Vertical section

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

HHSRS VERSION 2

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Bathroom window

Persons aged 60 years or over

Damp and mould growth,

Falls associated with bath

POOR ERGONOMICS

window catch

920 mm

1950 mm

Plan of bathroom

duct

w.c.

wash hand basin

window catch

bath

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

Dwelling: 1 bed converted flat in 1890's house

Background: A large 3 storey stone built Victorian house has been converted into self-contained

flats. The ground floor flat has its bathroom at the rear of the building. The bath, wash hand basin

and w.c. are all located, close together, along the external wall, to minimise the pipe runs to a soil

pipe in the corner of the room.

Bathroom window: The window is set on the external face of the thick rear stone wall, and has an

internal tiled sill at the back of the wash hand basin of some 450 mm in depth. The window itself

comprises a fixed light with a shallow opening top hung light above, both fitted with obsure glazing.

The window catch on the opening light is positioned above the deep tiled sill opposite where the

wash hand basin overlaps the bath. The opening light provides the sole means of ventilation for the

bathroom, which suffers from mould growth.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

Position of amenity

Space for amenity

Kitchen worktops

Kitchen space

High level storage

Window controls

Electric switch/sockets

Operation of windows etc

A

# Secondary hazards

A

3

-

None

-

-

-

-

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

3

2

Defective

-

1

Not satisfactory

2

-

Satisfactory/NA

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

A B C D E F G H

I

J

Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for hazards from poor ergonomics for

persons aged 60 years or more in pre 1920 flats and all dwellings, 1997-99

Score

1

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Pre 1920 converted s/c Flat

LIKELIHOOD

1 in

180

Low

High

Average: 9,074

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 catch to the top opening light is positioned just under 2 metres above the bathroom

floor. This height would be just acceptable, except that to reach the catch in this case

also entails stretching over both the full sized wash hand basin and the deep window

sill, this being a total horizontal distance of some 920 mm. Without standing on or in

the bath, this makes the window catch very awkward to reach and the full opening of the

top-hung window virtually impossible for anyone of average height or below.

%

Average: 0.0

0.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 1.7

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 16.9

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 81.4

76.3

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

IMPROVE

Justification

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

0.0

2.2

21.5

76.3

Although the likelihood is higher than average, the spread of harms is not changed. In

terms of poor ergonomics, therefore, the overall risk would be relatively low, the rating

score being 52 or Band G-. In practice, a greater risk from this deficiency is likely to

arise from the window being consequently left unopened, not just because of its

inaccessibility but for reasons of security. This is likely to lead to a further increases in

condensation and mould growth.

Average: 1

I

J

Example

A B C D E F G- H

52

Score

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

Likelihood to

1 in 5,600

Outcomes to

0.0

2.2 21.5 76.3 %

Resiting the wash hand basin on the internal wall, on the opposite side of the soil pipe

and duct, would allow easier access to the window. However, ideally the window

should also be replaced with one having a larger opening light and lower catch or,

alternatively, to improve security, mechanical ventilation should be installed. This would

reduce the HHSRS score to average.

Improved