ELECTRICAL

Vulnerable group

Related hazards

Persons aged under 5 years

Damp and mould growth

HHSRS VERSION 2

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Front elevation

1950s 3 bedroomed terraced house

A) Supply, meter and fuses

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling:

Background: This is a end-terraced house built in the 1950s. Hot water is normally supplied by a

gas-fired central heating boiler, but the early, foam insulated, hot water cylinder also has an electric

immersion heater.

A) Immersion Heater:- The gasket around the hole where the immersion heater enters the cylinder

has perished resulting in a small but continuous leak. Water is not only running down the loose

electric lead to the heater, but also onto the timber shelf holding the cylinder and down the side wall

of the airing cupboard on which the switch to the immersion heater is located. The plaster skim

and plasterboard above and behind the switch box is now thoroughly soaked. The householder

has placed a bowl to catch any directly dripping water.

A

# Secondary hazards

A

2

-

None

-

-

-

-

-

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

3

2

Defective

3

1

Not satisfactory

-

-

Satisfactory/NA

Electrical installation out of date

Number and siting of outlets

Fuses and meters

Earthing

Disrepair of installation

Presence of water

Lightning protection system

HHSRS VERSION 2

SEPTEMBER 2004

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

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

1946-79 House

LIKELIHOOD

1 in

180

Low

High

Average: 16,869

Example

180

< 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 water seeping into the switch box could give rise to an electrical accident,

particularly for adults. However, the greatest risk is to children. To reach the affected

area, young children would need to find the cupboard door open and climb the shelving,

although the presence of bathroom toys in the cupboard might encourage this. There

is a further danger that the loose lead could be used to assist such a climb and pulled

away from the heater while switched on.

%

Average: 0.6

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 8.2

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 49.2

54.8

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 42.0

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

2.2

21.5

54.8

21.5

Score:

5

There is a possibility that the water collected in the bowl could be spilt over the child

during the climb. This could increase the harm outcomes by, for example, conducting

the electricity through the child's clothing. This increased spread of health outcomes on

top of the above average likelihood would give a hazard score of 334 and a band E

rating.

Average: 2

I

J

Example

A B C D E F G H

334

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 %

Although the main hazard comes from the switch, this does not appear defective. The

immersion heater needs replacing and rewiring to current standards, ensuring that the

cable is securely fixed. With no other major electrical installation faults in the house,

this would reduce the hazard score to the average for the stock.

Improved

A B C D E F G H

I

J