HHSRS - PCC

Plymouth City Council

“Safe as Houses”

Peter Grimoldby

Private Rented Team

Poor Housing -

About 30% of private rented housing has serious health and safety problems

Total NHS cost of poor housing in Plymouth exceeds £10M every year

Annually about 118 deaths due to poor housing

Main problems are Excess Cold and falls

HHSRS - The Housing Health and Safety Rating System

Housing

Health

Safety

Rating System

Risk Assessment

Effect Unlikely Likely Very likely

Minor Injury

Low Score    

Significant

Extreme (Death)

    High Score 

HHSRS

Looks at the “likelihood” of a significant harm

Looks at the “outcome” when that happens

Brings them together as a combined score

Sets a score of 1000 as a definition of poor housing

HHSRS Hazards

29 types of risk of harm to the health and safety of an occupier

HHSRS – Hazards

Damp and mould Excess Cold Excess Heat Asbestos Biocides Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products Lead Radiation Uncombusted fuel gas Volatile organic compounds.

HHSRS – Hazards

Crowding and space Entry by intruders Lighting Noise Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse Food safety Personal hygiene, sanitation, and drainage Water supply

HHSRS – Hazards

Falls on level surfaces etc Falls on stairs etc Falls between levels Falls associated with baths etc Electrical hazards Fire Flames, hot surfaces etc Collision and Entrapment Explosion Position and Operation of Amenities Structural Collapse and Falling Elements

Example – Falls on Stairs Etc

Falls on Stairs Etc (Likelihood)

Can you misplace your feet? Can you slip on the tread surface? Can you fall off the side of the stairs? (Can you see?) (What can you hold on to?)

Falls on Stairs Etc (Outcomes)

What do you hit when you fall down? (How hard, sharp or angular is it?)

How hard do you hit it? (distance of fall)

What happens if you are injured?

Example – Falls on Stairs Etc.

HHSRS Falls on Stairs Etc Uneven steps External – slippery in rain and ice Loose and missing handrails Lack of lighting Cold (clumsy)

Hard and uneven surfaces at base of steps Hard angles to steps Risk of hyperthermia after a fall

HHSRS Assessment - Likelihood

Average risk of a harmful incident in next 12 months? 1:226

A harmful incident is more likely to happen here 1:18

(Only concerned with significant incidents)

HHSRS Assessment - Outcomes

Average degree of injury or illness associated with an incident of falls on stairs

2.1% fatality rate

An incident here is likely to cause greater injuries

4.6% fatality rate

Example – Falls on Stairs Etc.

HHSRS Score

Typical score for falls on stairs for this age of property

155 Category 2

Actual score for this dwelling

3504 Category 1

Result

A category 1 hazard exists

Technically Council is obliged to “do something”

Council’s Action - Choices

Hazard Awareness Notice

Improvement

Prohibition

Demolition

Council’s Action - Choices

What is reasonable in circumstances?

Enforcement Policy

Council Practice

We will work with landlords informally to improve housing

Formal action will only take place where this fails, or problem is urgent

The Cost of Unsafe Housing

Remedying Falls on Stairs costs £340 (average)

The NHS cost of a significant fall is between £100 and £50,000 – average of £2405

Plus social and quality of life costs

HHSSR 29 hazards, each assessed individually

We use the statistical information in the guidance

Do problems in the house make a harmful occurrence more likely than average?

Do problems in the house make the result of an occurrence more damaging to health than average?

Combined to make a score; 1000 or more is a category 1 hazard - a failure to meet minimum standards

More Information

Leaflets www.plymouth.gov.uk/housing

Any questions?