Risk comparison summary

This paper presents data for the comparison of societal risk from natural and man-made hazards. Only fatalities resulting from the hazards are used in the comparison, with the data and the comparative analysis taken from current literature. In comparing societal risks for most of the hazards, both expected values and frequency vs. consequence curves are presented. For a subset of hazards, notably the power generation technologies (nuclear, coal, oil, and gas), which have not exhibited high consequence events (catastrophes), the comparisons are based on estimated expected values only. Individual risk data are presented in two ways, a probability of death within a year and the amount of life shortening of an average life span. 9 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.