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Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners

Index to Exercises

Exercise Number Exercise Title

Page Number(s) in Exercise Section of Student Workbook

Exercise #1 Making the Connection Page 1

Exercise #2 Healthy Homes Statistics Pages 2-3

Exercise #3 Model Housing Code Pages 4-5

Exercise #4 Epidemiologic Triangle Pages 6-7

Exercise #5 Identify Moisture Problems Page 8

Exercise #6 Identify Pest Problems Page 9

Exercise #7 Identify Ventilation Problems Page 10

Exercise #8 Find the Child Safety Devices or Practices Pages 11-12

Exercise #9 Use a Visual Assessment / Identify Potential Violations Pages 13-16

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Exercise 1: Make the Connections - See the Big Picture

Health Impacts Housing Hazards Corrective Action Resources



Exercise 2: Get a Handle on Healthy Homes StatisticsInstructions

From the References tab in your binder, take out the “American Housing Survey – National 2011” packet. If you have a separate packet on a specific Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), take that out too. Then answer the following questions using the national data or MSA data as assigned by the instructor. The instructor may assign you or your group specific questions to answer.

NOTE: Review your answers to this exercise in preparation for the Healthy Homes Specialist Credential test.

About the 2011 American Housing Survey National Data Packet: The packet is twelve pages long and consists of two parts:

•• Selected Elements Related to Healthy Homes – Seven Pages•⎯ General Information: Occupancy, Units in Structure, Year Structure Built, and Foundation•⎯ Exterior Information: External Building Conditions and Water Leakage During Last 12 Months•⎯ Interior Information: Damage, Water Leakage During Last 12 Months, Rodents, and Electrical•⎯ Sanitation & Water Information: Lack of Facilities, Drinking Water Safety; and Sewage Disposal /Safety

Equipment•⎯ Heating & Fuel Information: Main Heating Equipment, Water Heating Fuel, Clothes Dryer Fuel, and Heating

Problems•⎯ Selected Physical Problems: Severe Physical Problems, Moderate Physical Problems, and

Overall Opinion of Structure

•• About the American Housing Survey – Five Pages•⎯ Overview•⎯ Key Definitions Related to Healthy Homes•⎯ AHS’s Rating System for Physical Problems•⎯ Potential Errors in American Housing Survey

About the 2011 American Housing Survey MSA Data Packet: The packet for a specific MSA is similar to the 2011 AHS National Data with the following changes:

•• The MSA Data information is compared to next closest National Data. For example, 2004 MSA data is compared to the 2005 National Data.•• National data is only listed when the MSA percentages has at least 20% relative difference from the national percentage and an absolute difference of at least 0.25% from national percentage.

Page 2



Write the number for each characteristic.

_________ # of homes with severe physical problems (note that units are thousands of homes)

_________ # of homes with moderate physical problems

_________ # of homes with either severe or moderate problems

_________ % of homes with exterior water leakage in past 12 months

_________ % of homes with interior water leakage in past 12 months

_________ % of homes with signs of mice in past 3 months

_________ % of rental homes built before 1980

_________ % of homes with warm-air furnaces

_________ % of homes with a clothes dryer fueled by gas (piped or LP)

_________ % of renters rating their home a 1 or 2 (where 1 as worst possible and 10 as best possible)

Checkmark the most common cause of each type of problem.

Exterior water leakage Interior water leakage Moderate physical problems

Walls or window problems Leaking pipes Plumbing

Basement problems Broken fixtures Heating

Roof problems Broken water heater Upkeep

Other/unknown Other/unknown Kitchen

Page 3



Exercise 3: Get a Handle on a Model Housing CodeInstructions From the References tab in your binder, take out:

1. International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)

2. HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS)

The instructor may assign you or your group specific questions to answer.

Questions:

1. If rats are found, is simply killing them sufficient to comply with the code? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

2. Is a crack in an exterior brick wall a violation of the code? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

3. Is a disconnected downspout a violation of the code? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

4. What must be done to repair flaking interior paint? a. Fix cause of peeling b. Remove all paint whether peeling or not

c. Test for lead dust hazards d. Correct defective surface condition

5. Which room is not allowed to have carpeting? a. Kitchen b. Bathroom c. Child’s Bedroom

6. Does the exhaust of an electric clothes dryer have to be vented outside? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

7. Must a bathroom have an exhaust fan that vents outside?a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

8. Can a landlord let the air temperature go below 60ºF under any circumstances? a. Yes b. No.

Page 4



What other model codes apply to existing buildings that are not being reconstructed?

a. International Residential Code b. International Fire Code

c. International Existing Building Code d. All of the above.

10. What is the minimum temperature for hot water at the tap?

a. 43º F b. 110 º F c. 125 º F d. 68 º F

Page 5



Exercise 4: The Epidemiologic Triangle The purpose of this exercise is to help you better understand the epidemiologic triangle and how it can be used for addressing healthy housing issues.

The Epidemiological Triangle can be used whether the disease or illness is acute (causes symptoms that are immediately recognizable) or chronic (symptoms develop over time and for that reason may not be readily identified with the exposure). The triangle can also be useful to understand the process involved with unhealthful conditions, such as those that cause physical injury.

Host

TransportMechanism

Environ- mentAgent

InstructionsFor each of the scenarios described below draw an epidemiological triangle. Identify the host (as well as any factors that make the host susceptible), environment, agent, and vector. Fill in the corners of the triangle.

Scenarios1. Acute DiseaseAn adult visits the home of a friend and quickly develops a severe allergic reaction. The patient is allergic to animals, but the friend has never had a pet of any type in his home. However, the friend does state that he frequently has problems with mice in the home.

2. Chronic DiseaseWhile her parents are finishing remodeling their 1950’s home, a young child falls and incurs severe trauma on her arm. An x-ray is taken at the hospital and while no breaks have occurred, the doctor sees strong lines on the x-ray outlining the bones. This can be an indication the child has been exposed to the metal lead.

3. Physical ConditionIn a newly opened senior high rise living facility, there are reports of an alarming number of falls. Concerned that something in the construction of the apartments may be causing or contributing to the falls, the manager visits the residents to ask for details concerning the circumstances of each fall. The conditions in common are as follows: all the falls occurred at night or in the late afternoon after sundown; all apartments are fully carpeted except for the kitchen and bathroom; there is a raised marble threshold at the entrance to the kitchen and bathroom that separates the ceramic tiles of these two rooms from the carpeting on the other side of the threshold; and the majority of the falls occurred when entering or leaving either or both of these rooms.

Page 6



Scenario Host Agent Environment Transport Mechanism

1. Acute Disease

2. Chronic Disease

3. Physical Condition

Exercise 4: The Epidemiologic Triangle (continued)

Page 7



Exercise 5: Identify Moisture ProblemsInstructions Break up into small groups according to instructor’s directions. Each group gets a set of photos. Identify moisture problems and their potential source. Avoid writing on the photos. After 15 minutes, the instructor will review the photos and the answers with the class.

Photo Potential Moisture Problems Proposed Correction

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

Page 8



Photo Potential Pest and Pesticide Problems Proposed Correction

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

Exercise 6: Identify Pest ProblemsInstructions Break up into small groups according to instructor’s directions. Each group gets a set of photos. Identify pest and pesticide problems and their potential source. Avoid writing on the photos. After 15 minutes, the instructor will review the photos and the answers with the class.

Page 9



Exercise 7: Identify Ventilation ProblemsInstructions Break up into small groups according to instructor’s directions. Each group gets a set of photos. Identify ventilation problems and their potential source. Avoid writing on the photos. After 15 minutes, the instructor will review the photos and the answers with the class.

Photo Potential Ventilation Problems Proposed Correction

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

Page 10



Exercise 8: Find the Child Safety Devices or PracticesInstructions -Below is a cross-section of a home. By each number is a safety precaution families can use to reduce the chances of injury. For each number, identify the safety device and the injury that it is designed to protect against.

Page 11

12



Safety Device Description of the Safety Injury that Safety Device or Number Device or Practice Practice is Designed to Avoid

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

Page 12



Exercise 9: Practice Visual Assessment & Identify Potential ViolationsInstructions: The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with a common visual assessment tool and help you understand its strengths and weaknesses so you may better evaluate the tools that will fit your program.

Step 1: Take the packet from the References section of the binder labeled “CEHRC Visual Survey Report and Instructions”. Look through the instructions. The trainer will review key elements of the instructions and then show you a series of photos. Based on the photos complete the visual assessment form. You do not need to complete the floor plan or site plan.

Step 2: Using the International Property Maintenance Code or your local housing or other code as directed by the instructor, identify which rooms had potential violations of the law. Indicate the code sections, which problems are clearly violations and which ones require more investigation. If something requires more investigation, then identify what investigation is needed.

Step 3: Identify three strengths and three weaknesses of the CEHRC Visual Survey.

About the Packet:

Healthy homes programs have developed many tools to conduct a visual assessment for healthy homes issues. Most of the healthy homes visual assessments are tailored to the particular needs of the program. Many community-based organizations used the CEHRC Visual Survey developed by the Alliance for Healthy Homes. It stands for the Community Environmental Health Resource Center.

The Visual Survey is the first step in the CEHRC hazard assessment process. The Visual Survey gives hazard investigators an initial opportunity to talk to residents about things they have noticed about their home. Looking around the outside and inside of the home, hazard investigators can begin to understand the general condition of the home, and target sampling as appropriate. Some hazards will only be assessed through the Visual Survey as visual evidence of a hazard might be sufficient to trigger control measures or other action. Others require more sampling to quantify the particular hazard.

The CEHRC’s Visual Survey consists of:

•• Instructions;

•• Visual Survey Report;

•• Floor Plan; and

•• Site Plan.

The materials are available in Spanish and English.

For this exercise, we will use the Visual Survey Report.

Page 13

Make a checkmark ( ) if the problem appears in the room or area. For deteriorated paint and water damage,indicate the extent of the problem (see instructions) Use the extra rows to identify any other hazards you notice.Put an asterisk ( * ) above any room(s) where a child sleeps or plays. Circle (❍) where you photograph a problem.

If renting, received lead hazard disclosure information from landlord? Yes No

Follow-up visit scheduled for: Date _______________ Time: _________________

Ext

erio

r

Porc

h

Ent

ryw

ay

Liv

ing

Ro

om

Din

ing

Ro

om

Kit

chen

Bed

roo

m 1

Bed

roo

m 2

Bed

roo

m 3

Bat

hro

om

1

Bat

hro

om

2

Bas

emen

t

ROOM OR AREA

PROBLEM

Deterioratedpaint

Soil with no grass or mulch

Cockroaches

Rodents

Holes in wall

Mold/Mildew

Water Damage: walls wet/newly stained

Strong musty smell

Natural gas/sewer gas smell

Unvented gas oven/dryer/heater

Worn-out carpeting

Other:

Other:

Other:

Other:

Other:

Obvious source of moisture

No obvious source of moisture

WallsWindows, door, or trimPaint chips on floor

Resident:

Alternate Contact:

Address:

Unit # Unique ID

Resident Phone:

CEHRC: Community Environmental Health Resource Center www.cehrc.orgRevised 3/04

Visual Survey Report

123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012

1234512345123451234512345

Visual Conducted by:_________________________________

Date:_________________________________



Step 2: Identify the Potential Code Violations in Photos

Page 15

Area of Home Nature of Violation/ Code Sections Potentially Violated

Nature of Violation

Definite Potential

Responsible Person

Owner OccupantExterior

Porch

Entryway

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Basement

Other: ___________

Other: ___________



Step 3: Evaluate CEHRC Visual Survey

Three Strengths:

1.

2.

3.

Three Weaknesses:

1.

2.

3.

Page 16

Essentials Exercise 1-Make the ConnectionsEssentials Exercise 2-Healthy Homes StatisticsEssentials Exercise 3-Model Housing CodeEssentials Exercise 4-Epidemiologic TriangleEssentials Exercise 5-Identify Moisture ProblemsEssentials Exercise 6-Identify Pest ProblemsEssentials Exercise 7-Identify Ventilation ProblemsEssentials Exercise 8-Child Safety DevicesEssentials Exercise 9-Practice Visual Assessment

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