
9. Burial, in a grave in which an interment has already taken place, shall ensure the new coffin is
effectively separated 6” apart vertically from any other coffin previously placed and remaining in the ground by means of a layer of earth not less than 150mm (6 inches) in depth.
10. All cremation plots will measure 18” x 18” for a single casket and the top of the casket
should be a minimum of 2’6” below ground level.
11. No person shall disturb any interred human remains or remove any soil which is found
to be offensive.
12. All graves should be prepared using imitation grass matting. The matting will be laid
out neatly on staging leaving no folds or gaps which may any person to trip. Walk
boards/staging must be laid along the length of the grave and supported at each end
and must be capable of carrying the weight of the Pall Bearers and Coffin.
13. Graves may only be dug Monday to Thursday and a fixed time must be given to the parish office at least 48 hours before digging commences.
14. Any damage caused by grave-digging machinery must be reported to the council immediately
and remedied by the Grave Digger within 14 days.
15. The Funeral Director is responsible for the grave until it has settled; should subsidence occur
the Funeral Director will be notified. If remedial work has not been completed by the Funeral
Director within fourteen days, Bardney Group Parish Council will engage its own contractor to
remedy the defect and will seek to recover the cost from the Funeral Director responsible.
16. The interment area and surrounding graves and headstones are to be left clean and tidy. All
Equipment to be removed and the paths cleared of any debris.
17. Spoil from the graves is to be placed in the area designated by the Bardney Group Parish Council. The location of this area will be notified to the Funeral Director.
18. It is the responsibility of the Funeral Director to arrange for the excavation of the grave and
removal of any existing memorials or kerbstones and the replacement of same after burial.
19. Funeral Directors must sign the agreement below prior to Grave Diggers being allowed to
work in Bardney Group Parish Cemetery.
20. Grave Diggers should report any unusual circumstances relating to digging and backfilling
of the grave to the Funeral Directors and/or the Clerk at Bardney Group Parish Council.
These rules and regulations will be reviewed annually.
DECLARATION
I (name)........................................................................................................................................
on behalf of (Name of Funeral Director/Undertaker)
......................................................................................................................................................
acknowledge receipt of the Funeral Directors and Grave Diggers Rules and Regulations at
Bardney Cemetery and undertake to comply with it.
I shall make the Rules and Regulations known to all concerned and accept that it is my
responsibility to ensure they in turn comply with them.
I understand that Bardney Group Parish Council shall inform me if any infringement of the Rules
occur.
Signed..........................................................................