Following recent contact with the Ministry of Justice, we are aware that many crematoria should have received a previous email, directly requesting for a survey to be completed relating to the operation of crematorium equipment. This was further communicated during the recent ICCM Conference with a closing date of the 15th of October. Please be aware that this date has now extended to 12:00 on the 22nd of October.
A statement from the MoJ can be seen below with a link to the survey also provided. We would encourage all members to respond wherever possible:
The operation of cremation equipment is central to an effective cremation process. Modern cremators are designed to be increasingly efficient and cost effective, particularly essential in high-capacity systems such as those in England and Wales, where around 80% of deaths are followed by a cremation.
Following the introduction of the death certification reforms on 9 September 2024, our focus has been on ensuring that the cremation process functions as smoothly as possible. This includes work to ensure that there is consistent, appropriate notification of the presence of hazardous implants to crematoria, helping to reduce the need for follow-up enquiries. Whilst we continue to work with colleagues across government on this, we believe that there is also value in considering the final stage of the cremation process.
We are therefore exploring cremator design and replacement trends, as well as the impact any explosions might have on different models. To support this, we are inviting crematorium managers to complete this survey. Your responses will help us better understand the operation of crematoria in England and Wales and the robustness of cremator machinery.