BCC 15-01

February 2008

Domestic Hygiene, Pests and Refuse

Vulnerable age

No particular age group

Related hazards

Fire

HHSRS Operating

Guidance: Feb 2006

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Open Land

(fields)

Droppings in roof space

Site plan showing area of open land to the northwest

of the dwelling

Broken air grille to rear elevation

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling: Two storey, mid terraced, inter-war, house

Background: This is an inter-war, two storey house of cavity wall construction under a tiled roof and with timber

suspended floors. It consist of two reception rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor and three bedrooms and a

WC/bathroom on the first. It is in a reasonably good state of repair and with no evidence of any disrepair to the foul or

surface waste water drainage systems. There is no insulation to the cavity walls. Sub-floor ventilation is provided by air

grilles located in both the front and rear elevations (two per elevation). Both of these at the rear are missing. The

dwelling is located in a residential area but there is a large area of open land to the rear as shown on the location plan

above. This area is well maintained but there is a history of rodent activity. The loft space of the dwelling has been

covered with carpet over the existing, minimal, loft insulation. This is covered with old rat droppings, indicating that there

had been a significant infestation although there does not appear to be any current rodent entry into the rooms of the

dwelling themselves. Refuse storage is satisfactory and by means of a local authority approved "wheelie bin".

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & HARM

a

Internal walls and ceilings

-

n

Water seals

-

b

External walls and roof

-

o

Disrepair to drains

-

c

Ventilators

3

p

Open vent pipes

-

d

Solid floors

-

q

Design deficiencies

-

e

Suspended floors

-

r

Internal refuse areas

-

f

Under floor space

-

s

External refuse areas

-

g

Roof space

-

t

Refuse chutes etc

-

h

Skirting and architraves

-

I

Windows and doors

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

j

Window and door frames

-

2

Defective

k

Ducts and pipework

-

1

Not satisfactory

l

Access to ducts

-

-

Satisfactory/NA

m

Service entry points

-

H

I

J

G

RATING

Score: 463

A

B

C

D

E

F

Average likelihood and health outcomes for persons of all ages

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Score: 0

H

I

J

G

BCC 15-01

February 2008

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Low

High

1 in

3

LIKELIHOOD

Av: All Dwellings: 5,585

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

There is evidence of a previous infestation; the area has a history of rat activity and provides and environment suitable

for rats plus the disrepair to the ventilators to the suspended timber floor increases the likelihood of a rat infestation that

could cause harm in the next twelve months. The presence of old rat droppings in the roof space also increases

likelihood of exposure to the hazard given the infections that rats excrete. Rats are also likely to gnaw electrical cabling

which also increases the likelihood of a fire.

OUTCOMES

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class IV

%

Av: All Dwellings: 0.0

0

< 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

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 98.9

98.9

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 3,200

Outcomes to

0.0

0.1

1.0 98.9

%

Justification

Replace the ventilator grilles with rodent proof grilles; remove droppings and thoroughly cleanse the roof space

(removing the carpet which will have been contaminated). It will also be necessary to test bait in the garden and

surroundings of the house. Given the nature of the area it is the likelihood of an occurrence will still be higher than the

national average.

Av: 0

Justification

There is nothing that indicates the spread of harm outcomes for the hazard of domestic hygiene would be different from

the national averages

Av: All Dwellings: 0

A

B

C

D E+ F