Safety in Statistics

And why would it be relevant to you? There’s no machinery, no trenches, no open flames at your property. All in all, the risk at residential property seems to be quite low. Crush that thought now. It’s misleading. It’s dangerous. Here’s why:

Factories, machinery, plant and precarious work activities are often so well managed these days, so carefully regulated, that that they contribute to a surprisingly small percentage of these general statistics.

Ironically, the idea that temporary work areas, such as your freeholds, are ‘low enough risk to negate the management of safety’ is the very thing that causes them to become high risk areas in the first place. That’s high risk for the residents, visitors and contractors who use them daily.

Research shows that17% of residential properties hold a significant risk where a person may fall from height.

While this is usually from a roof area, there are plenty of Juliette balconies with their railings removed. It goes without saying that the consequence of a fall from height can be severe - so how are you managing this risk?

Meanwhile 28% of residential properties have their high voltage mains electrical intakes either unsecured or readily accessible.

Most of sound mind are aware of the dangers that electricity poses, but what if that electrical intake under the stairs has just one more rain soaked bike squeezed up against it, or that intriguing little open cupboard is explored by the toddler from flat number 2 - it doesn’t bear thinking about.

In addition to the fire risks posed by exposed intakes, it’s a real surprise that over a quarter of residential properties with communal intakes are so exposed.

So maybe safety has been slightly neglected in some of these properties, but that’s just to make way for excellent maintenance regimes, right?

A well-maintained place, by definition, must be a safe place. Well that may well be, but it might never really be known because 31% of residential properties hold areas where poor maintenance has resulted in a significant risk to the property.

This includes collapsing walls, damaged floor surfaces, smashed light fittings, wires hanging loose, broken stair banisters - the list goes on.

So there are just a few statistics and facts which are relevant to your responsibilities and could well be presenting real risks at your managed sites every day.

Ask yourself now:
When was your property/properties last risk assessed?
How are you managing safety between risk assessments?
Are you confident that you’re managing safety effectively?

Managing Safety needn’t be a convoluted process and applied correctly, with the right expertise and guidance, you can avoid becoming just another statistic.

Gregg Masters is the Head of Client Services at 4site