A) Front bedroom window

A) Plan

basement area

roof of bay

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARD/S

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

1

Type of opening light

3

a

Ease of window operation

2

b

Safety catches

2

c

Opening limiters

3

d

Sill heights

1

e

Disrepair of window

-

f

Ease of cleaning

2

g

Height of guarding

-

h

Easily climbed guarding etc

2

i

Openings in guarding

-

Key

j

Constn./repair of guarding

-

OUTCOMES

a

Height above ground/ level #

b

Nature of ground/ surface #

c

Non-safety glass

# Secondary hazards

I

Stone front door steps

3 Seriously defective

2 Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

No

No

Multiple locations

Yes

Secondary hazards

Yes

Vulnerable group:

Persons aged under 5 years

Related hazards:

Entrapment & collision

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

FALLS BETWEEN LEVELS

HHSRS VERSION 2

A) First floor front windows - The window in the smaller front bedroom of the first floor flat comprises

a double hung sash. The internal sill is approximately 840 mm above floor level but a wide double

radiator runs the full width of the window below the sill. Externally, there is a basement area some

6.4 metres directly below half of the window. About 4.2 metres below the other half of the window

are stone entrance steps. Iron railings run either side of these steps and also separate the pavement

from the basement area. Other windows in the flat are similar but have fewer secondary hazards.

A) Vertical section

d

a

g

b/c

f

840 mm

u

6.4 m

porch

i

up v

i

basement

area

f

bedroom

Dwelling:

First floor flat in c.1890 converted house

A

2

3

2

A

2

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

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

Score

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Pre 1920 converted s.c. Flat

1 in

560

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

Average: 2742

Example

560

< 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 other front window gives access to the unguarded flat roof of the bay. The

likelihood of a fall is increased significantly by the relatively low cills, the positioning of

the double radiators and the ease with which the lower sashes can be unlatched and

lifted.

%

Average: 0.4

4.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 3.2

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 5.9

31.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 90.5

42.3

13

4.6

21.5

31.6

42.3

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

A direct fall of over 6 metres is possible from this window and one rear window. The harm

outcomes from this particular window are likely to be substantially more severe than from

most first floor windows, due to the formidable secondary hazards. These are the

concreted basement well, the stone front door steps and, particularly, the iron railings to

the stairs and basement which are positioned directly below the centre of the window.

Example

Average: 4

J

A B C D E F G H

I

138

Score

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

Likelihood to

1 in

5,600

Outcomes to

4.6 21.5 31.6 42.3 %

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

There is little that can be done to improve the spread of harms, but providing safety bars

and limiters on the windows would substantially reduce the likelihood of a fall, and

thereby considerably improve the overall rating.

Improved Av: 3

A B C D E F G H

I

J