DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Inspection Criteria for Funeral Establishments
and Branch Establishments

Funeral Establishments

All establishments shall receive an initial and thereafter, a routine inspection. The criteria for inspection required by the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit and Board of Funeral Directors is set forth below.

Criteria for Initial Inspection Criteria for Routine Inspection Department Responsibilities Documents Reviewed Inspector Responsibilities Physical Structure Review Routine Inspection

Branch Establishments

All branch establishments shall receive an initial and routine inspection and shall maintain a level of cleanliness to assure public health and safety. The criteria for inspection required by the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit and Board of Funeral Directors is set forth below.

Casket Selection Area Criteria for Initial Inspection Criteria for Routine Inspection Department Responsibilities Documents Reviewed Inspector Responsibilities Physical Structure Review Routine Inspection

Funeral Establishments

Documents Reviewed: The following documents shall be reviewed during each inspection:

1. Current license of the funeral establishment on display;
2. Current license of the manager and all licensed embalmers, registered student embalmers and licensed funeral directors employed by the funeral establishment;
3. A sign which displays the name of the current or proposed funeral or branch establishment. The sign must be located on or at the front of the building in such a position that it clearly is visible and legible from the outside of the building, or provide documentation that it is on order;
4. Copies of written statements containing a list of principal services and furnishings to be supplied by the funeral director or funeral director and embalmer for the preparation and burial or cremation of a deceased body.

Top of Page

Physical Structure Review: The physical structure shall be maintained to ensure safety of the public and the inspector shall inspect the funeral establishment to ensure compliance with the equipment and sanitation requirements. The establishment shall contain:

1. If services will include conducting or arranging funeral services for dead human bodies, a room(s) for counseling families or next of kin, conducting of a funeral service for dead human bodies, and/or for viewing of the deceased, the establishment shall have a room for such activities. The room(s) shall have floor to ceiling walls on all sides, and shall be either a part of the funeral establishment or located at a licensed branch establishment which is within a reasonable distance of the funeral establishment. The room(s) must:

• Have space for public seating;
• Have space for viewing the deceased body; and
• May have an adjacent area for cosmetic services and dressing of the deceased body for viewing purposes.

2. If services will include conducting funeral services for dead human bodies, the establishment must have motor equipment, such as, but not limited to: funeral coach, sedans, and vans.
3. If services include the care and preparation for burial, disposition, or cremation a preparation room for preparing dead human bodies for burial or other final disposition is required. The preparation room shall have floor to ceiling walls on all sides and shall be at least 150 square feet. The preparation room shall contain the following:

1. Flooring and walls that are cleanable, such as, tile or other suitable hard surface;
2. Adequate drainage, lighting and ventilation;
3. At least 2 sinks:

• 1 for washing of hands and instruments;
• 1 for use of drainage from the embalming table and for use with the aspirator;

4. Cots/stretchers and adequate linens and covers;
5. Fully closing doors;
6. The following instruments and supplies with ample storage thereof:

• Head covers;
• Shoe covers;
• Goggles;
• Masks;
• Heavy duty or surgical gloves;
• Disinfectant spray;
• Adequate materials for use with contagious diseases (contagious disease kit);
• Embalming Gown with sleeves;

7. The following instruments and supplies with ample storage thereof, kept in a sanitary condition:

• Porcelain or stainless steel embalming table;
• Embalming machine;
• Hydro or electrical aspirator with arterial tubes and drain tubes;
• Pair of spring forceps;
• Aneurysm needles;
• Pair of scissors;
• Different sizes of needles;
• Scalpel with extra blades;
• Razor with extra blades
• Trocar with suitable length of hose;
• Autopsy aspirator;
• Cavity Fluid Injector;
• Viscera Pail;
• Sanitary and medical waste container;
• Arm and head supports;
• Cavity, special and arterial fluids; and
• Injector needles.

8. Adequate lighting to maintain public safety.

Top of Page

Inspector Responsibilities: The inspector shall record the results of the inspection, distribute a final copy of the inspection report to the manager of the funeral establishment at the conclusion of the inspection, and forward a final copy of the inspection report to the Department.

Top of Page

Department Responsibilities: The Department shall maintain copies of all current inspection reports.

Top of Page

Routine Inspection: An unannounced inspection shall be conducted routinely to ensure that the funeral establishment is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition; and to ensure that it adheres to all statutes, rules and regulations. Inspections may occur more frequently if the Board deems appropriate.

Top of Page

Branch Establishments

Documents Reviewed: The following documents shall be reviewed during each inspection:

1. Current license of the branch establishment on display;
2. Current license of the manager and all licensed personnel practicing at the branch establishment location;
3. A sign which displays the name of the current or proposed branch establishment. The sign must be located on or at the front of the building in such a position that it clearly is visible and legible from the outside of the building, or provide documentation that it is on order;
4. If funeral arrangements are made at the branch location, copies of written statements containing a list of principal services and furnishings to be supplied by the funeral director or funeral director and embalmer for the preparation and burial or cremation of a deceased body.

Top of Page

Physical Structure Review: The physical structure shall be maintained to ensure safety of the public and the inspector shall inspect the branch establishment to ensure compliance with the equipment and sanitation requirements. The branch establishment shall have:

1. Space for viewing the deceased body. The room(s) shall have floor to ceiling walls on all sides;
2. Adequate ventilation; and
3. Adequate lighting to maintain public safety.

Top of Page

Casket Selection Area: The branch establishment shall have a casket selection area which provides either a catalogue or merchandise.

Top of Page

Inspector Responsibilities: The inspector shall record the results of the inspection, distribute a final copy of the inspection report to the manager of the funeral establishment at the conclusion of the inspection, and forward a final copy of the inspection report to the Department.

Top of Page

Department Responsibilities: The Department shall maintain copies of all current inspection reports.

Top of Page

Routine Inspection: An unannounced inspection shall be conducted routinely to ensure that the funeral establishment is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition; and to ensure that it adheres to all statutes, rules and regulations. Inspections may occur more frequently if the Board deems appropriate.

Top of Page

Criteria for Inspection Rating

Each applicant for an establishment license must successfully complete an inspection to receive a license to operate. The criteria for successful completion of inspections are set forth below:

Criteria for successful completion of an initial inspection.

1. The inspector shall record a rating of "Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory" on the inspection report.
2. The inspector shall record a rating of "Satisfactory" on the initial inspection, when the establishment receives an overall inspection rating of 90% or greater and an "Unsatisfactory" on the initial inspection when the establishment receives an overall inspection rating of less than 90% or if the inspector believes there is a severe health risk to the public.

• When an applicant receives a rating of "Unsatisfactory" the applicant shall not operate the establishment and may, at the discretion of the inspector, be granted 30 days from the date of the initial inspection to meet the requirements.
• The inspector shall conduct a re-inspection within 30 days of receipt of verification that all corrections cited on the inspection report are corrected.
• If the establishment receives a "Satisfactory" rating after re-inspection, the inspector shall change the "Unsatisfactory" rating and enter a "Satisfactory" rating.
• If the establishment receives an "Unsatisfactory" rating, after the re-inspection, the Department shall deny the applicant the issuance of a license to operate an establishment.

Criteria for Successful Completion of a Routine Inspection.

1. The inspector shall issue a rating of "Satisfactory" on all routine inspections when the establishment receives an overall inspection rating of 90% or greater.
2. The inspector shall issue a rating of "Unsatisfactory" on all routine inspections when the funeral establishment receives an overall inspection rating of less than 90%.

• When an establishment receives a rating of "Unsatisfactory" the designated manager may at the discretion of the inspector, be granted 30 days from the date of the initial inspection to meet the requirements. Upon completion of corrective action, the establishment manager must contact the Department and advise of compliance with the deficiencies noted on the inspection report.
• The inspector shall conduct a re-inspection of the establishment within 30 days of receipt of the notice of compliance by the establishment manager.
• If the establishment meets the requirements at the time of re-inspection, the inspector shall change the "Unsatisfactory" rating and enter a "Satisfactory" rating.
• If the establishment receives an "Unsatisfactory" rating, after the re-inspection, the Department shall, within 10 days of the completion of the re-inspection, give notice to the establishment that the license is suspended. Such notice shall be in written form and shall:

1. State that the establishment license is suspended;
2. State the reasons for the establishment license suspension;
3. State that the establishment license suspension will become final 30 days after the mailing of the notice of suspension unless the manager submits a written request for a hearing within such 30 day period; and
4. Be sent to the manager by certified mail.

• Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing, the manager shall be given a hearing before the Department.
• The Department's decision regarding the suspension of the license shall become final thirty (30) days after a copy of the decision is mailed to the manager, unless the manager appeals the decision pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-1,102.

1. When a funeral establishment license is suspended for failure of a biennial inspection, the establishment must reapply to the Department for a license to operate.

Top of Page

 

Documents in PDF format require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc. 

Funeral Establishment Page