HHSRS VERSION 2

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

FALLS ON STAIRS ETC

Vulnerable group

Persons aged 60 years or over

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Related hazards

Inadequate lighting

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

A) Stairs from first floor landing

Elevation

A) Plan

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARD/S

Dwelling: c. 1790 Rural detached cottage

A) Stairs from GF passage

i

e/u

y

b

c

i

d

up ^

n

A)

Main stairs: The stairs comprise extremely steep winders, which have uneven risers and treads.

There is a short first floor landing, off which there are two bedrooms; the bathroom and w.c. are on

the ground floor. The stairs open into a 1500 mm wide passage on the ground floor. There is no

central heating or natural lighting, but artificial lighting is located in the ceiling above the stairs, with

a switch on the landing. There is no switch to the landing light at the foot, although the latter is lit by

artificial lighting in the passage. The handrail cannot be gripped in the angles where fitted to the

surrounding wall.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

a

Tread lengths

3

b

Riser heights

2

c

Variation in T&Rs

3

d

Nosing length

-

e

Poor friction

2

f

Openings - in stairs

-

h-i

Lack/height handrails

2

j-l

Lack/height guarding

-

m

Stair width

-

n

Length of flight

1

o-q

Inadequate lighting etc

3

r

Door/s onto stairs

-

s

Inadequate landing

-

t

Construction/repair

1

u

Thermal efficiency

2

OUTCOMES

a

Length of flight

b

Pitch of stairs

c

Projections etc

d

Hard surfaces

e

Construction/repair

f

Thermal efficiency

# Secondary hazards

-

None

Key

3

2

1

-

A

-

2

1

2

1

2

A

-

Seriously defective

Defective

Not satisfactory

Satisfactory/NA

h

d

m

G H

I

J

F

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for falls on stairs and steps by persons

aged 60 years or more in and around pre-1920 houses, 1997-99.

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Pre 1920 House

1 in

10

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Average: 218

Example

10

< 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 extreme steepness of the stairs, the uneven angles, tread and riser dimensions

and poor handrail, particularly the lack of any handrail or grab rail on the inside of the

stairs, together with the lack of natural lighting and incovenient location of the switches

to the artificial lighting, all add to the likelihood of a major accident occurring on these

stairs.

%

Average: 2.2 Example

4.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 7.7

4.6

21.5

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

Av: 22.1

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

21.5

Score:

122

26

38 >

Av: 68.0

52.4

26

38 >

52.4

Due to the shape of the stairs, a major fall is most likely to involve collision with the

curved outer wall and probably the handrail and result in serious or moderate (class III

and class IV) outcomes. However, the extreme steepness of the stairs and the

possibility of falling vertically between the top and bottom steps significantly increases

the risk of a more than serious, fatal or severe accident occurring.

Average: 169

Example

A B C

F

D E

G H

I

J

Score:

7447

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Likelihood to

1 in

320

Outcomes to

2.2 10.0 21.5 66.3

%

The dwelling layout would allow the landing to the widened in places and for the existing

stair to be replaced with a true spiral staircase built to conform with modern Building

Regulations. This would reduce both the likelihood and spread of harms to average or

better than average figures.

Improved

A B C D E