ELEMENTS OF DISASTER

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, a student should be able to:

1. elucidate hazard;
2. interpret different hazard maps
3. explain the various impacts of hazard on different elements exposed; and
4. Enumerate precautionary measures before, during and after a catastrophic event.

LEARNING CONTENT
A hazard is a process, phenomenon, or human action that can cause death, injury, or other
adverse health consequences, damage to property, social and economic disruption, or
environmental degradation. Natural, anthropogenic, or sociocultural hazards could all occur.
(UNDRR, 2021).

Natural (or physical) phenomena are only classified as hazards if they can cause actual harm,
property damage, or social and economic disruption. Natural risks are essentially determined by
biological processes such as the movement of tectonic plates, the effect of weather systems, and
the presence of streams and slopes (e.g., that might generate landslides). Yet, factors such as
urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change can all impact the location,
occurrence (frequency), and severity of natural disasters. They are referred to as risk drivers.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAZARD

a. Safety hazards are the most frequent and will be present in most workplaces at a particular time.
These include unsafe conditions that can result in harm, injury, and death.
Safety Hazards include:
 Spills on the floor, as well as tripping hazards such as blocked passageways or wires running
across the floor
 Working at heights such as ladders, scaffolds, rooftops, or any elevated workplace
 3 Unguarded equipment and moving machinery components; guards that have been removed or
moving parts that a worker may come into contact with
 4 Electrical risks such as frayed wires, missing ground connections, and incorrect wiring
 Restricted areas
  Machinery dangers (lockout/tag-out, boiler safety, forklifts, etc.)

b. Biological hazards (biohazards) are defined as "microorganisms and other plant or animal
carriers that might induce unfavorable health consequences in employees" (EU-OSHA, 2019, p.
16). The diversity and variety of their genomes, the illnesses they may cause, and the fact that they
can be found in every known habitat impact a broad spectrum of hosts ranging from plants to
animals to people.

Source; https://safetyculture.com/topics/workplace-hazards/biological-hazard-examples
Individuals may be
exposed to the following:
 Fungi/mold
 Bacteria and viruses
 Plants
 Insect bites Source: https://news.northeastern.edu/2021/12/13/virus-evolution

 Animal and bird droppings

Workplaces and occupations where people may come into exposure to biological hazards
 In the medical field, medical personnel, janitorial staff, and laboratory technicians.
 Healthcare services ;
 Employees that work in environmental sanitation services such as liquid disposal and collection of
waste
 Agriculture, fisheries, veterinary services, and industrial businesses that employ plants- or
animal-based raw materials, such as paper and paper products, textiles, leather, furs, and
associated items;

c. Geological or Geophysical Hazards

Internal earth processes are the source of geological or geophysical hazards. Examples include
earthquakes, volcanic activity and emissions, and associated geophysical events such as mass
movements, landslides, rockslides, surface collapses, and debris or mud flows. Hydrometeorological
conditions heavily influence several of these processes. Tsunamis are difficult to classify because, while
underwater earthquakes and other geological events cause them, they ultimately become an oceanic
process that manifests as a coastal water-related hazard.

Source: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.volcanerupt/volcanic-eruptions-and-hazards/

d. Hydrometeorological hazards
Any atmospheric, hydrological, or oceanographic process may cause loss of life, injury or health impacts,
property damage to livelihood and social services, social and economic disruption, and environmental
damage. Surges Hydrometeorological conditions may also play a role in other dangers such as landslides,
wildfires, locust plagues, epidemics, and the transport and distribution of poisonous compounds and
volcanic eruption debris is An example of a hydrometeorological hazard. (UNDRR, 2019).

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ar-TsrrV-0

e. Chemical Hazards
 Chemical compounds can take many different aspects. They can be solids, liquids, dust, vapors, gases,
fibers, mists, or fumes. The form of a chemical has a lot to do with how it enters your body and how much
harm it might inflict. A chemical can also take on new kinds. Liquid solvents, for example, can evaporate
and emit fumes that you can inhale. Sometimes chemicals are in forms that cannot be seen or touched.
A chemical hazard is any substance, regardless of its form, that has the potential to threaten people's
health or harm the environment. It is also a serious risk involved with certain chemicals, such as skin burns,
long-term severe health effects, environmental harm, fires, or explosions (SafetyCulture, 2023).

Two types of Chemical Hazards

PHYSICAL HAZARD- are more likely to cause immediate injury and require a rapid release of energy. Fire,
explosions, compressed gases, high vacuum, and electrical risks are examples of physical hazards.
Flammable Liquids and Combustible Liquids Examples: Ethanol, Acetone
 Any liquid with a flashpoint less than 100 degrees. Except for any
combination containing components with flashpoints of 100 deg. F˚
(37.8) or higher, the sum of which accounts for 99 percent or more of the
total volume of the mixture

Compressed Gases Examples:

 Compressed gases contained in cylinders come into three categories: Liquefied gas (e.g., Chlorine,
 • Liquefied: gases that can form liquids at average temperatures when propane, anhydrous ammonia)
placed under pressure inside cylinders.
Non-liquefied gas (e.g., oxygen,
 • Non-liquefied gas: does not turn liquid when compressed at average nitrogen, helium, argon)
temperatures or pressures.
Dissolved gas (e.g., acetylene)
 • Dissolved gases: Nonliquefied compressed gases dissolved in a
solvent.

Explosives Examples: Nitroglycerin, dry

picric acid
 • A chemical that, when exposed to a sharp shock, pressure, or high
temperature, induces an almost immediate release of pressure, gas, and
heat.
Organic Peroxides Example: Benzoyl peroxide
 An organic peroxide is an organic molecule with two oxygen atoms
linked (-O-O-). Organic peroxides can cause severe fires and
explosions.
 Reactives Examples: Alkali metals, some
hydrides, phosphorus, sodium
 A chemical that, when exposed to shocks, pressure, or temperature, will
aggressively polymerize, break down, condense, or become self-reactive
in its pure state or as generated or transported.
Oxidizers Examples: Potassium
permanganate, sodium nitrate,
 A chemical that starts or promotes combustion in other materials,
nitrites, chlorates
generating fire either directly or indirectly by the emission of oxygen or
other gases.

Pyrophoric Examples: Finely divided metal

powders, alkyl lithiums, white
 When exposed to oxygen, pyrophoric materials spontaneously burn.
phosphorus

HEALTH HAZARD- an action performed by people with a frequency or intensity that increases the risk of disease or
injury, regardless of whether the person is aware of a connection between the activity and the risk of illness or injury
Genomic and Precision Medicine, 2018).

Examples: Benzene, Carbon

Carcinogens tetrachloride

A substance is classified as a carcinogen if:

• It has been assessed as a carcinogen or probable carcinogen
by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); or
• It is identified as a carcinogen or probable carcinogen in the
National Toxicology Program's (NTP) Annual Report on
Carcinogens (latest edition); or
OSHA regulates it as a carcinogen.

Reproductive Toxins Examples: Ethylene oxide, lead

 Chemicals that influence reproduction include chromosomal damage
(mutations) and effects on fetuses (teratogenesis).
 Irritants Examples: Sodium hydroxide,
Potassium hydroxide,
 A non-corrosive substance that, by chemical action at the point of
Hydrochloric acid
contact, creates a reversible inflammatory impact on liver tissue.

Corrosives Example: Formaldehyde (CH2O),

latex, toluene
 A substance that, by chemical action at the contact site, produces
apparent damage or permanent changes in living tissue. Metal may
also be damaged or destroyed by corrosives.
Sensitizers Examples: carbon tetrachloride
arsenic, acetylene tetrachloride,
 A substance that causes a significant proportion of those exposed to it
Ethylene bromide
to have an allergic response in normal tissue following repeated
exposure.
Hepatotoxins Example: Naproxen Sodium,
(Ibuprofen), sulphonamides,
 Hepatotoxin is a chemical that damages the liver,These toxins have the
lithium salts, Uranium
potential to cause damage to the liver cells and interfere with the
organ's normal functions.

What Health Effects Can Chemicals Cause?

A hazardous chemical's effects on your body might be either ACUTE or CHRONIC

Acute (short-term) effects appear immediately or shortly after chemical

exposure. These might be mild, such as nose or throat discomfort, or serious,
such as eye damage or passing out from chemical fumes. All of these effects
have one thing in common: they occur immediately.

Chronic (long-term) effects might take years to appear. They are typically the
result of long-term exposure to a hazardous chemical. These effects are
frequently lengthy.

Certain substances have both acute and long-term impacts. For example,
inhaling solvent fumes may cause dizziness immediately away (an acute effect).
But still, inhaling the same fumes continuously for many years may eventually
induce liver damage (a chronic effect).
Source https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/lab-
technician-with-gloves-pours-chemical-into-test-tube-
scientific-research-chemical_13223804.htm

HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT

Hazard Assessment "Hazard is an event or occurrence that has the potential for causing injury to life or damage to
property or the environment. The magnitude of the phenomenon, the probability of its occurrence, and the extent and
severity of the impact can vary. In many cases, these effects can be anticipated and estimated." (Terry Jeggle and
Rob Stephenson, Concepts of Hazard and Vulnerability Analysis)
WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT?
UNDP defines risk as the probability of harmful consequences — casualties, damaged property, lost livelihoods,
disrupted economic activity, and environmental damage — resulting from interactions between natural or human-
induced hazards and vulnerable conditions. Risk assessment establishes the type and scope of such risk by
examining hazards and assessing present vulnerability conditions that can affect exposed people, property, services,
livelihoods, and the environment on which they depend. A thorough risk assessment not only assesses the quantity
and likelihood of prospective losses but also gives a thorough knowledge of the causes and consequences of such
damages. As a result, risk assessment is an essential component of decision-making and policy-making processes,
requiring close coordination across many segments of society (Recruitmnetdbranlu, 20233)

An earthquake is a violent ground shaking produced by the breaking and shifting of rock under the earth's
surface., followed by a succession of vibrations. Earthquakes may bring down buildings, bridges, telephone
and electricity lines, flames, explosions, and landslides.
TOOLS FOR CONDUCTING DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENTS AT BOTH NATIONAL AND LOCAL
LEVELS
UNDP differentiates between two levels of risk assessments: national and local risk assessments. A national risk
assessment is a strategic risk assessment that supports the design of national DRR strategies, policies and
regulations, DRM programming, and budget allocation. A local risk assessment is an operational risk assessment for
DRR action planning, contingency planning, pre-disaster recovery planning, and proper urban planning. UNDP
provides specific methodologies and tools to conduct a multi-hazard risk assessment at national and sub-national
levels; guidance on multi-hazard urban risk assessment in major cities and impact assessment of climate change at
the national level; support to its partners on assessing the capacities of existing departments, identifying gaps,
proposing and assisting in the implementation of measures to overcome such gaps; and assisting in the formation of
community-based disaster management committees to perform risk assessments in pilot areas.

Steps in Risk Assessment

The following steps comprise Risk Assessment (RA):
1. Risk Assessment:
The researcher highlights various types of dangers in the area in the past, or that may occur in the future in this
section. Because different methods and approaches are utilized to analyze and evaluate each danger, this is
generally the initial step in determining the rest of the processes. Earthquakes, for example, need different equipment
and expertise than landslides or floods. The next stage determines the frequency, seasonality, size, intensity, extent,
and reasons for hazard occurrence.
2. Vulnerability Analysis:
This stage determines the elements at risk, the degree of Vulnerability, and the reasons for the elements at risk. All
components (people, buildings, resources, etc.) vulnerable to danger are recognized and inventoried. The degree of
their susceptibility is then assessed, and the causes of their Vulnerability are identified.
Critical facility analysis is also performed by determining the essential facilities at risk (e.g., schools, hospitals,
mosques, civic centers, etc.), the causes of their vulnerabilities, and analyzing historical records of hazard
occurrence in the identified facilities.

3. Capacity Assessment:
The term "capacity assessment" refers to identifying the strengths and resources available to minimize the degree of
risk or the consequences of a disaster. The resources of a community are analyzed in this stage by examining the
available strengths such as abilities, expertise, equipment, infrastructure, and so on. The availability of these
resources is then assessed to determine how quickly they can be deployed and made accessible for usage. Another
critical stage is determining how long these resources will persist and their operational integrity (ability to accomplish
activities without supervision).

4. People's Risk Perception:

The process of determining the perspectives of various groups in the community about the catastrophes, dangers,
and risks they experience.
VULNERABILITY IN DISASTER

Vulnerability is defined by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR Terminology,
2017) as "the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system, or asset that make it vulnerable to
the damaging effects of a hazard." (Ahmad, 2022) The above definition represents a transition in
vulnerability knowledge over the previous few decades, from a narrow idea (for example, confined to
physical resistance of engineering structures) to a more detailed and systemic approach. At the same time,
it makes no reference to the political/institutional situation. It does not consider power relations or
community heterogeneity, which are aspects considered essential and included in definitions proposed by
other authors (Cardona et al., 2012; Alexander, 2013; Birkmann et al., 2013; Wisner, 2016).
 Different Types of Vulnerability
The table below identifies four types of Vulnerability: Human-social, Physical, Economic, and Environmental and their
associated direct and indirect losses. The table gives examples of the kinds of losses. The ones indicated in red are
those that are most frequently evaluated.

Human-social Physical Economic Cultural

Environmental

Direct  Fatalities  Structural damage or  Interruption of  Sedimentation

losses  Injuries collapse to buildings
 Loss of income  Non-structural
or employment damage and
 Homelessness damage to contents
 Structural damage
infrastructure
business due to  Pollution
damage to buildings  Endangered
and infrastructures species
 Loss of productive  Destruction of
workforce due to ecological zones
fatalities and relief  Destruction of
efforts cultural heritage
 Capital costs of
response and relief.

Indirect  Diseases  Progressive  Economic losses due  Loss of biological

losses  Permanent deterioration of to short-term diversity
disability damaged buildings disruption of activities  Loss of cultural
 Psychological and infrastructures  Long-term economic diversity
impact which are not losses
 Loss of social repaired  Insurance losses and
cohesion due to the weakening of the
disruption of insurance market
community  Fewer investments
 Political unrest  The capital cost of
repair
 Reduction in tourism

Table 1: an overview of types of losses

According to the different types of losses, Vulnerability can be defined as physical, economic, social, and environmental.

1. Physical Vulnerability: the potential for physical effect on the physical environment, also known as elements-at-
risk (EaR). The degree of loss to a particular EaR or collection of EaR caused by a natural catastrophe of a given
size indicated on a scale ranging from 0 (no damage) to 1 (complete devastation)."

2. Economic Vulnerability: the possible consequences of risks on economic assets and processes (i.e., business
disruption, Secondary outcomes include increasing poverty and job loss.

3. Social Vulnerability: the possible effects of events on groups such as the poor, single-parent households,
pregnant or lactating women, people with disabilities, children, and adults; consider public awareness of
risk, the ability of groups to cope with disasters on their own and the status of institutional structures
designed to assist them.

4. Environmental Vulnerability: the possible environmental repercussions of events (flora, fauna,

ecosystems, biodiversity).

LEARNING ACTIVITY
Answer the following questions concisely
1) What is the difference between hazard and risk?
2) What are the health effects associated with exposure to biological hazards?
3) What are the three ways that hazardous chemicals can enter the body?
4) What is the difference between a physical and a health hazard? Explain
5) What is risk management? What factors of risk are addressed by managing risk?

ASSESSMENT TEST

1. Choose an industry or workplace (e.g., manufacturing, hairdressing salon, school, hospital, etc.)
a) b. Make a list of hazards that may be present in Schools and workplaces (e.g., slippery floors from
spilled water, uneven floors from changing floor level, etc.)
b) Enumerate and elucidate 3 or 4 hazards that occur in that workplace
c) List down ways to control the hazards

2. CASE STUDY- HAZARD-BASED RISK

A small cleaning company specialises in providing contract cleaning services for medical
providers. A recent OH&S audit conducted internally by this company identified the following
hazards:

 manual handling tasks including heavy lifting and repetitive, forceful or awkward
movements

 the work environment, including wet floors and cluttered workspaces

 unsafe work practices, including faulty electrical equipment

 prevalence of sharp materials resulting in exposure to dangerous blood-borne viruses  the

use of hazardous chemicals.

Draft a basic risk treatment plan that indicates how you would deal with each of these risks
REFERENCES

 United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) 2017. UNDRR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction.
(2017), Hazard, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
https://www.preventionweb.net/understanding-disaster-risk/component-risk/hazard\
 https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard/hazard_risk.html
 MJ Operations .(2022). Environmental and Health Safety University of Missouri.
https://ehs.missouri.edu/labsafety/chemical
 Addressing Biohazard Safety Workplacehttps://www.creativesafetysupply.com/articles/addressing-
biohazard-safety-in-the-workplace/
 https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy11_sh-22240-11_ChemicalHazards.pdf
 https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy10_sh-20854-10_hazard_id_facilitatorguide.pdf
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/health-hazard\
 What is Disaster Management? – Definition, Types, And Importance - Recruitment (recruitmentdbranlu.in)
 Community Risk Assessment (CRA) (sweducarebd.com)
 Disaster Risk Assessment Steps, Method, and Process - Natural DRA Methodology | Monitoring and
Evaluation Studies (mnestudies.com)
 https://www.cdema.org/virtuallibrary/index.php/charim-hbook/methodology/5-risk-assessment/5-3-
vulnerability#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20different%20types,social%20vulnerability%20and
%20environmental%20vulnerability.