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.