NFDA Cremation 3

Question 1

Must ensure effective destruction of combustible substances in exhaust emissions.

• Variations affect energy efficiency, combustion rates, control of emissions, time to preheat,cremate, and cool down. (time varies from 90 minutes or less to 120 minutes or less)
• Manufacturer should be on site at least annually to conduct inspections.

Answer 1

Cremator Design

Question 2

1. Not cause air pollution (defined by state)
2. Operated, cleaned and maintained in manner consistant with good operating/maintenence practices)
3. Attended at all times by trained operator
4. Maintained and operated in accordance with manufacturer specifications and in compliance with state laws and regulations.
5. Able to provide sufficient secondary chamber volume to maintain exhaust gases at the required temperature for one second.
6. Fueled by natural gas, LP gas, propane or fuel oil meeting state requirements related to emission limitations.

Answer 2

Operating Requirements

Question 3

• By field inspector annually
• Visual observations and parts replacement are main focus (manufacturer)
• If repairs are required, must be done in the time specified by the state or establishments license can be suspended.
• Goal: keep operator safe and the cremator running at its maximum most efficient potential while fully complying with regulations

Answer 3

Inspection

Question 4

• Can be based on number of cases per day
• No combustible items store of left near cremator. Do not use holding facility to store equipment and supplies.
• 6 inch clearance whre stack penetrates ceiling- cremators can shift and vibrate
• Stack inspection made from outside facility every other week- must always be properly aligned.
• Air louvers must be checked
• Crematory is clean (all areas)
• Processing equipment is clean
• PPE maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition and is readily accessible.

Answer 4

Basic Maintence Guidelines

Question 5

Should not be operated until it is repaired or adjusted.

Answer 5

Unit With defects

Question 6

• Burners- operated within proper air to fuel ratio, checked visually at least once during operation shift and adjusted if necessary.
  
  • Ignition burner
  • Cremation burner
  • Auxillary burner
• Secondary chamber- no less than 1400-1800 F. Thermocouple is operating properly to measure highest exhaust gas temperature
  
  • afterburner
• Opacity monitor
  
  • visual inspection

Answer 6

Common Maintenance Tasks

Question 7

• manufacturer-supplied instructions on site, if not, prepare them and keep them on site
• Be in compliance with local building codes to protect healthy and safety of employees and other individuals who pay be present in facility.

Answer 7

Operator Proection During Maintenance

Question 8

• Burner flameout- Check UV scanner and spark plugs
• Extreme over-temperature- check and/or replace thermocouple
• Fuel and air need adjustment- contact manufacturer
• Loading door very slow- check hydraulic fluid
• No power to burner or fans- check circuit breaker, replace fuses
• Refractory lining overheats- may be premature ignition box, replace fuses
• Spark plug not firing properly- clean or replace
• System fails to start when start button depressed- older units raising the door activates a switch that begins the cremation process, check that door is in contact with spring device
• Temperature being recorded incorrectly- check thermocouple
• Visible emissions from stack- recheck air flow, temperature, ignition burner, check whether case is overcombusted or undercombusted, etc.

Answer 8

Troubleshooting

Question 9

No matter what the situation may be, this should never be turned off.

Answer 9

Blower

Question 10

A person who is legally entitled to order and direct the cremation and final disposition of specific human remains.

• deemed to warrant truthfulness of any facts (including identity of deceased) except for representations made by funeral director.
• If authorization forms are not in order or in place- FD and crematory can refuse cremation
• Crematory operator does not bear responsibilty
• Changes to form cannot be made unless all signatories sign off to authorize the change

Answer 10

Authorizing Agent

Question 11

• Prerequisite to cremation
• Comprehensive forms found in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Utah
• A legal document that gives the crematory the authority to cremate human remains. It is not a contract for cremation services. A separate contract is required to purchase the services of the funeral home and/or crematory.

Answer 11

Written Authorization/Disposition form (required in 45 states)

Question 12

• Identification of decedent, time and date of death
• Identification of funeral home and crematory, name of FD or agent who obtained authorization
• Identification of authorizing agent, statement of authority, relationship to deceased
• Notification if COD was caused by disease (department of health or other authority) to be infectious, contagious, communicable or dangerous to public health.
• Authorization to cremate
• List and descriptions of any devices
• Instructions of disposal/return of devices
• Identification of casket or alternative container
• Witness to cremation? relese FH and Crematory of liability
• Explaination of cremation process
• Urn and standard tempory shipping container requirements
• fInal disposition arrangements, name of person authorized to receive CR
• Statement that all person property will be destroyed or discarded
• Date, time, and place of any visitation and funeral ceremonies prior to cremation
• Time limit after cremation that funeral home will hold the cremated remains. (authorizing agent is liabile for costs incurred if disposition takes place after time limit is out)
• Certification and indemnification agreement by authorizing agent

Answer 12

Included in Cremation Authorization

Question 13

• Pacemakers
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRTDs)
• Implantable drug pumps
• Neurostimulators (including for pain and functional electrical stimulation)
• Bone growth stimulators
• Hydrocephalus programmable shunts
• Fixion nails
• Dental mercury amalgam
• Radioactive seeds (used in brachytherapy)
• Any other battery powered implant

Answer 13

Battery Powered/Hazardous Medical Devices to be Removed

Question 14

Furnished to FD or FDs representative who delivers human remains to the crematory.

• signed by both the crematory authority and funeral director (or representative)

Answer 14

Written Receipt of Decedent’s Remains (29 states)

Question 15

1. Parties to the delivery
   
   1. Name of funeral home
   2. Name of funeral home representative
   3. Name of crematory
   4. Name of crematory representative receipient of the remains.
2. Name of decedent
3. Decedent date and time of death
4. Description of the casket or alternative container holding the remains
5. Description and time remains received by crematory
6. Representation by funeral home as to whether remains were embalmed or not
7. Written acknowledgement and agreement that funeral home transferred possession
8. Written acknowledgement of receipt of acceptance.

Answer 15

Information on Written Receipt

Question 16

Family representative(s) being present for the initiation of the cremation process.

• assist in placing deceased in retort
• Allowed to press button to start process
• Once process is started, family leaves- should not remain in the same area as the cremator during cremation process.
• Never have another cremation process at the same time a family comes to witness

Answer 16

Witnessing Cremation

Question 17

1. Name of funeral home
2. Name of crematory
3. Name of representative/s (of decedent)
4. Name of decedent
5. Relationship between representatives and decedent
6. Warranty that the representative named has the paramount right by law to arrange and direct the disposition of the remains.
7. Written acknowledgement that the representative allows all individuals listed on the form, and that each individual listed has agreed to release the funeral home from any liability from any claims arising from the presence of each individual (adult or minor) to witness the cremation.
8. Names of those who intend to witness the start of the cremation process and date and time of witnessing
9. Hold harmless disclaimer against crematory that those witnessing have been advised of the procedures that will take place.
10. Information on the name of the operator who began the cremation process and the date and time of the cremation.

Answer 17

Authorization to Witness

(Keep a copy in permanent records)

Question 18

• If state law permits (check state rules)
• Only if authorized in writing by the person recognized by law as the authorizing agent.

Answer 18

Request to Commingle Cremated Remains Authorization

Question 19

• One of the most important legal documents used
• Only to the person named on the cremation authorization and disposition form- must never be exceptions.
• If the funeral director, funeral establishment or crematory authority is aware of any dispute concerning the release or disposition of CR, in some states the FD and funeral or crematory establishment may refuse to release the CR until resolved, or until court order is received.
• Must be signed by both the crematory authority holding the CR and the recipient. (some states require identification # and name and number of authorizing agent).
• Copy of form should be kept in permanent records.

Answer 19

Written Receipt of Cremated Remains

Question 20

• Most states have laws relieving funeral homes and crematories from the obligations of having to indefinitely store unclaimed cremated remains (from as little as 30 days to 4 years)
• If authorizing agent agrees to take possession but does not do so within the specified time or on agreed date- some states required to send written notice
• Laws may allow crematory to dispose of unclaimed cremated or processed remains, in any legal manner as described in state law.- observe religious practices or preferences
• State rules about final disposition of unclaimed remains vary

Answer 20

Written Authorized Disposition of Unclaimed Cremated Remains (42 States)

Question 21

Certain types are not permitted except with the express written consent of authorizing agent.

• Burial or scattering at sea
• Entombment
• Interment
• Scattering
• Aerial scattering
• Casting
• Ossuary
• Raking
• Trenching
• Water scattering

Answer 21

Options for Final Disposition of Cremated Human Remains

Question 22

• at least 3 nautical miles from land. (100 phantom, one phantom= 6 feet)
• flowers, wreaths, urns that are decomposable may also be disposed with CR
• Within 30 days of burial or scattering, a registration of disposition must be filed with the Regional Administrator of EPA Region by the operator of the vessel which carried the remains to the place of disposition.

Answer 22

Burial or Scattering at Sea

Question 23

• Placement in a columbarium niche or indoor or outdoor room or space.
• Placement of urn in crypt

Answer 23

Entombment

Question 24

• Public or private cemetery- Burial of the urn in compliance with cemetery regulations for burial of cremation urns, including biodegradable urns in a green cemetery or green section of a traditional cemetery.
• Private land- cremated remains in most states may be disposed of on private property if specified by the authorizing agent and with the consent of the owner.

Answer 24

Interment

Question 25

Placement of remains in designated open environment as allowed by local and state laws. * Special urns may be used * Carefully consider location- allowance and future of the site * Scattering gardens at cemeteries

Answer 25

Scattering

Question 26

Remains scattered by professional pilots and air services in a plume that can be seen from the ground. * Alternative- lightweight eco-friendly balloon lifted into the upper atmosphere

Answer 26

Aerial Scattering

Question 27

Remains tossed into the wind. * Majority fall to the ground * Be careful of bystanders

Answer 27

Casting

Question 28

Placement in receptacle for communal placement of cremated remains without urn or other container.

Answer 28

Ossuary

Question 29

Remains poured from scattering urn onto loose soil, then raked into the earth. * Method used by most cemetery scattering gardens

Answer 29

Raking

Question 30

Remains placed in shallow trench or groove in sand or soil and then covered or raked into the earth, usually as part of a ceremony.

Answer 30

Trenching

Question 31

Remains placed in water-soluble scattering urn or other container or cast directly into the water, as allowed by law. * Floats before sinking and then dissolving

Answer 31

Water Scattering