Why Is My Casket Lowering Device Going Down Too Fast?
Updated: 1 day ago
A casket lowering device should descend at a smooth, controlled and predictable rate. If a device that has normally operated correctly begins lowering noticeably faster, that change should not be ignored.
A device going down too fast is a different problem from a brake that will not hold. The brake holds the device in position; the lowering device's speed-control system is responsible for maintaining a controlled descent.
What Does “Too Fast” Mean?
Cemetery personnel who regularly use the same lowering device usually know how that particular device normally behaves.
A speed problem may show up as a noticeably faster descent than normal, a sudden change from the way the device previously operated, or excessive speed appearing along with a new clicking, clacking or other unusual sound.
The important first step is recognizing that the operating behavior has changed. That does not mean cemetery personnel need to determine which internal component caused the change.
A Device That Starts Lowering Too Fast Should Be Taken Seriously
When a lowering device begins descending faster than its established normal rate, that change should be treated as a warning sign.
This is not a condition that should be expected to correct itself on the next cycle. If the device has begun lowering too fast, the underlying condition is still present.
A device that has begun lowering too fast should be expected to remain too fast or become progressively faster until the condition is corrected. That is why an abnormal increase in speed should be addressed when it is first noticed rather than waiting to see whether it returns to normal on its own.
Check the Device Before It Is Set Over the Grave
If abnormal lowering speed has been noticed, the device should be checked in a stable location away from the open grave before it is relied on for another graveside service.
Operate the device under controlled conditions and determine whether it is still descending smoothly and at its normal controlled rate.
If the excessive speed remains, do not set the device over the grave simply to see whether it performs differently during an actual service. A safety check should remain safe itself.
Never Leave a Lowering Device Unattended While It Is in Use
This is another reason personnel should remain with the lowering device while it is operating.
If someone is standing with the device and paying attention to its operation, there is a much better chance of recognizing that the descent is faster than it should be and responding before the situation becomes more serious.
Frigid's published owner guidance also instructs personnel not to leave the lowering device unattended while it is in use.
Remaining with the device is not simply a procedural recommendation. It gives personnel the opportunity to recognize changes in speed, brake behavior or other unexpected movement as they occur.
The Brake Should Not Become the Normal Speed Control
The brake and the lowering-speed system perform different functions.
If cemetery personnel routinely have to manipulate or hold the brake to keep a device from descending too quickly, the device is not operating the way it should.
If abnormal speed develops while the equipment is already in use, maintaining control of the casket and equipment is the immediate priority. Personnel may have to use the brake to maintain control until the immediate situation is safely completed.
That is understandable as an emergency response. It should not become the normal operating method for a device with an unresolved speed problem. Once the situation is safely completed, the device should be removed from normal use until the speed condition is corrected.
Speed-Control Adjustments Should Not Be Made by Trial and Error
Casket lowering devices have provisions for maintaining and adjusting their controlled lowering rate. Frigid also publishes maintenance and adjustment information for the speed-control and governor system on its lowering devices.
However, repeatedly changing adjustments until the device “looks about right” is not the same as properly servicing and checking the equipment.
If personnel are not trained to perform those procedures, the speed-control system should be inspected and adjusted by someone who is.
This article intentionally does not provide the internal adjustment procedure because the device should be evaluated as a complete system rather than adjusted solely from one symptom.
New Sounds Along With Excessive Speed Matter
A device that is operating faster than it used to deserves attention. A device that begins going too fast and also develops clicking, clacking, grinding or another mechanical change deserves even more immediate attention.
The combination of symptoms indicates that the operating condition of the device has changed and should be inspected before continued use. The sound itself should not be used as a shortcut for deciding which part needs replacement.
When Should the Device Be Removed From Service?
Remove the device from normal service when its descent has become significantly faster than normal, personnel cannot confidently predict how the next lowering will behave, abnormal speed appears with another mechanical symptom, or the device requires a workaround to maintain a controlled descent.
Do not continue operating it while waiting for the speed to return to normal on its own.
After the Condition Is Corrected
After service or adjustment, the complete lowering device should be operated under controlled conditions to verify that it again lowers smoothly, consistently and predictably.
Correcting an adjustment or replacing a worn component is only part of the job. The final result should be a device whose complete operating cycle has been verified.
The Bottom Line
If a casket lowering device begins going down noticeably faster than it normally does, treat the change as a warning sign.
A lowering device that has begun going too fast should be expected to remain too fast or become progressively faster until the condition is corrected. Do not wait for it to return to normal on its own.
Check the device safely before it is positioned over the grave, stay with the device while it is in operation, do not turn routine brake use into a workaround for abnormal speed, and do not make repeated speed adjustments by trial and error.
A lowering device should provide a smooth, controlled and predictable descent. If it no longer does, the reason for that change should be identified before the equipment is relied on at the next graveside service.
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