Risk of injury per hour of exposure to consumer products.
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the risk of injury per hour of use for a range of consumer products. Exposure data was derived from interviewing a large sample of adults about their use of 76 common kitchen, do-it-yourself and household products. This was combined with hospital sample data for injuries involving each product, to yield the risk-of-injury-per-hour-of-use. Powered cutting equipment, access equipment (ladders and scaffolding) and products with sharp blades were shown to have a comparatively high risk, along with cycles, sunbeds, creosote, cement, car jacks and exercise weights. Perceived risk was shown to be a poor basis for priority setting, but a practical guide to priority for preventive action can be provided by "mapping" products on a plot of the risk of injury per hour of use vs the total medical costs of such accidents.
Hayward
G
G
Consumer Safety Unit, Department of Trade and Industry, London, U.K.
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000592:standards; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology