The death of a relative or close friend is extremely stressful for the survivors, and the cremation of the human body is a highly emotional occasion especially for those taking part in the service, particularly when held at the crematorium.
These factors must never be forgotten by the management and staff of the crematorium, who must combine to create and maintain an atmosphere of reverence and respect throughout the entire proceedings.
- The greatest care must be taken in the appointment of members of the crematorium staff, anyone of whom may, by conduct or demeanour, detract from the requisite atmosphere of reverence. In addition to the problems the wrong type of person may create within the crematorium operation itself, that person’s irresponsible comments outside the crematorium may bring the crematorium and cremation into disrepute.
- In the absence or deficiency of applicable law, the crematorium operator may, and indeed should, establish by its Bylaws or other rules specific terms of reference governing the procedures and practices followed in the management and operation of the crematorium, including:
- The human remains of the deceased will be accepted for cremation only if they are in a rigid, leak resistant container;
- The crematorium reserves the right to accept or reject a cremation container constructed of non-combustible materials;
- Where, in particular circumstances, the crematorium agrees to accept a non-combustible container, the crematorium reserves the right to transfer the remains to a combustible container, and to dispose of the non-combustible container in any manner at its sole discretion;
- In the event the crematorium chooses to use the non-combustible container in the cremation process, the crematorium reserves the right to dispose of the residue of the container in any manner at its sole discretion;
- Containers of plastic or similar composition, although combustible, will not be accepted.
- The crematorium is authorized to remove in advance and discard handles or any other exterior of the cremation container which may cause damage to the cremation chamber.
- All cremations will be carried out in accordance with the appropriate statutory provisions and their regulations.
- Once received at the crematorium, a body or any of its parts will not be removed from the crematorium except for a lawfully authorized purpose.
- No container with human remains will be accepted unless it bears adequate particulars to establish the identity of the deceased person to be cremated, together with the legal Permit for the cremation, and a duly executed “Cremation and Disposition Authorization” form, containing at least the following information
- Name, age and sex of the deceased;
- Date, time and place of death;
- Name and signature of person authorizing cremation;
- Relationship (or basis) under the priority provisions of section 51 of the Act;
- Name of funeral provider and signature of funeral director (or other party), acting as agent for the person authorizing the cremation;
- Certification regarding the existence and removal of any pacemaker, other implanted devices, jewellery or other valuable material;
- Declaration regarding the existence of any infectious disease;
- Instructions for disposition of the cremated remains;
- Acknowledgement of any storage deposit, if required;
- A general description of the container; and
- Certification by the funeral director (or other party), that the container is free of extraneous material which could constitute a hazard to the cremation equipment or crematorium staff, or violate pollution, air quality or similar regulations.
- Every care will be taken to ensure correct identification throughout the entire proceedings, from the moment the container with human remains is received at the crematorium until the final disposition of the cremated remains, or delivery to an authorized. person;
- Whether for purposes of identification or otherwise, the container holding human remains will not be opened on the crematorium premises except by the attending funeral director (or other party), at the specific request of the person who authorized the cremation. Where anything is removed from the human remains or the interior of the container, the operator will require a receipt for anything removed.
- Where a crematorium operator, on reasonable and probable grounds, believes the container may hold extraneous material which might constitute a hazard to the cremation equipment or crematorium staff, or violate pollution, air quality or similar regulations, the operator may require the funeral director (or other party) to open the container for examination of its contents, and to remove extraneous material if any is found.
- Once the legally required time interval has elapsed, the container with human remains, except as otherwise provided, will be placed into the cremation chamber and cremated.
- Except as specifically instructed in a particular instance, and duly authorized, each container with human remains will be cremated separately.
- Upon completion of the cremation, all of the contents of the cremation chamber, insofar as is possible, will be carefully removed and handled in a manner to avoid commingling with other cremated remains.
- Following removal of foreign objects, the bone fragments will be mechanically processed to reduce them to an unidentifiable dimension, unless the person authorizing the cremation has given contrary instructions. Where the cremated remains are not to be mechanically processed, the operator will manually reduce the bone fragments to a size permitting their placement within the crematorium’s temporary receptacle, or other receptacle provided by the person who authorized the cremation.
- If all the cremated remains will not fit within the operator’s usual temporary receptacle, or other receptacle, the surplus will be placed in a separate temporary receptacle.
- The temporary receptacle or receptacles, or other receptacle, will be properly identified and. in accordance with the instructions on the “Cremation Authorization and Disposition” form, returned to the funeral director (or other person) from whom the human remains were received, or disposed of or forwarded for disposition, as directed, in a safe and secure manner.
- Any metal found among the cremated remains will not be salvaged for any purpose but will be placed with the cremated remains, or disposed of in aggregate in accordance with the law.
- The crematorium operator will ensure that, at all times, the crematorium is kept in a neat and tidy condition, that the cremation equipment is maintained in good repair and operating efficiently, and that the crematorium personnel are properly trained in the operation of the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.