HHSRS 2006 Guidance: 5/07

Yes

Yes

No

No

Falling on

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Stairs etc.

Persons aged 60 years or over

Falling between levels

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Rear Access Stairs to

First/Second Floor

Maisonette

Dwelling: First floor maisonette in pre-1920 house

Background: This dwelling is the first/second floor maisonette in a three storey property originally built before converted to

two self-contained dwellings in 1982. The mainsonette comprises of a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms,

the second bedroom being in the converted attic space. Access to the accommodation is by a metal staircase at the rear

which crosses over the flat roof extension of the ground floor flat to the entrance via a long landing. This walk-way has an

additional step up along it's length and is raised above the flat roof by around 300mm. There are open risers to the stairs

and the bannisters/guarding consists of mid and top rails only which extend to a height of 900mm above the pitch line

leaving gaps of around 400mm high between the rails. The stair and landing width are both 900mm. The walking surface of

the stairs has benn smoothed off. There is a motion sensor security light provided above the entrance door and a further

light underneath the stairs which is operated by a rocker switch within the ground floor flat. The surface below the stairs is

concrete with an adjoining flower bed.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

OUTCOMES

Length of flight

Pitch of stairs

Projections etc

Hard surfaces

Construction/disrepair

Thermal efficiency

Key

Seriously defective

Defective

Not satisfactory

Satisfactory/NA

a

Tread Lengths

-

m

Stair width

-

a)

b

Riser heights

-

n

Length of flight

-

b)

c

Variation in tread or riser

-

o

Inadequate lighting

2

c)

d

Nosing length

-

p

Lighting controls

3

d)

e

Poor friction quality

2

q

Glare from lighting

2

e)

f

Openings

3

r

Door(s) onto stairs

-

f)

g

Alternating treads

-

s

Inadequate landing

-

h

Lack of handrails

-

t

Construction/disrepair

-

i

Height of handrails

-

u

Thermal efficiency

-

3

j

Lack of guarding

3

2

k

Height of guarding

-

1

l

Easily climbed guarding

3

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

Compounding matters - none

%

Av Pre-1920 flat: 3.9

10

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 8.0

21.5

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 19.3

31.6

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 68.8

36.9

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

A B C D E F G H

I

J

Justification:The sharp/hard metal components of the stairway and the potential for a fall for the whole

length of the stairs (one storey in height) onto concrete, plus the vulnerable age group is persons over 60

years with the potential for falls outdoors in cold weather or overnight justify an increase in the spread of the

more serious harms above the national averages

Av. Pre 1920 flat: 249

Score: 4,104

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 180

Outcomes to

10

21.5 31.6 36.9

%

Justification: The stair case should be modified to provide a slip resistant surface to the steps, closed risers with improved

guarding and handrails (no gaps exceeding 100mm in guarding). If possible a canopy/enclosure should be provided.

Improved illumination to the stairs with accessible controls should be installed in a suitable position where glare will be

minimized. The likelihood may be reduce to nearer average but the fact that this is an external staircase and with the natur

of the ground and the construction of the stairs the spread of harms remain worse than the national average.

Av: 249

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

729

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Score:

A B C D E F G H

I

J

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

1 in 32

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Av Pre-1920 flat 214

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification: The low friction quality of the staircase, open risers and poor guarding increase the likelihood

of a harmful fall occurring on this staircase over the next twelve months. As an external stairway, the slippery

finish would be particularly hazardous when wet or icy. The fact that the stairs are the primary access, and

are not benefiting from street lighting. Of two external lights – one will only be operated once someone

approaches the top of the stairs – the second being operated by the ground floor flat is not available for

anyone visiting upstairs and is not on permanently and may also cause glare to anyone climbing the stairs.

The range of shortcomings in the design and construction of this stairway justifies requires a significant

increase in likelihood.

OUTCOMES

Class I

< 0.05

Class II

< 0.05

Class III

< 0.05

Class IV

< 0.05

RATING