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"Only touched, not shaken"
Wirtschaftsbetrieb Mainz will be checking the stability of gravestones again from April 13, 2026
Mandatory: The annual stability check of the gravestones.
Starting Monday, April 13, 2026, staff from the Mainz Public Utilities Corporation (Wirtschaftsbetrieb Mainz AöR), Funeral Services Division, will inspect all headstones and borders at municipal cemeteries to ensure they are stable.
This inspection is required by law and serves to ensure the safety of all cemetery visitors, grave owners, and staff.
The administration asks for your understanding regarding these measures and would like to remind you that all grave owners are equally responsible for the stability of the headstones and borders and are liable in the event of damage.
Questions and background
A man who appears to be trying to simply push a random gravestone aside. A second man standing next to him, writing down whether his colleague succeeds or not.
Admittedly, when our employees check whether the gravestones in the city cemeteries are still standing firmly on their foundations, it can look a bit odd to some visitors. This is one reason why questions and misunderstandings are almost inevitable when it comes to this topic. Questions and misunderstandings that, fortunately, can be cleared up quickly and easily.
The whole thing is useless, pure harassment!
No! The inspection is not only required by law, it also serves to ensure the safety of ALL cemetery visitors. A gravestone weighing over 200 kilograms that is no longer stable and a small child playing right next to it is a horror scenario that no one really wants to imagine.
How can such a stone actually start to shake?
Mainly due to weather and environmental influences. Rain and snow can cause metal connections and dowels to rust, while frost can cause cracks and splits in the standing joints. Because winter is the biggest "source of damage," inspections always take place after the frost period.
The stability test only fills the company's coffers!
On the contrary. The inspection costs the business money. From the employees who carry out the inspection to the postage for the letters notifying the beneficiaries or relatives of the graves with defects—all of this has to be paid for.
And what about a repair that has become necessary?
This is also of no benefit to the business. This is a matter for a specialist company, usually a stonemason.
The shaking of the inspectors ensures that the gravestones become loose in the first place!
There is no question of shaking. Each gravestone is subjected to exactly two equal loads. First, it is pushed forward, then pulled backward. This is a very realistic load, such as when a passerby stumbles and has to brace themselves.
What exactly is this test?
Around 30 kilograms – a gravestone must be able to withstand this load without buckling. This is what the law stipulates, and the employees of the municipal utility company are "trained" accordingly.
But there can be no question of it being exact!
Of course, it is not possible to test with gram-level accuracy in this way. If you doubt the judgment of our employees, simply contact us. Experience has shown that most misunderstandings can be cleared up during an on-site appointment.
How do you actually find out whether a gravestone has defects?
The gravestone is marked with a clearly visible, colored sticker. This indicates that the stone has defects and must therefore be properly secured. At the same time, the beneficiary or relatives are notified in writing.
Super! And in the meantime, the good piece just falls over!
No! If there is a real danger that a gravestone could fall over, it will either be secured accordingly or—if even that is not enough—carefully removed by a specialist company.
And what happens after that?
If the beneficiary or relatives of the respective grave do not respond, the municipal cemetery operator, as the owner of the municipal cemeteries, can have the damage repaired by an independent specialist company (usually a stonemason). The bill will be sent to the beneficiary or relatives of the grave. In extreme cases, the grave may even be cleared.
