Exceedance of standard for group risk in the Netherlands, 1999
A map with the locations where the probability of an accident is greater than the standard for the group risk.
Exceedance of standard for the group risk
At various locations in the Netherlands, the probability of an accident with fatal casualties is greater than the accepted group risk standard. In the case of the red companies, the exceedance is ten times higher than the standard.
The map provides no indication of the size of a disaster for which the standard has been exceeded. For example, exceedance of the standard by a factor of ten - as is the case in both Den Helder and Maastricht - may indicate in one place an exceedance of the accepted probability of 100 or more casualties, whereas the same exceedance by a factor of ten elsewhere applies to the limit set for the probability of ten or more casualties.
Definition of group risk
The group risk is the probability of a disaster in which a proportion of the people present are killed. The level of risk that is still considered acceptable depends on the size of the disaster. An accident with 100 deaths results in more disruption, suffering and grief than an accident with ten fatal casualties. The limit set for the probability of a disaster with 100 deaths is therefore one hundred times lower than for a disaster with ten deaths.
- See 'External safety risks: the probability of an accident' for a more detailed discussion of risks, causes and policy.
Policy
To reduce the dangers around locations of this kind - from fireworks companies to railway marshalling yards - the government has already earmarked almost 200 million euros.
