HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

WITH BATHS ETC

Persons aged 60 years and over

Structural Collapse etc, Dampness

FALLS

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Head of bath

HHSRS Version 2

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Front elevation

Rear elevation

Bath legs at head

Bath legs at foot

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling: 1920-45 semi-detached house

Background: This is a four bedroomed inter-war semi-detached house which has a centrally located

bathroom with a window in the flank wall. The house, including the bathroom, has been the subject of

DIY modernisation over the years, but all works have been done to a low standard.

Bath: To provide a level footing for the four feet of the bath, old white shelving has been placed over

the old uneven floor boards. However, no fixing has been provided and with the use of the bath, the

boards have now shifted and the feet become dislodged, causing the bath to be unstable and liable

to rock. The bath itself has a narrow rim, no grab rails and a rounded bottom with no patterning to

increase friction. Elsewhere on the bathroom floor, plywood has been laid over the uneven boards

and varnished, and now covered with loose rugs.

OUTCOMES

A

a

Projections

-

b

Inadequate space

-

c

Space heating

-

# Secondary hazard

None

-

Key

3 Seriously defective

2 Defective

1 Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

A)

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

a

Poor friction

3

b

Siting of taps, wastes etc

-

c

Handles and grab rails

3

d

Unstable appliance

3

e

Inadequate space

-

f

Inadequate lighting

-

g

Glare

-

h

Space heating

-

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for hazards for falls associated with baths

for persons aged 60 years or over in 1920-45 houses, 1997-99

5

Score

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

1920-45 House

LIKELIHOOD

1 in

32

Low

High

Average: 3,861

Example

32

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

OUTCOMES

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class IV

Justification

RATING

The risk of a fall associated with the bath is substantially increased by the fact that it is no

longer stable and liable to rock significantly as a person gets in and out of the bath.

The

risk is further exacerbated by the old fashioned design of the bath, with its deep rounded

bottom and lack of surface friction, narrow rim and lack of any grab handles. There is

also a danger of slipping on the varnished floor, even discounting the loose rugs, when

getting in or out of the bath.

%

Average: 2.4

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 5.9

4.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 4.4

4.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 87.3

88.6

2.2

4.6

4.6

88.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Although the likelihood of a fall associated with the bath is significantly higher than

average, the health outcomes are judged to be average as there are no secondary

hazards or other additional compounding matters in the bathroom to suggest that the

scores should be increased. However, with the high likelihood the resulting HHSRS

rating is band D.

Average: 8

I

J

Example

A B C D E F G H

902

Score

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Likelihood to

1 in 5,600

Outcomes to

2.2

4.6

4.6 88.6 %

The floor beneath the bath needs to be made level, either by replacing the old boards or

by covering with suitable plywood sheeting. Making the bath fully stable by providing new

fully fixed bath supports would reduce the likelihood significantly. However, replacing the

bath with one with a flat textured non-slip bottom and grab handles either side, or on the

wall above the bath, would reduce the score to better than average for this age of

dwelling.

Improved

A B C D E F G H

I

J