Collision and entrapment
- Threats of trapping body parts (e.g. fingers or limbs) in architectural features (e.g. doors/windows).
- Striking (colliding with) features such as glazing, windows, doors, low ceilings, walls.
Impact on health
Accidents resulting in cutting or piercing by glass. Injuries from a door shutting on, or trapping, a body part.
Causes
- Where doors or windows are difficult to close.
- Where a door closer is over-powerful.
- Doors and windows which pivot
- Weak or broken sash cords.
- The siting of doors and windows and the direction of opening
- Doors to wall hung cupboards over worktops in kitchens
- Gaps, particularly in guarding to balconies, landings and stairs, which are over 100mm
- Areas or points of low head room.
Prevention
- Openable windows should not project over pathways or obstruct the use the path
- Doors and windows maintained in good repair. Attention to items such as sash cords, to avoid increasing the risk of an occurrence
- Self-closers on doors adjusted so as not to cause over-vigorous closing
- Safety glazing provided in doors and windows in vulnerable locations.
Position and operability amenities
Physical strain associated with functional space and other features of the dwelling.
Impact on health
Significant impacts from strains, sprains and falls.
Causes
- The positioning and location of amenities, fittings and equipment
- The design and layout of dwellings affecting convenience of use.
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Inappropriate positioning of amenities and equipment.
Prevention
- The layout of the dwelling. Kitchens and bathrooms should be convenient to use as well as safe, and should allow cleaning.
- Wash hand basins, sinks and worktops positioned at an appropriate height. Enough space to allow use without strain.
- Light switches sited close to door openings and at each end of staircases and corridors. Positioned at a reasonable height.
- Socket outlets should be conveniently sited.
- Door handles at a reasonable height.
- Window catches should be accessible without strain.
- Cupboards and shelves should be easily reached, without posing collision hazards.
Explosion
A partial or total collapse of the building as a result of the explosion. Threats from debris created by the blast.
Impact on health
- Explosions can result in extreme harm.
- Injuries include crushing, bruising, puncture injuries, fractures and head/brain/spinal injuries.
- Possible scalding if hot water appliances involved
Causes
- Mains and stored gas, water vapour and fire explosions
Defective installation or design
Defects from inadequate maintenance.
Prevention
- Gas supplied should meet the requirements of the current quality regulations.
Appropriate design and installation of gas pressure regulators, meters and pipework. - Installation by a competent person (Gas Safe Registered).
- Regular testing to ensure there are no leaks or other defects.
- Appliances and associated flues serviced and maintained by a competent person.
- With LPG there should be adequate ventilation.
- Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) containers and storage tanks secured and sited away from ignition sources.
- Hot water systems installed to meet the requirements of safety regulations
- Hot water storage tanks of more than 3 gallon (15 litre) capacity not connected to the mains water supply.
- Hot water systems need adequately sized vent pipes to allow steam to escape.
- Unvented systems provided with a thermal cut-out and temperature relief valves.
Noise
Threats to physical and mental health from exposure to noise in the home caused by inadequate sound insulation.
Impact on health
- People affected by noise from road traffic, neighbours and people outside.
- Night-time noise may be more dangerous to health than day-time noise exposure.
- Noise can affect both physical and mental health.
- Physical health effects include raised blood pressure and headaches.
- Mental health effects include stress, sleep disturbance, lack of concentration, anxiety, etc.
Causes
- Noise tolerance may in part be determined by age, sex, working patterns, lifestyle.
- Noise levels can be measured, but people differ in what sources they find offensive
Tolerable
- Neighbours in daytime
- Some traffic noise or routine home deliveries
Intolerable
- Loud, continuous or unnecessary noises which seem to go on for long periods of time.
- Inconsiderate noises, especially at night
- Emotive, frightening noises, shouting or violent rows
- Night time traffic noise
- Disrepair of windows/internal/external doors allowing increased noise penetration
- Inappropriate siting of plumbing/fittings/facilities
- Noisy equipment or facilities
- Strong door closers resulting in banging
Prevention
- Double/secondary glazing and lobbies to external doors. Where there are high outside noise levels (e.g. traffic)
- Possible triple glazing near airports/sources of very high noise levels
- Insulation of upper floor/ceiling/roof space where aircraft noise is likely
- Plumbing from WCs/cisterns sited away from separating walls
- Bathrooms/WCs in flats not sited above living rooms/bedrooms
Structural collapse and Falling elements
Threats of whole dwelling collapse. An element or a part of the fabric failing because of inadequate fixing or disrepair. May be a result of adverse weather conditions.
Structural failure can be internal - threatening the occupants. Externally - putting members of the public at risk.
Impact on health
Potential injuries range from minor bruising to death. Injuries caused by objects falling from the fabric of a building are rare.
Causes
- Falling slates, eaves gutters, bricks or windows, to collapse of walls
- Floor, ceiling and staircase collapse
- Fixtures, such as a light fittings or kitchen cabinets, falling from the ceiling or wall. Can be from a combination of poor fixings and vibration
- Ceiling plaster
- Chimney pots and roof slates or tiles
- Other elements of the structure not stable or safe
Prevention
- Property must be properly designed, constructed and maintained in good repair
- Any disrepair should not interfere with structural integrity
- Foundations and load bearing walls support the weight of the building and all its contents
- External cladding, rendering or similar finishing and any coping should be securely fixed
- Openings and lintels in external walls support the load above
- Frames to openings of doors and windows should be securely fixed
- External balconies and walkways must support their own weight and any imposed loads
- The roof structure must be strong enough to support the weight of the covering. It must also cope with weather related loads, such as snow.
- Roof coverings securely fixed
- Chimney stacks and pots securely fixed
- External pipework and gutters securely fixed
- Eaves gutters should be capable of coping with the weight of typical snowfalls.
- Floors must have the strength to support their own weight and that of imposed loads
- Staircases must support their own weight and that of imposed loads.
- Ceilings must be strong enough to remain intact
- Internal walls strong enough to support their own weight and all associated loads
- Door frames and openings must be capable of supporting the weight of doors.
- All fixtures and fittings securely fixed