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Healthy Environments and Good Housing
To offer everyone the opportunity to live and work in a healthy environment. Most people spend more time in their own homes than anywhere else. The most important risks to health from poor housing come from cold and damp, which cause a number of illnesses including respiratory diseases. Cold housing leads directly to hypothermia and may also contribute to the excess of winter deaths seen in older people. Home accidents and falls are more prevalent in areas of disadvantage. People can be exposed to health risks in the workplace. However, whilst the current levels of work-related ill health are substantial, the workplace provides excellent opportunities to both improve the health of the workforce and to address health inequalities. There are five action areas in this objective. 1. Housing conditions
DSD will work with the Housing Executive and Housing Associations to improve services and the quality of housing in general. 2. Homelessness and access to housing
The Housing Executive will work to ensure that homeless people are not left without a roof over their head. 3. Fuel Poverty
By 2004, the new Warm Homes Grants Scheme, administered by DSD, will benefit at least 20,000 homes by a total of £4m. 4. Radon Gas
The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) has produced a range of booklets for householders on how to deal with radon and has offered a free test to all householders in areas where the estimated probability of finding homes exceeding the action level is 5% or more. 5. Health in the workplace
Ill health caused or made worse by work is often preventable. Accordingly, the HSENI has established an Occupational Health Forum. Locations
- All Eastern Area
- East Belfast
- Lisburn
- North Belfast
- North Down
- Regional
- South Belfast
- West Belfast
Organisations
Projects
Forum
Healthy Environments and Good Housing discussion COI Publications
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