West of England Local Authorities HHSRS Group 19-01

December 2008

Falls associated with Baths etc

Vulnerable age

Persons aged 60 years or over

Related hazards

Position and operability of amenities

HHSRS Operating Guidance:

February 2006

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Shower cubicle position in relation to WC and wash hand basin

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling: Ground floor flat in an original pre 1920 property

Background: This is a ground floor flat in a converted pre-1920 house. The house was converted approximately 30

years ago into a flat and maisonette without the benefit of Planning Permission or Building Regulations approval. The

overall nature of the flat in terms of it's structure etc differs little from the original. The flat comprises a living room,

bedroom, kitchen and a shower room.

The shower room is very small (around 2.8 square metre) and has an L-shaped footprint. The shower cubicle is within

one of these "legs" and in front of it is the wash hand basin and WC as shown. No ventilation or heating is provided to

the room. The top of shower tray is raised above the finished floor level to a height of around 470mm with an overall

depth of tray of around 100mm. There are no rails provided to assist with getting in and out of the shower. The floor is

covered with ceramic tiling.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

OUTCOMES

a

Poor friction

2

a

Projections

3

b

Siting of taps, wastes, light switches etc

-

b

Inadequate space

3

c

Handles & grab rails

3

c

Space heating

3

d

Unstable appliance

-

e

Inadequate space

3

f

Inadequate lighting

-

g

Glare

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

h

Space heating

3

2

Defective

i

Change of levels

3

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

Score:

2960

G

H

I

J

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

Av: 0.0

RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

Average likelihood and health outcomes for all persons aged 60 years and over, 1997-1999.

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Score:

91

G

H

I

J

West of England Local Authorities HHSRS Group 19-01

December 2008

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Low

High

1 in

18

LIKELIHOOD

Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 2,758

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

The vulnerable group will have particular difficulties with the step into and out of the shower. The poor arrangement of

the facilities combined with the lack of space in which to move and the absence of grab rails compunds this, so

increasing the likelihood of a fall. The lack of space heating will make the room cold and will contribute to reduced

mobility of the vulnerable group. These factors and the poor frictional quality of the floor covering all combine to make

the likelihood of an accident over a 12 month period significantly more likely than national average.

OUTCOMES

Class I

Class II

%

Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 2.8

4.6

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 320

Outcomes to

2.2

0.1

21.5 76.2

%

Justification

Without relocation or enlargement of the shower room there will always be a hazard associated with the use of the

shower because of the lack of functional space. Improvements could be made to reduce that likelihood by providing

properly located space heating, providing non-slip floor covering, reducing the step to the shower and providing rails

and supports. However such work will not reduce the likelihood to near the national average.

Av: 13

26

38 >

0.1

26

38 >

Av: 21.6

21.5

26

38 >

Av: 75.6

73.8

26

38 >

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

Class III

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

Class IV

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

Justification

The presence of numerous unforgiving projections together with the lack of funcional space between the amenities

increase the chance of both Class I and Class II outcomes from a fall. The lack of space heating may also increase the

severity of harm outcomes.

Av: Pre 1920 Flat: 13

A

B

C

D

E

F