Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

Number

Hazard

Health Effects

1

Damp and mould growth
Health threats due to dust mites, mould or fungal including mental and social wellbeing health threats associated with damp, humid and mouldy conditions

Allergies, asthma, effects of toxins from mould and fungal infections

2

Excess cold
Threats to health from cold indoor temperatures.  A healthy indoor temperature is 18^oC to 21^oC

Respiratory conditions: flu, pneumonia and bronchitis Cardiovascular conditions: heart attacks and strokes

3

Excess heat
Threats due to high indoor temperatures

Dehydration, trauma, stroke, cardiovascular and respiratory

4

Asbestos and MMF
Exposure to asbestos fibres and Manufactured Mineral Fibres (MMF)

Asbestos: Damage to lungs
MMF: Damage to skin, eyes and lungs

5

Biocides
Threats to health from chemicals used to treat timber and mould growth

Risk from breathing in, skin contact and swallowing of the chemical

6

Carbon Monoxide and fuel combustion products
Excess levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke

Dizziness, nausea, headaches, disorientation, unconsciousness and breathing problems

7

Lead
Threats to health from lead ingestion from paint, water pipes, soil and fumes from leaded petrol

Lead poisoning causing nervous disorders, mental health and blood production issues

8

Radiation
Health threats from radon gas and its daughters, primarily airborne but also radon dissolved in water

Lung cancer caused by exposure, which increases amount and length of exposure

9

Uncombusted fuel gas
Threat from fuel gas escaping into the atmosphere within a property

Suffocation

10

Volatile organic compounds
Threat to health from a diverse group of organic chemicals including formaldehyde that are gaseous at room temperature and can be found in a wide variety of materials in the home

Allergies, irritation to the eyes, nose and skin, headaches, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness

11

Crowding and space
Hazards associated with lack of space for living, sleeping and normal household or family life

Psychological distress and mental disorders, increased risk of hygiene issues, accidents and personal space and privacy compromised

12

Entry by intruders
Problems keeping a property secure against unauthorised entry and maintaining defensible space

Fear of burglary occurring, stress and anguish caused by burglary and injuries caused by the intruder

13

Lighting
Threats to physical and mental health associated with inadequate natural or artificial light, including the psychological effects associated with the view from the property through glazing

Depression and psychological effects due to lack of natural light.  Eye strain from glare and inadequate light

14

Noise
Threats to physical and mental health due to exposure to noise within the property or within its curtilage

Psychological and physiological changes resulting from lack of sleep, poor concentration, headaches and anxiety

15

Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse
Health hazards due to poor design, layout and construction making it hard to keep clean and hygienic, attracting pests and inadequate and unhygienic provision for storing household waste

Stomach and intestinal disease, infection, asthma, allergies, disease from rats and physical hazards

16

Food safety
Threats of infection from poor provision and facilities to store, prepare and cook food

Stomach and intestinal disease, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach upset and dehydration

17

Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
Threats of infections and threat to mental health associated with personal hygiene, including personal and clothes washing facilities, sanitation and drainage

Stomach and intestinal disease, skin infections and depression

18

Water supply
Threats to health from contamination by bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemical pollutants due to the quality of water supply for drinking household use such as cooking, washing and sanitation

Dehydration, fatigue, headaches, dry skin, bladder infections and legionnaires disease

19

Falls associated with baths
Falls associated with a bath, shower or similar facility

Physical injuries: cuts, lacerations, swellings and bruising.

20

Falls on the level surfaces
Falls on any level surface such as floor, yards and paths, including falls associated with trip steps, thresholds or ramps where the change in level is less than 300mm

Physical injuries: bruising, fractures, head, brain and spinal injuries

21

Falls associated with stairs and steps
Falls associated with stairs and ramps where the change in level is greater than 300mm.  It includes internal stairs or ramps within a property, external steps or ramps associated with the property, access to the property and to shared facilities or means of escape from fire and falls over stairs, ramp or step guarding

Physical injuries: bruising, fractures, head, brain and spinal injuries

22

Falls between levels
Falls from one level to another, inside or outside a dwelling where the difference is more than 300mm.  Including falls from balconies, landings or out of windows

Physical injuries

23

Electrical hazards
Hazards from electric shock and electricity burns

Electric shock and burns

24

Fire
Threats to health from exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke.  It includes injuries from clothing catching fire, a common injuring when trying to put a fire out.

Burns, being overcome by smoke or death

25

Flames, hot surfaces and materials
Burns or injuries caused by contact with a hot flame or fire, hot objects and non-water based liquids.  Scalds caused by contact with hot liquids and vapours.

Burns, scalds, permanent scarring and death.

26

Collision and entrapment
Risks of physical injuries from trapping body parts in architectural features such as trapping fingers in doors and windows and colliding with objects such as windows, doors and low ceilings

Physical injuries such as cuts and bruising to the body

27

Explosions
Threats from the blast of an explosion, from debris generated by the blast and from partial or total collapse of a building as a result of the explosion

Physical injuries, crushing, bruising, puncture, fractures, head, brain and spinal injuries.

28

Ergonomics
Threats of physical strain associated with functional space and other features at the dwelling

Strain and sprain injuries

29

Structural collapse and falling elements
The threat of the dwelling collapsing or part of the fabric being displaced or falling due to inadequate fixing or disrepair or as a result of adverse weather conditions.

Physical injuries