HHSRS Operating Guidance 2006: 5/07
Multiple locations
Yes
No
Secondary hazards
No
No
LIGHTING
Vulnerable age
No particular age group
Related hazards
Excess Heat, Damp & Mould Growth
DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS
Front Elevation
Dwelling: Basement flat in pre-1920 property.
Light-well above living room window
View from bedroom window
Background: This is a one bedroom basement flat in a Georgian building which has commercial use on the ground
floor and bed-sit accommodationon the floors above. Access to the flat is from within the building. The flat has no
windows direct to the outside. The only natural light being via two opaque glass block light-wells in the public
pavementon the west elevationwhich provides borrowed light into the living room and bedroom only. The flat is very
dark and artificial lighting is required for almost all normal householdtasks and activities.There is no outlook from the
flat.
LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS
LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES
None
BCC 13-03 June 2007
a
Obstruction
3
Key
3
Seriously defective
b
Size, shape, position
3
2
Defective
c
Position of artificial lighting
-
1
Not satisfactory
d
Control of artificial lighting
-
-
Satisfactory/NA
e
Glare etc.
-
f
Window view
3
g
Outlook
3
Compounding matters -
A
B C D E
F
G H
I
J
Class IV
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Justification:
There is nothing that justifies changing the spread of harms from the national average
Av: All dwellings: <1
RATING
Score: 2,944
RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVE
Likelihood to
1 in 2
Outcomes to
0.1
1.0 10.0 88.9
%
Justification
There does not appear to be any feasible solution. While it might be possible to change the opaque glass blocks in
the light-wells to clear (transparent) glass, as the light-wells are part of the public pavement there would be a loss of
privacy. Such work would make little difference, and may not be permissable or even possible.
Av: <1
Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for hazards from inadequate lighting for all person
in all dwellings,1995-96.
NEW RATING
Av: Nos
Score: 2,944
A
B C D E
F
G H
I
J
BCC 13-03 June 2007
HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES
1 in
2
LIKELIHOOD
Low
High
Av: All dwellings: 50,825
< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130
75
42
24
13
7.5
4
2.5
1.5 >
Justification:
The whole flat lacks adequate natural lighting and no rooms have any outlook. As natural lighting
levels are extremely low, artificial lighting is required for virtually all normal activities. However, there is
some illumination provided by the borrowed lights. But, the outlook from the accommodation is non
existent resulting in an extremely oppressive atmosphere which is likely to result in psychological harm
The lack of any alternative well-lit rooms means that exposure to the hazard is almost inevitable.
OUTCOMES
Av: 0.1
Class I
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 0.9
Class II
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 9.0
Class III
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
0.1
1
10
88.9
%
Av: 90.0