ELECTRICAL

Vulnerable group

Related hazards

Persons aged under 5 years

Fire, Lead

HHSRS VERSION 2

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Front elevation

1930's semi-detached house

A) Supply, meter and fuses

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling:

Background: This is a 1930's semi-detached house which has generally undergone very little modernisation

since it was built. The electrical system is largely as originally installed.

Supply, meter & fuses: The main supply, meter and fuses are sited at low level in the ground floor hall. The

cover on the fusebox is missing and the wiring above the meter is loose and not fully protected. The wiring is

mostly lead covered.

Power circuit: Many of the power outlets have the original two pin sockets, although one newer circuit with flat

three pin sockets has been installed to serve the hall and other ground floor rooms.

Lighting circuit: The photograph shows the two core, fabric covered wiring to a ceiling light, this being typical

of the wiring to lights throughout the house.

A)

B)

C)

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

A

B

C

# Secondary hazards

A

B

C

a

Electrical installation date

3

3

3

-

None

-

-

-

b

Number & siting of outlets

-

3

1

c

Fuses and meters

2

-

-

d

Earthing

3

-

-

e

Disrepair of installation

3

3

3

Key

3

Seriously defective

f

Presence of water

-

-

-

2

Defective

g

Lightning protection system -

-

-

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for electrical hazards for persons aged

under 5 years in all dwellings, 1997-99.

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

1920-45 House

LIKELIHOOD

1 in

10

Low

High

Average: 19,869

Example

10

< 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 open fusebox and exposed wiring above the meter in the hall is particularly

dangerous and tempting to young children. The limited number of 3 pin socket outlets

is also likely to encourage both the use of extension leads and two pin plugs throughout

the house. As well as the increased risk of electrocution, there is also an increased

risk of fire, due to the old wiring and overloading of circuits.

%

Average: 0.6

0.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 8.2

10.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 49.2

46.4

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 42.0

43.1

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Score:

5

0.5

10.0

46.4

43.1

Although the risk of serious electrocution is much higher than average, the spread of

harms resulting from this does not change. However, with the very high likelihood of a

serious occurence this would give a high score of 2,935 and a hazard rating of B.

Average: 2

I

J

Example

A B C D E F G H

2935

Score

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Likelihood to

1 in 5,600

Outcomes to

0.5 10.0 46.4 43.1 %

The house needs to be totally rewired and a new meter, fusebox and new and

increased socket outlets installed, all to meet the 16th edition of the IEE Regulations.

This should reduce the likelihood of serious harm to better than average, but the

standard average spread of outcomes. Using the lowest standard likelihood, this would

give a score of 5 and Band J.

Improved

A B C D E F G H

I

J