Environmental Health Assessment—Healthy Homes Visual Inspection (Section 2)

• Environmental Health Assessment—Healthy Homes Visual Inspection (Section 2)

As you continue your study of healthy housing, this week you conduct a visual inspection of your home (or the home of your volunteer) using Section 2 of the Healthy Housing Inspection Manual. If you encounter a health hazard in your inspection that you (or the resident) are unable to remedy, the first two places to begin a search for assistance would be your state and local public health departments. Contacting one or both of these agencies is extremely advisable if you are unsure how to proceed with regard to a health hazard.

To complete this Application Assignment, plan to spend approximately three to four hours conducting the inspection steps specified in Section 2 of the Healthy Housing Inspection Manual.

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Complete Section 2: Healthy Homes Visual Assessment Data Collection Form of the Healthy Housing Inspection Manual. Note: You may have some sections to which you respond “Not applicable.”

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• Take pictures or make drawings of any areas of interest to include in your final report, which will be submitted in Week 5.

HEALTHY HOMES VISUAL ASSESSMENT DATA COLLECTION FORM

The Healthy Homes Visual Assessment Data Collection Form is a tool that can be adapted by local jurisdictions to meet their specific needs.

The visual assessment should be used to collect information that can be determined without asking questions of a resident. Information that cannot be determined visually should be collected on the Healthy Homes Model Resident Questionnaire (Section 1).

The visual assessment form and accompanying description of health and safety conditions (Appendix 1) are adapted from the HUD Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) and its Physical Assessment Subsystem (PASS) as well as from inspection protocols used by HUD healthy homes program grantees.

Date of Assessment _________________________________________________________________

Building and/or Unit Street Address ___________________________________________________

City/State/Zip Code _________________________________________________________________

Name of Data Collector _____________________________________________________________

Signature ______________________________________________________________________

WEATHER CONDITIONS:

?Dry ?Rain today or recently ?Snow today or recently

Temperature: ___________°F

FRONT DOOR OF UNIT FACES:

?North ?South ?East ?West

TYPE OF UNIT BEING ASSESSED:

?Single-family ?Duplex ?Triplex ?Fourplex

?Townhome ?Low-rise ?High-rise ?Other

(1–3 floors) (4+ floors)

UNIT STATUS:

?Occupied ?Vacant

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISUAL ASSESSMENT OBSERVATIONS

• Select only one answer per question. If more than one answer is possible, record the most severe hazard and note the others in the comments section at the end of each section.

• Complete one set of “site” observations for each building or housing development.

• Complete one set of “exterior and building system” observations for each building.

• Complete one set of “common area” observations for each building. Do not complete the common area section if no common area exists.

• Complete one set of “unit” and “other” observations for each housing unit inspected.

• Document deviations from inspection protocol in the comments section space (e.g., units not available for inspection)

• Specific locations of specific hazards can be recorded in the comments section if desired.

For each assessment item, bolded responses indicate areas of greater concern. Imminent health and safety hazards appear in red.

Each response is defined. There is one response for each item. For descriptions of health and safety conditions and cross references to the 2003 IPMC, see Appendix 1.

This inspection protocol does not establish legal and/or complete compliance with local, state, federal or other applicable housing, building, health, safety or other applicable policies, codes, regulations, statutes and laws.

MAJOR VISUAL ASSESSMENT AREAS

Site (Items 1–29)………………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Building Exterior (Items 30–62)…………………………………………………………………………..13

Building Systems (Items 63–81)………………………………………………………………………….24

Common Areas (Items 82–102)…………………………………………………………………………..30

Housing Unit (Items 103–196)…………………………………………………………………………….40

Other Items (Items 197–229)………………………………………………………………………………

SITE (ITEMS 1–29)

Items to inspect in this category are

• Fencing and Gates

• Grounds or Pavement

• Children’s Play Areas

• Other

A comment area for the site category is also included in this section.

FENCING AND GATES

Site 1. Damaged/Falling/Leaning/Deteriorated Paint

??Damaged but not functional or deteriorated paint in an area larger than 20 square feet: An exterior fence or gate is so damaged that it does not function as it should. An exterior fence, security fence, or gate is damaged and does not function as it should or could threaten safety or security.

??No fencing or gates present

??Damaged but functional; no deteriorated paint areas larger than 20 square feet: An exterior fence, security fence, or gate shows signs of deterioration, but still functions as it should, and it presents no risk to security or safety

??No damage

Site 2. Holes or Openings in Soil Below Fence

??=6 square inches

??<6 square inches

??No holes or not applicable

GROUNDS OR PAVEMENT

Site 3. Areas of Erosion

? Large erosion (depression, rut or groove more than 8 inches wide by 5 inches deep): Runoff has extensively displaced soil, which has caused visible damage to structures

-OR-Advanced erosion threatens the safety of pedestrians or makes an area of the grounds unusable

-OR-There is a rut larger than 8 inches wide by 5 inches deep

-OR-There is extensive ponding

-OR-Water or ice has collected in a depression or on ground where ponding was not intended

? Pooling of water (small erosion; depression, rut or groove less than 8 inches wide by 5 inches deep): Erosion has caused surface material to collect, leading to a degraded surface that would likely cause water to pool in a confined area, especially next to structures, paved areas, or walkways, or a small rut/groove is 6–8 inches wide and 3–5 inches deep

??No erosion

Site 4. Overgrown Vegetation

? Vegetation has damaged building. Plants have visibly damaged a component, area, or system of the property or have made them unusable/impassable. Vegetation is extensive and dense; it is difficult to see broken glass, holes, and other hazards.

-OR-Vegetation penetrates an unintended surface—buildings; gutters; fences/walls; roofs; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units (HVAC); etc.

-OR-Vegetation is producing excessive moisture that may lead to mold or mildew on nearby exterior building surface

-OR-Tree is in danger of falling

? Vegetation is present or contacts building, but no damage: Extensive, dense vegetation obstructs the intended path of walkways or roads, but the path is still passable

-OR-Vegetation is present but causes no problem

? No vegetation present

Site 5. Graffiti

? 6 or more places: Graffiti in 6 or more places

? 2–5 places: Graffiti in 2–5 places

? One place: Graffiti in one place

? No graffiti

Site 6. Litter

? Excessive: More than 10 large trash or litter items

? Slight or Moderate: 2–10 large trash or litter items

? None: Fewer than 2 large trash or litter items

Site 7. Cracks in Pavement

? = ¾ inch, hinging/tilting, or missing section(s) that affect traffic ability over more than 5% of the property’s parking lots/driveways/roads or that cause trip hazards: major trip hazard

? <¾ inch displacement (vertical height): minor trip hazard

? No cracks: level

Site 8. Fire Ants/Mounds or Harmful Insects

? Yes: Presence of fire ants/mounds or harmful insects

? No: Fire ants/mounds or harmful insects not seen

Site 9. Containers That Hold Water

? Yes: Presence of water-holding containers conducive to mosquito breeding

? No: Water-holding containers not present

CHILDREN’S PLAY AREAS

Site 10. Equipment

?Equipment that poses an immediate threat: REPORT TO BUILDING MANAGEMENT/OWNER IMMEDIATELY AND RECORD SPECIFICS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION

? =50% of surface area broken/damaged: Most of the equipment (50% or more) does not operate as it should, but poses no safety risk

? <50% of surface area broken/damaged: Less than half of the equipment does not operate as it should, but poses no safety risk

? No play equipment observed (skip to Site 21)

Site 11. Paint Condition

? Deteriorated paint on =50% of surface area of play area equipment

? Deteriorated paint on <50% of surface area of play area equipment

-OR-No deteriorated paint on play area equipment

Site 12. Bare Soil

? =9 square feet of bare soil present in play area

? <9 square feet of bare soil present in play area

Site 13. Injury-absorbent Surface Depth

? No: No injury-absorbent surface under playground equipment or injury-absorbent surface depth less than 12 inches

? Yes: Injury-absorbent surface under playground equipment at proper depth (at least 12 inches)

13b. Surface type: ________________________________________________

Site 14. Deteriorated Injury-absorbent Surface

? Yes: Injury-absorbent surface =50% deteriorated

?Yes: Injury-absorbent surface <50% deteriorated

?No deterioration

Site 15. Fencing and Gates

? Damaged, not functional: An interior fence or gate is so damaged that it does not function as it should. An exterior fence, security fence, or gate is damaged and does not function as it should or could threaten safety or security.

? Damaged, but functional: An exterior fence, security fence, or gate shows signs of deterioration, but still functions as it should, and it presents no risk to security or safety

? No damage

? No play area fencing/gates

Site 16. Condition

? Refuse, animal feces, broken glass/sharp edges, or holes/trip hazards observed

? No refuse, animal feces, broken glass/sharp edges, or holes/trip hazards observed

Site 17. Exposed Bolts

? Yes: Exposed bolts are found on the playground equipment

? No: Playground equipment does not have exposed bolts

Site 18. Hanging or Choking Hazards

Site 18. Hanging or Choking Hazards

?Yes: Hanging and/or choking hazards on playground equipment

? No: No hanging and/or choking hazards present on playground equipment

Site 19. Open “S” Hooks

? Yes: Open “S” hooks on swings or other playground equipment

? No: No open “S” hooks on swings or other playground equipment

Site 20. Pinch Hazards

? Yes: Pinch hazards on playground equipment

? No: No pinch hazards on playground equipment

OTHER

Site 21. Refuse Disposal

? Wall or roof for outdoor enclosed area is leaning or collapsed

-OR-Concrete slab deteriorated

? Collection area overflowing: Area is too small to store refuse until pickup

-OR-Garbage cans are overflowing

? No exterior refuse disposal

? Refuse properly contained

Site 22. Retaining Walls

? Severe deterioration/safety risk: A retaining wall is damaged and does not function as it should or is a safety risk

? Some deterioration: A retaining wall shows some signs of deterioration, but it still functions as it should, and it is not a safety risk

? No deterioration

? No retaining walls present

Site 23. Standing Water

? Yes: Storm drainage areas (e.g., ditches) have standing water

? No: No standing water in storm drainage areas

NOTE: This does not include stormwater detention basins, which are addressed in Site 24 and 25.

Site 24. Storm Drainage

? Completely blocked: The system is completely blocked or a large segment of the system has failed because a large quantity of debris has caused: backups into adjacent area(s)

-OR-Runoffs into areas where runoffs are not intended

? Partially blocked: The system is partially blocked by a large quantity of debris, causing backup into adjacent area(s)

? No designed storm drainage

? No obstructions

Site 25. Outdoor Water

? Yes: Pond/lake/stream

??Yes: Drainage reservoir

??No: No other water on site

Site 26. Outdoor Water: Drainage Reservoir Fencing

??No: Reservoir not fenced

??Yes: Reservoir fenced but fence needs repair

??Yes: Reservoir fully fenced and fence intact

??Not applicable: No drainage reservoir

Site 27. Septic Tank

??Moist ground in septic tank area: IMMINENT HEALTH HAZARD: REPORT TO BUILDING MANAGEMENT/OWNER IMMEDIATELY AND RECORD SPECIFICS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION

??No evidence of excessive ground moisture

??No septic tank present

Site 28. Walkways/Steps/Hand Railing

?Missing or damaged or loose: A hand rail for four or more stairs is missing, damaged, loose, or otherwise unusable; hand rail only present on one side, visible faults in the pavement: longitudinal, lateral, alligator, etc.

OR-Pavement that sinks or rises because of the failure of sub-base materials. Five percent or more of the walkways must be impacted—50 out of 1,000 square feet, for example. Relief joints are there by design; do not consider them cracks. When observing traffic ability, consider the capacity to support pedestrians, wheelchairs, and people using walkers. Cracks greater than ¾ inch, hinging/tilting, or missing section(s) that affect traffic ability over more than 5% of the property’s walkways/steps.

??No damage

??No walkway/steps

Site 29. Large Trees

??Hanging over unit and touching unit

??Well maintained: Trimmed back from unit

??No large trees present