It might seem a bit morbid, but human nature leads us to contemplate our demise. We sometimes wonder, "What are my odds of dying from..."? Are we more likely to be killed in a car crash or shot to death by an assailant? According to OSHA’s citation criteria, the chance of dying from a fall seems to rate the highest on a workers probably of dying list. However, being inquisitive, we consulted an Odds of Dying chart (shown below) that was put together by the National Safety Council. Keep in mind these odds are statistical averages over the entire U.S. population and do not necessarily reflect the chances of death for a particular person from a particular external cause. Odds of dying are affected by an individual’s activities, occupation, and where he or she lives, works, and drives, among other things.
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In this image surgeons are performing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.
Heart Disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.
Cause of Death |
Odds of Dying |
Heart Disease and Cancer |
1:7 |
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease |
1:28 |
Intentional Self-harm |
1:100 |
Unintentional Poisoning By and Exposure to Noxious Substances |
1:109 |
Motor Vehicle Crash |
1:112 |
Fall |
1:144 |
Assault by Firearm |
1:358 |
Pedestrian Incident |
1:704 |
Motorcycle Rider Incident |
1:911 |
Unintentional Drowning and Submersion |
1:1,113 |
Exposure to Fire, Flames or Smoke |
1:1,442 |
Choking from Inhalation and Ingestion of Food |
1:3,375 |
Pedacyclist Incident |
1:4,535 |
Firearms Discharge |
1:6,699 |
Exposure to Excessive Natural Heat |
1:6,745 |
Cataclysmic Storm |
1:6,780 |
Air and Space Transport Incidents |
1:8,015 |
Exposure to Electric Current, Radiation, Temperature and Pressure |
1:12,220 |
Contact with Sharp Objects |
1:37,351 |
Contact with Hornets, Wasps and Bees |
1:55,764 |
Contact with Heat and Hot Substances |
1:59,093 |
Legal Execution |
1:127,717 |
Being Bitten or Struck by a Dog |
1:116,448 |
Lightning Strike |
1:164,968 |
About The Author: Don Jackson is retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Various roles at the EPA included: Hazardous Waste Management, Safety & Health Instructor, Facilities Safety and Health Inspector, ES&H Technical Writer, and Wastewater Equipment Operator as a Senior Environmental Employee. He has been conducting HAZWOPER courses throughout the country for approximately 25 years.