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