Crematory & Cemetery Operations Week 10

Some methods of disposition

- Interment (inurnment) - Entombment - Scattering - Ossuary - Raking - Trenching - Sending into space - Underwater reef - Memorialized art - Made into jewelry - Keepsakes - Return to the family

International shipment

- It is not advisable to mail cremated remains out of the country using USPS or any other mail or delivery service. Why? Once the remains leave the USPS it is impossible to track or account where the remains are - The best way to ship cremated remains is through family members going to the country in question - As a funeral director, you should assist the family by researching the particular countries requirement for shipping

Common materials used for the construction of containers appropriate for cremation include

- corrugated cardboard - particle board - wood

Materials that are not appropriate for cremation containers

- fiberglass - Styrofoam - plastic - polystyrene

Shipping cremated remains on domestic or international flights

- if someone hand carries cremated remains - TSA will not ship any container that is lead lined as all packages must be x rayed as they pass through the screening.

It is possible for a crematory to refuse to receive human remains for cremation in certain cases.

- incomplete paperwork - questionable identification - inappropriate cremation container

Minimum information that should be part of the receipt of remains include

- name of the deceased - date and time of death - date and time of arrival at the crematory - the funeral director delivering the remains - the identity of the authorizing agent - a note specifying the final disposition of the cremated remains

US Postal Service

- the only shipper that allows shipment of cremated remains - cremated remains are placed in two containers. The containers must be leak proof - the postal service has special labels for cremated remains which should be used - mailing domestically, use the priority mail express service - send the cremated remains via registered mail so everyone who touches the remains must sign a confirmation slip insuring a chain of custody along with a return receipt requested. USPS keeps all cremated remains under lock and key at all times

Human remains must be delivered to the crematory in a container that is appropriate for cremation, one that has not been compromised, and a container must not be leaking any contents. In order to be considered appropriate, a container should

- totally encase the remains - be both combustible and rigid in order to assist in the loading process - contain less than 0.5% chlorinated plastic of total weight

Metal casket

-LAST of the day if able to be cremated -Cool down is important to remove allow removal of shell and remnant metals

Before accepting the body, the crematory's representative needs to carefully review all documentation. What documents are they looking for?

1. Crematory's authorization form with signatures from the authorizing agent and funeral director 2. Any special requests, i.e. family present when the cremation is performed 3. Instructions and/or form stipulating the release and disposition of the cremated remains which may also include an indemnification clause in favor of the crematory. 4. The cremation container is acceptable to the crematory and there is no leakage coming from the container. 5. If there are any discrepancies, or if any documentation is incomplete, the crematory should not accept the deceased

The following information should be recorded in the cremation log book

1. Current date 2. Operator's name 3. Number on the metal disk assigned to the deceased 4. Name of funeral home 5. Date & time received at the crematory 6. Description of container/casket 7. Date & starting time of cremation 8. Completion time of cremation 9. Special requests or remarks 10. For cremations with more than one cremation chamber, identify the chamber used.

Labeling of the urn/container should include the following info.

1. Each container must be labeled with an identical copy of the label placed on the bag containing the cremated remains 2. When there are multiple containers holding cremated remains holding the cremated remains of the same person the labels should indicate the total number of containers i.e. # 1 of 2, # 2 of 2 3. Multiple containers must be securely fastened together to prevent separation 4. The permit for disposition if required for disposition must be placed in an envelope and attached to the outside of the container.

Body receipt should contain the following:

1. Full name of deceased 2. Name of the funeral home 3. Date and time of death 4. Date and time deceased was received at crematory 5. Type of container/casket 6. Name & signature of person delivering deceased 7. Name & signature of crematory personnel accepting the deceased.

The following information should be kept in the refrigeration log

1. Names of the deceased being kept in the refrigeration unit 2. Date of death 3. Location of the deceased in the unit 4. A description of the container/casket 5. Date & time the deceased was placed in and removed from the unit

Pacemakers

Considered permanent implants by the FDA, so the appropriate process after removing a pacemaker is to sterilize the device and return it to the manufacturer, as the FDA regulates the distribution of these devices

Plastic or fiberglass

Containers are unsuitable because of their flammability along with exceeding the capacity limits of the cremation equipment.

Trenching

Cremated remains are dispensed into a superficial trench in the soil and subsequently covered

Signature upon delivery option

It is advised to always select the .......... when shipping cremated remains. This can offer an additional level of security as you work to ensure the remains reach the correct final destination

Final rest

It is extremely important that funeral directors never lose sight that the determination of the location and method of final disposition of cremated remains is undeniably the act of locating a place of ______ ______.

False

It is very common for the container/casket to be opened at the crematory

Inner container

Must be strong and durable and be constructed in such a manner as to protect and securely contain the contents inside, and it must be properly sealed so that it is sift proof.

Outer container

Must be strong, durable, and sift proof.

Commingling

Of cremated remains of two or more persons without the express written permission from the authorizing agents is prohibited

How long does it take to actually cremate a body

On average it can take one to three hours to cremate the deceased

All documents

Once _______ ________ are confirmed, the deceased can then be brought into the crematory

False

Once the cremation process begins the operator can leave the area around the cremator/retort to attend to administrative duties

Cremation process

Point in time when a body is received for the cremation, with an understanding that any visitation and memorialization with the full body remains physically present have been concluded, and the remains are being received directly by the crematory for the cremation.

Shipping to an international address

Sent either by priority mail express international service or First Class package international service using registered mail service.

Storage spaces

Should be numbered. If the storage area is full - the crematory should not accept the body if it cannot be properly stored.

name

The ________ on the cremation container must match the _______ on the documents presented

Simultaneous cremations

The cremation of more than one human body at the same time within the same crematory

receipt

The crematory must issue a ________ for accepting the deceased to the person delivering the remains.

Cremation Log book

The crematory should be using a ________ ______ _______ which will list each detail for every cremation performed.

Authorizing agent only

The formal presentation should be made to the .........

definitive instructions

The funeral director must have ______ ______ from the family regarding the final disposition of cremated remains. This should be dealt with in the authorization form

False

The identification process is only done once at the crematory

permission

The most important thing to know is whatever the family may want to do they should make sure they receive _________ from wherever they want to scatter the cremated remains before doing so.

True

The name of the cremation container must match the name on all documents presented to the crematory representative

The plastic bag must have a label with indicating:

The name of the deceased, the number that appears on the metal disc, the date of the cremation, and name of the crematory. The metal disc must be placed inside the plastic bag on top of the cremated remains

Ossuary

The placement of cremated remains in a communal repository

Entombment

The placement of the remains in a columbarium niche

True

The receipt from the crematory will include the type of container/casket

Cremation

The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber.

False

The standard of care for a funeral home or crematory routinely allows the commingling of two or more cremated remains

Cremator

The total mechanical unity for the creation process. A Type IV incinerator designed for cremating human and animal remains.

scattering

There are few if any rules or laws that regulate _________

dental gold, surgical screws, prostheses, or implants

There can be .......... in the cremator. These items are removed through the use of strong magnets, forceps, and visual inspection.

3 to 7

There can be anywhere from ____ to ____ pounds of cremated remains

Underwater reef

This is the process of mixing cremated remains with concrete and developed into a reef and submerged to the ocean floor.

A receipt should be signed by the funeral home for the cremated remains

This receipt should contain 1. Name of deceased 2. Date and time of transfer 3. Signature & printed name of the crematory representative releasing the cremated remains 4. Signature, printed name and relationship of the person receiving the cremated remains 5. A copy of the receipt must be provided to the person receiving the person's cremated remains and a copy of the receipt kept in the file

False

To insure the identity of the cremated remains a plastic disk embossed with a non repeating number is assigned to each deceased

Clearly identify and Mark contents

To make sure the U.S. Postal service can identify your loved one's cremated remains during processing and transportation: - Mark the identity of the contents on the address side next to the shipping label - Use the Postal Service Cremated Remains label (label 139), which is available at your local Post Office

Sending into space

Typically only between 1-7 grams are allowed and options may include sending the remains to orbit the earth or beyond the earth's orbit into deep space

disposition

Unlike bodily burial, the __________ of cremated remains may involve all or only part to the remains and multiple locations may serve as locations for final disposition

Shipping to a domestic address

Use Priority Mail Express service. The Postal Service offers 1-day or 2 day guaranteed service with delivery by 10:30am (for an additional cost), 12 noon, or 3pm, depending on the origin and destination Zip Codes location.

Padding to protect your container

Use proper padding to keep the container stable and prevent breakage due to processing and transportation

Put the sift proof container in a sealed plastic bag

While not a requirement, the U.S. Postal Service recommends that you ..........

Scattering garden

a section in a cemetery set aside for the scattering of the ashes of cremated human remains

Precise instructions

as to who will receive the cremated remains must be provided to the crematory at the time the deceased is delivered for cremation

Commingling

disposing of cremated remains in a manner or location that combines the cremated remains with the cremated remains of another individual

Witnessing of Cremation

family representative(s) are present for the initiation of the cremation process.

Raking

pouring cremated human remains onto the ground and working into the soil or garden.

ossuary

receptacle for communal placement of cremated remains

Process or pulverizing

reducing the large pieces of bones into dense sand like ashes.

Casting

releasing cremated remains to the wind

Casting (scattering)

releasing cremated remains to the wind

Aerial scattering

the act of scattering cremated remains from an airplane.

Retort

the burning chamber in a crematory

The following are considered best practices for removal of cremated remains from the cremator

1. Open the cremator door slowly to avoid rapid changes in temperature but enough to recover the cremated remains. 2. Remove the metal disc before the cremated remains are removed 3. Retrieve as much of the cremated remains as possible using stainless steel cleanout brushes and hoes to sweep the remains into the cleanout hopper in front of the chamber. A vacuum should be used to recover all possible remains and emptied into the cleanout hopper. Only microscopic particles in the crevices and cracks of the cremator are considered unrecoverable. 4. Carefully place the cremated remains and metal disc from the cleanup hopper to a cooling tray. The paperwork left outside the cremator should be placed next to the cooling tray.

What can a family do with cremated remains

1. Place in an urn 2. Retained by the family 3. Burial or entombment in a cemetery 4. Placed in a Niche in a Columbarium 5. Scattering 6. Dividing cremated remains among family members 7. Cremation jewelry 8. Ossuary

These factors can influence the time it takes for the cremation process to be complete

1. Weight or size of the deceased 2. Percentage of body fat to lean muscle mass 3. The performance of the cremation equipment used 4. Operating temperature of the cremator 5. The type of cremation container/casket used

Damage to the floor of a crematory can cause the loss of up to

10% of the cremated remains; therefore, it is critical to keep up the maintenance on the floor of the cremator on a regular basis

dental gold, jewelry, or personal objects

A crematory must have written authorization to remove any _________ ________ _________ from the casket or container

2014 Cremation Standards for Funeral Service Professionals

A publication by the National Funeral Directors Assoc.

2,000,000

According to CANA there are an estimated _________ unclaimed urns across North America

Infusion pump implant, radioactive seeds, or a defibrillator

Additional devices and implants of concern are.........

2-3 hours

After approximately ______ ______, all organic matter, i.e. tissues and organs as well as the liquid in the body are vaporized.

1/4 inch

After pulverization, the cremated remains should be no larger than _________, unless the cremated remains are scheduled to be scattered, the standard for these remains is no larger than 1/8 inch

Priority Mail Express service

All domestically shipped cremated remains must now be shipped using ...........

Sift proof container

Any vessel that does not allow loose powder to leak or sift out during transit

metal disc

As another step in insuring that the correct deceased is cremated, a _______ _______ should be used. This disc will be embossed with a non repeating number that is assigned to each deceased and remains with the body throughout the cremation process

Cremated remains

Best practice should be to make an appointment with the family or authorizing agent to turn over the .........

Inurnment

CANA defines ________ as the act or ceremony of burying an urn containing cremated remains

Ferrous metal

Can be removed by a hand held magnetic device, but non ferrous materials must be removed by hand

True

Chain of custody procedures continue at the crematory

Irreversible process

Cremation is an ________ _______ and a permit to cremate is required by a governmental body; thus it is suggested to allow at least 48 hours from the time of death until cremation, and never proceed with cremation until all required forms, permits, and authorizations have been received

True

Crematories that have more than one cremation chamber must identify the chamber used in each case

Opacity

Degree to which light is reduced when viewed through a smoke plume. Visible emissions. EPA identifies opacity testing methods; state opacity limits vary.

Yes

Does the operator have to be present at all times during the process to monitor the temperatures, conduct visual inspections to be sure the process is progressing?

On the open sea

Federal Law allows scattering at least three nautical miles from the shoreline. Reports of the scattering must be made to the EPA.

fire proof cabinet

For storage of unclaimed remains, keep the cremated remains in a secure room or ________ ________ under lock and key

True

From the crematories perspective, a crematory should not accept a deceased whose identity has not been verified prior to delivery

ForgottenAshes.com

Funeral director Michael Neal has started a website called.

True

Generally speaking, the average time to complete the cremation process is completed in two to three hours

refrigeration log

Identification procedures indicate that a _________ ______ should be kept as a continuation of the chain of custody

36-42 degrees fahrenheit

If refrigeration is used the temperature should be between _______ to ______. The optimal temperature however is 40 degrees fahrenheit.

Metal casket

If used, they should be the last cremation of the day. If allowed the top of the casket must be removed; all zinc needs to be removed along with the hardware; finally, the crematory must dispose of the shell appropriately.

Packaging the remains

If you plan to ship cremated remains, you will need to have padding and two containers - an inner container and an outer container