stairs etc

Yes

Yes

No

No

Falling on

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Persons aged 60 years and over

None

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

DWELLING: A ground floor flat in a block of student flats

constructed in 1996

Background: The ground floor unit is one of a number of cluster flats in a hall of residence. There is an

access road in front of the block (not shown) and a series of raised sections (see photograph) with a

consistent rise of 75mm per section. The treads are paving slabs. The bollards to the right of the path provide

some illumination, but do not effectively illuminate each of the treads. The treads to the steps slope forwards

and there are slight variations in the depth of treads.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

a

Tread lengths

b

Riser heights

c

Variations in treads and risers

d

Nosing length

e

Poor friction quality

f

Openings in stairs alternating treads

g

Lack/height handrails

h

Lack/ height guarding

i

Stair width

j

Length of flight

k

Inadequate lighting

l

Doors onto stairs

m

Inadequate landing

L

2

2

1

O

L

n

Construction/repair

-

o

Thermal efficiency

-

Outcomes

21 (IDeA - 01)

June 2006

HHSRS 06/06

Pitch of stairs

Projections

-

Hard surfaces

-

-

-

3

-

1

3

3

3

-

-

O

-

-

1

3

a

b

c

# Compounding matters

None

A

B

-

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

2

Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

21 (IDeA - 01)

June 2006

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

1 in 32

Av Post 1979 Flats: 409

32

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

The common access path is made up of a series of at least 20 steps which have shallow

risers. The long but variable tread depths combined with minimal rise, the slight forward

slope of the treads, and poor illumination across the width of the treads increase the

likelihood of a misstep, particularly in icy weather. These factors, together with the lack of a

handrail to save a misstep resulting in a fall, increases the likelihood of an occurrence over

the next twelve months.

OUTCOMES

%

Av Post 1979: 2.6

Class I

4.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 5.2

Class II

10

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 19.4

Class III

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 72.8

Class IV

63.9

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

The presence of the external front steps to the block containing the flat, concrete flags,

together with their rough edges significantly increase the risk of a fatal or severe fall

occurring, particularly in cold weather or at night.

Av. Post 1979 Flats: 92

RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

1971

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in

320

Outcomes to

2.2 10.0 21.5 66.3

%

Justification

Provision of full handrails to both sides of the steps, plus improved artificial lighting and

providing more consistent tread depths, would give a nearer the average likelihood of a

major fall. The steps are still external and the spread of health outcomes reflects the

situation; the presence of handrails may also reduce chance of a Class 1 harm, but Class

II harm would still be more likely than average

Av: 92

NEW RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

122

Av: Nos

Average likelihood and health outcomes for all persons aged 60 years and over,1997-99.