HHSRS VERSION 2

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

FALLS BETWEEN LEVELS

Vulnerable group

Persons aged under 5 years

Related hazards

Entrapment & collision

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

Yes

Yes

No

No

A) Front elevation

C) Back addition window

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARD/S

Dwelling: Pre 1900 semi-detached

A) First floor front window

B) First floor rear window

Background: All the windows in the dwelling are double hung sashes and made of relatively thin section timber.

Most are poorly maintained and, although generally sound, are rotten in places. All have thin single glazing, with

some loose putty. None have safety catches.

First floor front window: The sill to this window is approximately 400 mm above the main front bedroom floor.

Some 2.8 metres below the window, the front garden is paved with concrete slabs.

First floor rear windows: The sills to the second and back addition bedrooms are also both under 500 mm

above their floors. The rear yard, which is nearly 3 metres below the former, is concreted and bounded by a

wooden fence. The back addition window is located above the bathroom roof.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

B

1

Type of opening light

3

3

a

Ease of window operation

2

2

b

Safety catches

2

2

c

Opening limiters

3

3

d

Sill heights

3

3

e

Disrepair of window

2

2

f

Ease of cleaning

2

2

g

Height of guarding

-

-

h

Easily climbed guarding

-

-

i

Openings in guarding

-

-

Key

j

Constn./repair of guarding

-

-

A

B

2

1

2

2

3

3

A

B

3 Seriously defective

2 Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

OUTCOMES

a

Height above ground/ level

b

Nature of ground/ surface

c

Non-safety glass #

# Secondary hazards

None

A)

B/C)

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for falls between levels by persons aged

under 5 years in and around pre 1920 houses, 1997-99.

Score

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Pre 1920 House

1 in

100

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Average: 2117

Example

100

< 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 fact that all the first floor windows not only have very low sills but are of somewhat

flimsy construction, are in some disrepair and have thin single glazing in relatively large

panes, all increases the likelihood of a major accident occurring to well beyond that for

the average pre 1920 dwelling.

%

Average: 0.1

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.0

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 10.5

46.4

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 89.4

29.9

2

2.2

21.5

46.4

29.9

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Although externally the sills are of only average height from the ground, the increased

chance of falling through the glass due to the thin glazing, design and disrepair of the

windows and the hard concrete surfaces below the two main bedroom windows,

heightens the risk of a fatal, severe or serious outcome occurring as a result of a window

accident.

Example

Average: 2

A B C D E F G H

I

J

577

Score

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Likelihood to

1 in

1,800

Outcomes to

0.1

0.0 10.0 89.9 %

Replacing the windows with double glazed units, with safety catches and opening limiters

would reduce the likelihood of fall to average and also counter the heightened spread of

harms resulting from cuts from the thin single glazing potentially received during the

process of falling. The outcomes could be further improved by grassing the front garden.

Improved

A B C D E F G H

I

J