Posted By Jane Watts Yes, you read right! Whilst they may satisfy environmental issues, they create manual handling one's at the crem! Anyone with any experience/comments of these? Not personal use comments either:)

Posted By Jane Watts hi Frank, That's not the issue, it's more to do with the manual handling of them as they don't move in the same way wooden one's do.

Posted By Philby' Jane, I know exactly what you mean...flexing...not just logitudinally but also torsionally twisting. When I worked as a 'deceased repatriation operative' (long distance mortuary driver) we had a canvas sling reinforced with wooden slats. This had four handles which, when the whole was raised, were proportional to the position of 'regular' coffin handles, often plastic and not to be used for lifting anyway. As the handles were in a position to allow you to 'lock' the elbow in position, whilst the other arm/hand could support the weight under the coffin/sling, this allowed the same decorum/respect to be displayed. Unfortunately this period of my life is now extinct (sic) and the firm has folded..a business I never thought would...and I cannot remember the supplier of this kit, sorry.... In the case of crem operatives...whats happened to the 'coffin lift trolleys'? Philby

Posted By Jane Watts well, i'll explain.. They are much more combustible than wood, therefore there are problems with flashback when the operatives slide the coffin into the furnace. Wooden one's tend to slide better over the brick floor. Also, environmentally more friendly? Er not necessarily. The crem's have to use more gas because of the way the cardboard burns quicker. I won't go into detail, but those that know what I mean will understand!

Posted By MarkJAWatkins This must be the dead centre of the IOSH web site, get it?...dead centre?... Sorry, it's Friday!

Posted By Robert K Lewis Jane The purpose of the various cardboard, wicker and bamboo coffins is for use at green burials and I rather think that cremation was never intended as a use for them. I can well understand your comments on the need for additional gas - a slow burn of wood aids the process by acting as a secondary fuel. I rather think that here may be a need to review your policy on their use or you will have to look carefully at whether the Cremators are suitably equipped to deal with this type of coffin. Its a sensitive time to be setting out guidance though and some families become rather upset by such details. Bob