HHSRS 07/06

22 (IDeA - 04)

July 2006

Falling between levels

Yes

Yes

No

No

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Persons aged under 5 years

Falling on stairs etc

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling: Basement letting in a 4 storey house

built in 1906

Background: The property is a large Edwardian detached family residence that has been converted into

student accommodation. The building itself comprises a basement area containing kitchen, common room

and 4 study bedrooms. There is a reception area and 10 study bedrooms on the ground floor plus bar and

dining area. The first and second floors contain 12 study bedrooms. A paved route at the basement area

gives access to rooms located there whilst at ground floor level there is a car park specifically for use by

students residing in the building. Access to the to the basement path from the car park is via stone steps

leading down, the steps are bounded on one side by a wall approximately 325mm in height above ground

level. The car park itself is separated from a path surrounding the house by a low brick wall 400mm in height

and capped by stone flags. The car park is approximately 100mm below the level of this path so that on the

path side the wall is 300mm in height. There is one light to the far side of the car park from the property and a

movement sensitive security light on the house wall overlooking the path around the house.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

m

Nature of ground surface

3

n

Non safety glass

-

Secondary Hazards

# Compounding matters

-

None

-

A

B

-

-

a

Type of opening light

-

b

Ease of window operation

-

c

Safety catches

-

d

Opening limiters

-

e

Sill heights

-

f

Disrepair of window

-

g

Ease of cleaning

-

h

Height of guarding

3

i

Easily climbed guarding

3

j

Openings in guarding

-

k

Construction/repair of guarding

-

l

Height above ground level

3

Key

3

Seriously defective

2

Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

22 (IDeA - 04)

July 2006

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

1 in 100

Av. Pre 1920 Flats: 2,742

100

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

There is an increased likelihood of a member of the vulnerable agre group falling over the

low car park wall and the low wall at the top of the steps. The inadequate lighting means

that the likelihood is greater during hours of darkness. This justifies a significant increase in

likelihood as the hazard is unusual and unexpected.

OUTCOMES

%

Av: Pre 1920 Flats: 0.4

Class I

1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 3.2

Class II

10

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 5.9

Class III

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 90.5

Class IV

67.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

The fall although not a great distance will be on to unforgiving surfaces and hard edges

such as the step, thereby increasing the chance of worse than average Class I, II and III

harm outcomes.

Av. Pre 1920 Flats: 4

RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

271

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in

3200

Outcomes to

0.5

4.6

4.6 90.3

%

Justification

Providing guarding to the low walls and improving the illumination would return the position

to nearer average levels.

Av: 4

NEW RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

4

Av: Nos

Average likelihood and health outcomes for all persons aged under 5 years, 1997-99.