Risk Assessing Communal Areas

Posted on July 2, 2019 in General Info

All blocks of flats must have a risk assessment carried out on the health and safety of any communal areas. It is a requirement of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Risk Assessing Communal Areas why is this classed under the Work Regulations?.

You may argue common areas are not “at work” but if any cleaner, gardener, managing agent or repair contractors enters them, then a risk assessment must be made. However when you mention “Risk Assessing Communal Areas” most people unfortunately take one of two extreme stances.

The first is just a glazing over of the eyes and attempt to by-pass the whole exercise, perceived to be another over-the-top case of health and safety bureaucracy.

The second goes the other way, and becomes obsessively over-interested in the whole process and loves the challenge of coming up with endless paperwork to fill up everyone’s inboxes.

The answer really lies in between these two extremes. The reality is that there are serious risks associated with properties, and having a sanity check in basic safety issues – and whether we like it or not, tick boxes that are there to be ticked – can literally save lives.

However, let’s not make more of this than what’s needed, and let’s bring in some common sense and start going for quality not quantity of ‘risks’ being identified.

Here are some top tips to help with health and safety:

• Ensure communal hallways and stairs are clear of boxes, push chairs, bikes, furniture and any other bulk belongings, because if there is a fire then this will cause obstructions when trying to evacuate the building and for any fire fighters trying to enter.
• Slips and trips hazards – make sure that stair nosings are secure, carpets are in good condition, path ways and steps have anti slip measures. According to the HSE website, slips and trips are one of the most common reasons forthe public to be hurt with breakages of limbs and hips on the increase.
• Working at height should be kept minimal so use long life bulbs in high/hard to get to light fittings. Use window cleaners with the water fed pole systems.
• When choosing a contractor, ask what accreditations they have – SAFEcontractor, Chas, Safe4site and Constructionline are all recognised and proves that the contractor cares and practises good health and safety.
• Fire safety – check that you have a fire risk assessment in place – this has to be done regularly by law and could save lives.
• If you see something that could potentially be a risk, do not presume someone else has reported it.
• Ensure lighting in the communal areas is adequate and that if bulbs are out, they are changed immediately – poor lighting can attribute to slips and trips.
• Try and think ahead, if you have external car parks and paths that in snow and ice are lethal, order your rock salt well in advance of the bad weather, because when the snow comes, supplies of rock salt are very hard to get.
• If any works are to be carried out, ask your contractor for a copy of the risk assessment and method statement and when they come to do the work, check with the employee that they also have this so that the works are carried out in a safe manner.
• Most health and safety issues are caused by not using common sense and not being aware of your surroundings – so if carrying out any work, check it is safe to do so and that all measures are taken to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

For more information on risk assessing communal areas please call one of our friendly team on 0845 604 1288 or email wecare@protechpropertysolutions.co.uk for some helpful risk assessments tools.

We also produced an article on risk assessment for maintenance of flats which you may find useful.