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Annual inspection on October 1st with measuring device – safety is paramount
Griesheim – The annual stability inspection of gravestones will take place at the Griesheim cemetery on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to approximately 10:30 a.m. An authorized specialist company will conduct the inspection using a specially developed measuring device that has been in use since 2004.
The results of the past 21 years show a significant improvement: While in 2004 23.2 percent of the approximately 2,000 gravestones were found to be defective, the rate was only 0.6 percent in 2024. Since 2016, the figure has remained consistently below one percent.
The city's security obligation
The city of Griesheim, as the cemetery operator, is obligated to inspect the stability of gravestones at least once a year as part of its duty to ensure public safety. This is due to factors such as weather conditions, soil subsidence, and defects in the anchoring between the gravestone and its base. The goal is to prevent accidents – a child was killed in the Griesheim cemetery about 60 years ago when a gravestone toppled over.
Testing procedure
The inspection involves a pressure test: A gravestone must not wobble or fall over when a force of 300 Newtons (30 kilograms) is applied to its upper end. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, this is not a "shaking test".
Gravestones deemed unstable will receive a warning sticker. If there is an immediate danger, additional safety measures will be installed. Relatives with rights of use are obligated to have the stability restored by a specialist company and provide proof of this to the city.
The public is invited to observe the examination at the cemetery and to get an idea of the procedure.
(Griesheim - Red/PSG)
