HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

VOCs (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS)

HHSRS VERSION 2

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Front elevation

storage heater

roof light

All ages

Excess Heat

Vulnerable group

Related hazards

Dwelling: Pre 1920 non-self contained attic flat

Background: This is a one-bedroomed attic flat in a three-storey late Victorian house in Inner London. It was

converted in the 1950s to provide a self contained flat on the ground floor and three non-self contained flats on

the upper floors. The flat being assessed shares a bathroom and a separate w.c. on the first floor with the two

flats on that level, but has its own small kitchen.

Ventilation: The full height living room window has one low opening casement. The bedroom has a small

openable roof light, while the kitchen is lit by fixed transparent tiles and ventilated by a small extractor above the

electric cooker that discharges into the roof void.

Redecoration: The ground floor self-contained flat is vacant and the landlord has taken the opportunity to

redecorate the whole of the house internally and to lay chipboard over the floors to the common parts and the

vacant flat. The work has been done by a local odd-job man and is only now nearing completion after several

weeks. As well as the solvent in the adhesive used to glue the chipboard, the paints used are from old stock and

have high VOC emission levels.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

A

A

a

VOC emitting materials

3

# Secondary hazards

b

VOC emitting treatments

3

None

-

c

Inadequate ventilation

3

d

Disrepair - to ventilation system

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

1 Not satisfactory

2

Defective

- Satisfactory/NA

Bedroom

void above

Living room

storage heater

tank

dn

Kitchen

Roof light to bedroom

Corner of bedroom prior to redecoration

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Plan of flat

A B C D E F G H

I

J

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for hazards from VOCs for persons of all

aged in all dwellings, 1997-99.

Score

<1

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Pre 1920 non s.c. flat

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Average: 5,580

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

1 in

10

Example

10

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

OUTCOMES

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class IV

Justification

RATING

The likelihood of harm in the attic flat is increased by several factors - that the flat has

been occupied during the works; the poor provision for ventilation in the flat; the

extended duration of the work; the use of materials with high emission rates; and the

extent of the redecoration, with fumes coming from the common parts and all other flats

as well as from within the flat itself.

Low

High

Average: 0.1

0.1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.1

0.1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 1.0

1.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av. 98.8

98.8

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av Nos:

%

0.1

0.1

1.0

98.8

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Although the occupants cannot escape the fumes and this will increase the likelihood of

harm, there is nothing to suggest changes to the spread of harms.

Example

E

Average: <1

A B C D

F G H

I

J

Score

238

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

Likelihood to

1 in 5,600

Outcomes to

0.1

0.1

1.0

98.8 %

To avoid the problem arising, materials with low emission rates should have been used,

and the work carried out with proper precautions and as quickly as possible. The only

solution now is to ensure adequate ventilation to allow dispersal of the fumes. (Note that

more substantial works are also required to this flat to improve the ventilation and its

energy efficiency - see WE 3.1 V2.)

Improved