DRRR Reviewer: Quiz 2
Module 9: Hazard and Its Types
• A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or
someone. Basically, a hazard is the potential for harm or an adverse effect (for example, to people
as health effects, to organizations as property or equipment losses, or to the environment).
• A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most
hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm, however once a hazard
becomes active it can create an emergency. One key concept in identifying a hazard is the
presence of stored energy that when released can cause damage.
Hazard – Anything that can cause harm/damage.
Risk – How great the chance that someone will be harmed by the hazard.
A hazard is a threat. A future source of danger. It has the potential to cause harm to:
1. People- death, injury, disease and stress
2. Human activity- economic, educational
3. Property- property damage, economic loss
4. Environment- loss fauna and flora, pollution, loss of amenities
Hazards can be categorized in different types:
1. Natural hazards - arise from natural processes in the environment.
a. hydro-meteorological and climatological hazards
b. geologic hazards
c. biological hazards - viruses
d. astronomical hazards – meteor impact.
2. Quasi-natural hazards- arise through the interaction of natural processes and human activities
a. pollution or desertification – soil degradation, climate change
b. smog and fog
3. Technological (or man-made) hazards- These arise directly because of human activities.
a. accidental release of chemicals,
b. toxic and pesticides to floral and fauna
A typology based on Hewitt and Burton (1971) would appear as follows:
Hazards Signs and Symbols
- has corresponding meaning which help people to be extra cautious, aware and observant in
surroundings.
- Each picture is designed to become recognizable to anyone as a signal word like “danger” or
“warning”.
- to warn, to instruct. To make the environment safe, to help avoid danger
- color, shapes, icons which are easy to recognize.
- Visual reminders
1. Flame 4. Skull And Crossbones
• Flammable • Fatal or toxic
• Self-heating • Acute toxicity
• Emits Flammable Gas 5. Corrosive
• Pyrophoric
• Indicates hazardous products
2. Health Hazard
• Reproductive toxicity • can damage or destroy metal
• Respiratory sensitizer • Cause irreversible damage to
• Target organ toxicity the skin (burns, blisters).
• Aspiration toxicity 6. Gas Under Pressure
3. EXPLODING BOMB • Chemical under pressure
• Explosives
• Self-reactives
• Organic Peroxides
ENVIRONMENT
➢ Air toxicity
➢ Aquatic toxicity
➢ Hazardous to the ozone layer
Module 10: Hazard: Its Impact, Identification and Risk Assessment
IMPACT OF HAZARD
1. Physical impact
-Physical injuries (bone fracture, wounds, bruises).
-Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure like transportation system, roads, bridges, power lines and
communication lines.
-Wide spread destruction of housing and buildings.
2. Psychological impact
-Grief and psychological illness.
-Marital conflict.
-Depression due to loss of loved ones and properties.
-Chronic anxiety.
3. Socio- cultural impact
-Displacement of population.
-Loss of cultural identity.
-Forced of adoption of new sets of culture.
-Ethnic conflicts.
4. Economic impact 6. Biological impact
-Loss of job due to displacement. -Epidemic to people, flora and fauna.
-Loss of harvest and livestock. -Chronic and permanent illness caused
-Loss of farms, fish cages and other source of food. by biological agents.
-Loss of money and other valuables. -Proliferation of different viral diseases.
5. Environmental impact
-Loss of forest due to forest fires.
-Loss of fresh water due to salination.
-Disturbance of biodiversity.
-Loss of natural rivers.
HAZARD ANALYSIS- it is the identification, study, and monitoring of any hazard to determine its
potential, origin, characteristics, and behaviour (UNISDR 2007). The purpose of this analysis is to:
(larger population/barangay/community)
a. Provide description of the hazards
b. Help in setting priorities corresponding to the need for protection
c. Assist in designing the appropriate DRRM system, plan, programs and services
Tools in doing a hazard analysis:
1. Community hazard and disaster history construction- In this method. The existing hazards and
the disasters that the community experienced are identified.
2. b. Hazard and vulnerability mapping - Areas in the community that are vulnerable to HAZARD
ANALYSIS- it is the identification, study, and monitoring of any hazard to specific hazard are
identified then located in the map.
Green- not vulnerable
Yellow- mildly vulnerable
Orange- moderately vulnerable
Red- highly vulnerable
3. Factor Analysis - This tool describes the characteristics of the hazard in terms of the following:
a) Frequency – gaano kadalas
b) Duration – gaano kataga
c) Speed of Onset - bilis
d) Intensity – gaano kalakas
e) Probability – chance of risk
f) Forewarning – to be aware
g) Manageability – if kaya or not
• Hazard identification is the process of determining all physical and nonphysical agents in the
workplace or specific environment.
1. Identify the hazards. Use the following methods:
a. Observation - use your senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch - combined with knowledge and
experience.
b. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) - obtain them from manufacturers and suppliers. It gives
information on possible harm from hazardous substances and precautions that need to be taken.
(list of possible hazards in a workplace).
C. Hazard and risk surveys - interview other people about their safety concerns as far as the workplace
is concerned. Utmost consideration should be given to children or visitors who could be at risk.
D. Discussion groups - are useful for identifying hazards and recommending solutions.
E. Safety audits – a committee must be assigned to periodically check safety in the area.
2. Risk assessment is a way to determine which hazards and risks should prioritize by taking into
consideration the probability and severity of impact. (high risk, high impact)
- Once a hazard has been identified, the likelihood and possible severity of injury or harm will need to be
assessed before determining how best to minimize the risk. High-risk hazards need to be addressed more
urgently than low- risk ones.
3. Make the changes. Once risks are assessed, the next step is to make decision for some necessary
changes. These changes include removing the hazard and replacing it with something less hazardous,
engineering modifications like installation of exhausts, safety barriers and safety exits, modification of
procedures, etc. Combination of the risk control measures mentioned above to effectively reduce
exposure to hazards can also be done.
Checking the changes made. To make sure risk has been minimized, and a further hazard has not been
created, the new safety measures may need to be carefully tested before work begins again. Risk
assessment doesn’t end with making changes. It is essential that these changes made are monitored and
checked. It must be monitored if the changes done are being followed consistently and if these changes
contribute to the improvement of safety management in the workplace. This last step must be done
periodically to accurately assess the effectiveness of the entire process. (has to be checked regularly).