Annual inspection on 1 October with measuring device – safety is paramount
Griesheim – The annual inspection of the stability 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 approved 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 23.2 percent of the approximately 2,000 gravestones were found to be incomplete in 2004, the rate was only 0.6 percent in 2024. Since 2016, the figure has remained consistently below one percent.
City's security duty
As the cemetery operator, the city of Griesheim is obligated to inspect the stability of the cemetery at least once a year as part of its duty to ensure public safety. This can be due to weather conditions, subsidence of the ground, or defects in the anchoring between the gravestone and the base. The goal is to prevent accidents – around 60 years ago, a child was killed in the Griesheim cemetery when a gravestone toppled over.
Test procedures
During the inspection, a pressure test is performed: a gravestone must not sway or fall over when a force of 300 Newtons (30 kilograms) is applied to its upper end. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a "vibration test."
Gravestones deemed unstable receive a warning sticker. If there is an acute risk, additional safeguards are installed. Authorized users are required to have the gravestone restored to its stability by a specialist company and submit proof of this to the city.
The public is invited to attend the inspection at the cemetery and gain an insight into the process.
(Griesheim - Red/PSG)
