A)

Elevation

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARD/S

Dwelling:

1980s, Cluster (starter) house

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

OUTCOMES

Main stairs: The main stairs comprise 3 staight steps in the centre and four winders at the top and four at the

bottom, the whole flight turning through 180 degrees. The foot of the stairs is open to the main living room. The

top of the stairs ends in a small landing off which are arranged two bedrooms and a bathroom. There is furniture

on the landing opposite the top of the stairs. Apart from a short section near the bottom newel post, there is no

handrail on the inside of the stair. The rail running on the outside wall is difficult to grasp. There is no rail or

guarding at the bottom of the stairs.

Yes

No

Yes

No

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

Tread lengths

-

b

Riser heights

-

c

Variation in T&Rs

2

d

Nosing length

-

e

Poor friction

-

f

Openings in stairs

-

h-i

Lack/height handrails

3

j-l

Lack/height guarding

3

m

Stair width

-

n

Length of flight

-

o-q

Inadequate lighting etc

-

r

Door/s onto stairs

-

s

Inadequate landing

-

t

Construction/repair

-

u

Thermal efficiency

-

A

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

Seriously defective

Defective

Not satisfactory

Satisfactory/NA

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

FALLS ON STAIRS ETC

HHSRS VERSION 2

Vulnerable group

Persons aged 60 years or over

Related hazards

None

A) Main stairs

A) Plan

i

Living

i

room

Multiple location

Secondary hazards

Landing

e/u

i

A) Foot of stairs

e

j

w

A B C D E

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 post 1979 houses, 1997-99.

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Post 1979 House

1 in

180

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Average: 256 Example

180

< 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

Although built to conform to relatively modern standards, the change in the going from

winders to a straight flight and back to winders and, particularly, the lack of a good

handrail against the centre and top steps and lack of either a handrail or guarding over

the lower steps, increases the likelihood of a fall. Due to the increased possibility of

distractions, stairs open to living rooms are also known to pose a greater risk of falls.

%

Average: 1.4 Example

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 6.3

10.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 25.2

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 67.1

66.3

Score:

120

2.2

10.0

21.5

66.3

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

The stairs are designed to be carpeted and there are no secondary hazards. However,

the lack of guarding near the foot of the stairs and the consequent possibility of a small

vertical fall over the end slightly increases the risk of a fatal or severe health outcome

from that for the average for the stock.

Average: 111

Example

A B C D E - F G H

I

J

Score:

217

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Likelihood to

1 in

180

Outcomes to

1.0

4.6 21.5 72.9

%

Providing a handrail and guarding near the foot of the stairs and also providing a better

handrail around the outer wall would reduce the outcomes and spread of harms to

those average for the stock. The likelihood would remain slightly higher than that for

post 1980 dwellings generally due to the remaining alternation of winders and straight

steps.

Improved