HHSRS 07/06

06 (IDeA - 02)

July 2006

CARBON MONOXIDE AND FUEL COMBUSTION PRODUCTS

Yes

Yes

No

No

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

All persons aged 65 years and over

Fire, Nitrogen Dioxide, Explosions

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

Ground floor rear room

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

DWELLING:

Two storey mid terraced house

built in 1923

Background: The property is of traditional brick construction with slate covered roof. There are two rooms,

kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor and three rooms on the first floor. There are gas fires in both the

front and rear living rooms. The gas fire shown above is in the rear room. The gas fire is not fixed and can be

easily moved away from the flue back plate. A metal plate on top of the gas fire can also be removed

exposing the flue fittings at the rear of the fire. No valid gas certificate is available. The fire was ignited at the

time of the survey and a yellow flame could be observed from time to time over a period of 5 minutes. There

is no permanent ventilation to the room. Hot water for the bathroom and kitchen is provided by a gas water

heater in the kitchen.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD & OUTCOMES

3

Seriously defective

2

Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

2

Secondary Hazards

-

-

3

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

# Compounding matters

-

None

A

B

-

-

a

Open flued appliances

b

Flueless appliances

c

Disrepair to appliances

d

Inadequate ventilation

e

State of flues

f

Disrepair to flues

g

Flue outlet siting

h

Extractor fans

i

Ventilation lobby

j

CO detectors

Key

06 (IDeA - 02)

July 2006

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

1 in 3

Av: 1920-45 Non-HMOs: 1,080

3

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

The lack of suitable fixing or sealing of the rear room gas fire, the broken radiant and

yellow flame significantly increase the likelihood of an occurrence that could cause harm.

There is evidence of incomplete combustion and the lack of adequate ventilation increases

the likelihood that carbon monoxide will be emitted into the room. The room is likely to be

occupied intensively and the heating used extensively in winter months.

OUTCOMES

%

Av: 1920-45 Non-HMOs: 0.0

Class I

0.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.0

Class II

0.0

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 2.0

Class III

2.2

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 98.0

Class IV

97.8

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

There is nothing to suggest that the outcomes will be more severe than the national

average.

Av. 1920-45 Non-HMOs: 1

RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

546

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 1000

Outcomes to

0

0.0

2.2 97.8

%

Justification

By replacing and securely fitting to the back plate a new gas fire (the work to satisfy the

current Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations), ensuring adequate permanent

ventilation, the likelihood will be reduced to average. As these are open flued appliances,

it is also advisable to fit CO detectors.

Av: 1

NEW RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

1

Av: Nos

Average likelihood and health outcomes for all persons aged 65 years and over, 1997-99.