[Technological risks in the household].

Abstract

It is very difficult to calculate precisely the phenomenon of domestic accidents in Italy because of the lack of sure statistics. Some rough evaluations estimate the domestic injuries as about 800,000-1 million, with about 9,000 dead in one year, whose causes depend on down-falls, scalds, poisonings, electrocutions, etc., due to technological installations (mainly electric and gas installations) and to the human behaviour. It is supposed that on 21 million installations existing in Italy, about 14 millions are not accorded to the rules of good technology. Until now, this matter has resulted only after a domestic injury, because no legislation had been issued. At least on March, the 5th, 1990, the Law no. 45 (published on the G.U. n. 59 of March, 12th, 1990) was issued. It obliges to build also the domestic technological installations according to the rules of good technology. Resides, it fixes the professional requirements of planners, installers and testers, making also the customers responsible. But being also human mistakes causes of accidents, some acts of sensibilization, information, and formation became more and more necessary addressed also towards those people who move within domestic walls, in order to create an "anti-injury conscience" that allows to became aware of dangerous situations at a rather instinctive level and to adopt safe measures as behaviour methodologies and postures.