Accident reduction in home environments

This chapter reviews effective interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of home accidents from falls and fire, in a variety of settings and is particularly focused on the two primary risk groups identified in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (ODPM 2006) i.e. those over 60 and those under 5 (ibid).
The approach taken in developing this is to use some of our own practice and experience adopted in a number of local authorities and, through an examination of international evidenced best practice.
In any intervention process the emphasis should be placed upon directing resources at areas with the most hazards and the greatest risk and there is evidence to support a more targeted environmental health response for the risk groups. Effective interventions may include a combined focus on education, in which environmental health could be an agent of change due to their access to a variety of at risk groups; reducing environmental hazards and effective enforcement of safety standards both of which environmental health have a direct involvement with.
Some of the interventions identified are common practice whilst some will be a call to arms for EHPs to potentially extend their practice remit to lessen the risks of unintentional injuries sustained within the home

Effective Strategies and Interventions: environmental health and the private housing sector - Compiled by Dr Jill Stewart for the CIEH as part as the Private Sector Housing Evidence Base
March 2013