Home: haven or accident black spot? A review of the causes of home accidents

Deaths and injuries from home accidents are a major, but under-rated, public health problem and certainly an under-rated housing problem. A method is proposed, which takes account of both the frequency of accidents and the severity of outcomes which, it is suggested, will give a truer picture of the rank order of accidents. The paper discusses factors contributing to home accidents – human behaviour and dwelling design and condition. It discusses work in the UK to assess the relationship between home accidents and housing conditions and analyses of the LARES database both of which suggest links between dwelling condition and accidental home injuries.

Keywords: home accidents, unintentional home injuries, housing conditions, housing safety, housing design, human behaviour, UK, United Kingdom