HHSRS 08/06

15 (IDeA - 01)

August 2006

Hygiene, Pests and Refuse

Yes

Yes

No

No

Domestic

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Persons of all ages

Structual collapse and falling elements

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

Covering to disused fireplace to 1st floor front bedroom

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

DWELLING:

Two storey, mid terraced house built in

1927

Background: The property is of traditional brick and slate construction and comprises one room plus

kitchen on the ground floor and two rooms plus combined WC/bathroom on the first floor. The chimney and

flue to the disused fireplace to the first floor front bedroom was ventilated with the use of a plastic grill. This

grill was recently removed in order to redecorate. A serious infestation of Dermestes spp was discovered

(only occasional beetles had been seen previously). There has been a problem of pigeons in the area (the

house is situated close to a railway bridge under which they roost) and pigeons have caused some disrepair

to the roof of the property. The flue openings have not been capped and the original pots remain in place,

although insecure.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

n

Water seals

o

Disrepair to drains

p

Open vent pipes

q

Design deficiencies

r

Internal refuse areas

s

External refuse areas

t

Refuse chutes etc

# Compounding matters

-

None

Key

3

2

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

B

-

-

Seriously defective

Defective

Not satisfactory

Satisfactory/NA

a

Internal walls and ceiling

2

b

External walls and roof

1

c

Ventilators

2

d

Solid floors

-

e

Suspended floors

1

f

Under floor space

-

g

Roof space

-

h

Skirting and architraves

-

i

Windows and doors

-

j

Windows and door frames

-

k

Ducts and pipe work

2

l

Access to ducts

-

m

Service entry points

-

15 (IDeA - 01)

August 2006

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

1 in 3

Av: All Dwellings: 5, 585

3

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

It is possible that bird carcasses and/or nests are in the chimney. Beetles and larvae are

likely to move into the dwelling when such a food source diminishes. Infestations are

problematic to eradicate and their presence is likely to have an adverse effect on mental

health and increase the likelihood of asthma/allergic response. This justifies increasing

the likelihood considerably particularly as a substantial existing infestation has been

found although currently it seems isolated in one room.

OUTCOMES

%

Av: All Dwellings: 0.0

Class I

0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.1

Class II

0.1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 1.0

Class III

1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 98.9

Class IV

98.9

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

Although this is a substantial active infestation which could cause stress, contact

dermatitis, severe allergy, and gastro-intestinal illness and the infestation could now

spread to other parts of the house such as food preparation areas, there is no reason to

change the spread of harms from the national average.

Av. All Dwellings: 0

RATING

A

B

C

D

E+

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

463

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in

5600

Outcomes to

0

0.1

1.0 98.9

%

Justification

The source of the infestation should be treated in particular the flue voids should be

cleaned down and the roof void also checked and cleaned as necessary. A programme of

treatment should be followed until eradication is accomplished and capping of redundant

flues should be carried out to prevent re-infestation. This would reduce the score to the

average.

Av: 0

NEW RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

0

Av: Nos

Average likelihood and health outcomes by persons of all ages.