A TRADITIONAL burial custom is likely to be safeguarded after the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said it was not preventing family members from digging loved one’s graves.
A row erupted after Cork County Council announced a raft of controversial new bylaws which included prohibiting relatives and friends of a deceased from digging the burial plot.
Earlier this week, the council postponed for six months the planned implementation of the bylaws.
Furious councillors said they were causing much upset, especially to people living in West Cork where it was a tradition for family members to dig graves.
County manager Martin Riordan claimed the bylaws were necessary because the HSA had designated cemeteries as a place of work.
However, the HSA said that it had not prohibited in any way the traditional custom of family members assisting with the digging of a loved one’s grave.
HSA programme manager Paula Gough said the digging of graves by family members and friends was clearly not done as employees and therefore did not come under the remit of the HSA.
She said the HSA had not issued any new guidance which could restrict this practice.
The HSA has recently developed, in conjunction with the Local Authority Safety Advisers Group (LASAG), a safe system of work plans for employers and employees when working in graveyards and cemeteries.
Ms Gough said this primarily deals with construction work which often takes place in these locations.
"The system was developed solely for employers and employees and not for any other parties, including relatives and loved ones of the deceased," she added.
Ms Gough said the HSA was surprised that any local authority would take what were designed to be workplace safety measures for employees and apply them to members of the public.
Charles O’Sullivan, chairman of the West Cork Funeral Directors’ Association, said he welcomed the HSA’s clarification.
"This has caused a lot of distress. People were adamant that this tradition (of families digging graves) would continue, no matter what bylaws came in," Mr O’Sullivan said.
He represents 24 funeral directors in the region all of whom, he said, were of a similar mind.
"The funeral directors aired their objections and met with Cork County Council officials on a number of occasions to discuss the matter," Mr O’Sullivan said.
Earlier this week, the council postponed for six months the planned implementation of the bylaws.
Furious councillors said they were causing much upset, especially to people living in West Cork where it was a tradition for family members to dig graves.
County manager Martin Riordan claimed the bylaws were necessary because the HSA had designated cemeteries as a place of work.
However, the HSA said that it had not prohibited in any way the traditional custom of family members assisting with the digging of a loved one’s grave.
HSA programme manager Paula Gough said the digging of graves by family members and friends was clearly not done as employees and therefore did not come under the remit of the HSA.
She said the HSA had not issued any new guidance which could restrict this practice.
The HSA has recently developed, in conjunction with the Local Authority Safety Advisers Group (LASAG), a safe system of work plans for employers and employees when working in graveyards and cemeteries.
Ms Gough said this primarily deals with construction work which often takes place in these locations.
"The system was developed solely for employers and employees and not for any other parties, including relatives and loved ones of the deceased," she added.
Ms Gough said the HSA was surprised that any local authority would take what were designed to be workplace safety measures for employees and apply them to members of the public.
Charles O’Sullivan, chairman of the West Cork Funeral Directors’ Association, said he welcomed the HSA’s clarification.
"This has caused a lot of distress. People were adamant that this tradition (of families digging graves) would continue, no matter what bylaws came in," Mr O’Sullivan said.
He represents 24 funeral directors in the region all of whom, he said, were of a similar mind.
"The funeral directors aired their objections and met with Cork County Council officials on a number of occasions to discuss the matter," Mr O’Sullivan said.
"I am optimistic that the HSA’s statement will mean the end of this particular matter."
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