Breakdown of the HHSRS Health & Safety Hazards

The paper-based scoring inspection sheet system devised by the Government is tedious and error-prone. You definitely need a software tool to carry out these Health & Safety inspections effectively

Click here for HHSRS Inspection Software
Click here for Damp & Mould Inspection Software

Breakdown of the HHSRS Health & Safety Hazards

Here is some information to help you understand more about HHSRS Risk Assessment hazards.

Hazard 1- Damp & Mould Growth

This hazard covers threats to health associated with increased prevalence of house dust mites and mould or fungal growths resulting from dampness and/or high humilities. It includes threats to mental health and social well being which may be caused by living with the presence of damp, damp staining and/or mould growth.

More About Damp & Mould Growth


Hazard 2 - Excess Cold

This hazard covers the threats to health from sub-optimal indoor temperatures.

More About Excess Cold


Hazard 3 - Excess Heat

This hazard includes threats from excessively high indoor air temperatures.

More About Excess Heat


Hazard 4 - Asbestos

This hazard covers the presence of, and exposure to, asbestos fibres and manufactured mineral fibres (MMF) within dwellings.

More About Asbestos


Hazard 5 - Biocides

This hazard covers threats to health from those chemicals used to treat timber and mould growth in dwellings. While biocides include insecticides and rodenticides to control pest infestations (e.g. cockroaches or rats and mice), these are not considered for the purposes of the HHSRS.

More About Biocides


Hazard 6 - Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Combustion Products

This hazard includes hazards resulting from the presence of excess levels in the atmosphere within the dwelling of Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Sulphur dioxide and smoke.

More About Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Combustion Products


Hazard 7 - Lead

This covers the threats to health from the ingestion of lead.

More About Lead


Hazard 8 - Radiation

This hazard covers the threats to health from radon gas and its daughters, primarily airborne, but also radon dissolved in water.

More About Radiation


Hazard 9 - Uncombusted Fuel Gas

This hazard covers the threat of asphyxiation resulting from the escape of fuel gas into the atmosphere within a dwelling.

More About Uncombusted Fuel Gas


Hazard 10 - Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a diverse group of organic chemicals which includes formaldehyde, that are gaseous at room temperature, and are found in a wide variety of materials in the home.

More About Volatile Organic Compounds


Hazard 11 - Crowding and Space

This hazard covers hazards associated with lack of space within the dwelling for living, sleeping and normal family/household life.

More About Crowding and Space


Hazard 12 - Entry by Intruders

This covers difficulties in keeping a dwelling secure against unauthorised entry and the maintenance of defensible space.

More About Entry by Intruders


Hazard 13 - Lighting

This hazard covers the threats to physical and mental health associated with inadequate natural and/or artificial light. It includes the psychological effect associated with the view from the dwelling through glazing.

More About Lighting


Hazard 14 - Noise

This hazard covers threats to physical and mental health resulting from exposure to noise inside the dwelling or within its curtilage.

More About Noise


Hazard 15 - Domestic Hygiene, Pests and Refuse

This hazard covers hazards which can result from: a) poor design, layout and construction such that the dwelling cannot be readily kept clean and hygienic; b) access into, and harbourage within, the dwelling for pests; and c) inadequate and unhygienic provision for storing and disposal of household waste.

More About Domestic Hygiene, Pests and Refuse


Hazard 16 - Food Safety

This hazard covers threats of infection resulting from inadequacies in provision and facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food.

More About Food Safety


Hazard 17 - Personal Hygiene, Sanitation, Drainage

This hazard covers threats of infection and threats to mental health associated with personal hygiene, including personal washing and clothes washing facilities, sanitation and drainage. It does not include problems with pests associated with defective drainage facilities.

More About Personal Hygiene, Sanitation, Drainage


Hazard 18 - Water Supply for Domestic Purposes

This hazard covers the quality and adequacy of the supply of water within the dwelling for drinking and for domestic purposes such as cooking, washing, cleaning and sanitation. As well as the adequacy, it includes threats to health from contamination by bacteria, protozoa, parasites, viruses, and chemical pollutants. (Contamination by radon and lead are dealt with separately.)

More About Water Supply for Domestic Purposes


Hazard 19 - Falls associated with Baths

This hazard includes any fall associated with a bath, shower or similar facility.

More About Falls Associated with Baths


Hazard 20 - Falls on the Level

This hazard covers falling on any level surface such as floors, yards, and paths. It also includes falls associated with trip steps, thresholds, or ramps, where the change in level is less than 300mm.

More About Falls on the Level


Hazard 21 - Falls associated with Stairs and Steps

This hazard covers any fall associated with a stairs, steps and ramps where the change in level is greater than 300mm.

More About Falls associated with Stairs and Steps


Hazard 22 - Falls between Levels

This hazard covers falls from one level to another, inside or outside a dwelling, where the difference in levels is more than 300mm. It includes, for example, falls out of windows, falls from balconies or landings, falls from accessible roofs, into basement wells, and over garden retaining walls.

More About Falls Between Levels


Hazard 23 - Electrical Hazards

This hazard covers hazards from shock and burns resulting from exposure to electricity, including from lightning strikes. (It does not include risks associated with fire caused by deficiencies to the electrical installations, such as ignition of material by a short-circuit.)

More About Electrical Hazards


Hazard 24 - Fire

This hazard covers threats from exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke at a dwelling.

It includes injuries from clothing catching alight on exposure to an uncontrolled fire, which appears to be common when people attempt to extinguish such a fire. However, it does not include injuries caused by clothing catching alight from a controlled fire or flame, which may be caused by reaching across a gas flame or an open fire used for space heating.

More About Fire


Hazard 25 - Hot Surfaces and Materials

This hazard covers threats of:

It includes burns caused by clothing catching alight from a controlled fire or flame, for example, when reaching across a gas flame or open fire used for heating. It does not include burns resulting from an uncontrolled fire at a dwelling.

More About Hot Surfaces and Materials


Hazard 26 - Collision and Entrapment (also Collision Hazards from Low Headroom)

This hazard includes risks of physical injury from:

26. Collision and Entrapment (also Collision Hazards from Low Headroom)


Hazard 27 - Explosions

This hazard covers the threat from the blast of an explosion, from debris generated by the blast, and from the partial or total collapse of a building as the result of an explosion.

More About Explosions


Hazard 28 - Ergonomics - Position and Operability of Amenities

This hazard covers threats of physical strain associated with functional space and other features at dwellings.

More About Ergonomics - Position and Operability of Amenities


Hazard 29 - Structural Collapse and Falling Elements

This hazard covers the threat of whole dwelling collapse, or of an element or a part of the fabric being displaced or falling because of inadequate fixing, disrepair, or as a result of adverse weather conditions. Structural failure may occur internally or externally within the curtilage threatening occupants, or externally outside the curtilage putting at risk members of the public.

More About Structural Collapse and Falling Elements


The Need For A Software Tool

The paper-based scoring inspection sheet system devised by the Government is tedious and error-prone. You definitely need a software tool to carry out these Health & Safety inspections effectively.

Clear & Detailed Reports Are Needed

A professional HHSRS report should include an automatic calculation of hazard scores, hazard bands, justifications and defects for all the 29 HHSRS hazards, plus photographic evidence.

The Best Software Solution

This HHSRS survey software and mobile app follows the Government standard, with all the suggested statistics (likelihoods & outcomes) for the type of property, along with detailed checklists of defects (justifications) for each hazard.


Get a Personal Demonstration

Please book a short personal online demonstration where I can show you the mobile app, and how quick it is to produce professional HHSRS risk assessment reports with the computer software.

More Surveyors Templates

Do YOU want to become a super-efficient surveyor, make more profit, and have more leisure time?
If so, fill in the form below to find out more about our cloud-based surveying software.

Sales: 0161 818 4683   

Send Building Survey & Inspection Reports Directly On-site!

If you're a busy overworked surveyor, you really need this software!

Try out the software at low-cost for one month while you decide if it's for you.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Be SMART... Collect Data NOT Paper
Deliver Building Survey Reports in Seconds!