Risk education statistics

Relevant statistical resources to support lessons or lectures

• Do you know - quiz
• Accidents happen at work
• Annual risk of death for various causes averaged over the entire population
• Average annual risk of injury as a consequence of an activity
• Average annual risk of death as a consequence of an activity

Accidents happen at work

Accidents involving young people at work

Between 1996 and 2001:

• 54 young people (below the age of 18) were killed in the workplace.
• There were 12,599 serious injuries involving broken limbs, amputations and serious burns.
• There were 46,495 injuries leading to at least three days off work.

Safety at work

• Every year 4 million people are hurt at work.
• It costs Britain £16 billion a year.
• Young people (aged 16-24) face the highest risk.
• New workers have the highest risk of injury.

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Annual risk of death for various causes averaged over the entire population

Cause of death				Annual risk
Cancer				1 in 387
Injury and poisoning				1 in 3,137
Road accidents				1 in 16,800
Gas incident (fire, explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning)				1 in 1,510,000
Lightning				1 in 18,700,000

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Average annual risk of injury as a consequence of an activity

Type of accident Risk				Annual risk
Fairground accidents				1 in 2,326,000 rides
Road accidents				1 in 1,432,000 kilometres travelled
Rail travel accidents				1 in 1,533,000 passenger journeys
Burn or scald in the home				1 in 610

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Average annual risk of death as a consequence of an activity

Activity associated with death Risk				Annual Risk
Maternal death in pregnancy				1 in 8,200 maternities
Surgical anaesthesia				1 in 185,000 operations
Scuba Diving				1 in 200,000 dives
Fairground rides				1 in 834,000,000 rides
Rock climbing				1 in 320,000 climbs
Canoeing				1 in 750,000 outings
Hang-gliding				1 in 116,000 flights
Rail travel accidents				1 in 43,000,000 passenger journeys
Aircraft accidents				1 in 125,000,000 passenger journeys