HAZARDS

NATURAL HAZARDS

"Hazard always arises from the interplay of

social and biological and physical systems;
disasters are generated as much or more by
human actions as by physical events."
(Geographer Gilbert F. White, the “father of
floodplain management”)
A natural hazard is an extreme event that
occurs naturally and causes harm to humans
– or to other things that we care about,
though usually the focus is on humans (which,
we might note, is anthropocentric).
 NATURAL HAZARDS

Natural hazards are naturally occurring

physical phenomena caused either by rapid or
slow onset events which can be geophysical
(earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and
volcanic activity), hydrological (avalanches
and floods), climatological (extreme
temperatures, drought and wildfires),
meteorological (cyclones and storms/wave
surges) or biological (disease epidemics and
insect/animal plagues).
 HYDRO METEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

Hydro meteorological hazards include tropical

cyclones (also known as typhoons and
hurricanes), thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornados,
blizzards, heavy snowfall, avalanches, coastal
storm surges, floods including flash floods,
drought, heat waves and cold spells. Hydro
meteorological conditions also can be a factor in
other hazards such as landslides, wild land fires,
locust plagues, epidemics, and in the transport
and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic
eruption material.
 BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

 Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to

biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living
organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical
waste or samples of a microorganism, viruses, or toxins (from
a biological source) that can affect human health.
 SAFETY LEVELS

Biohazard Level 1: Agents that pose minimal threat to

humans and the environment. Examples include E. coli,
Bacillus subtilis, and Naegleria gruberi.
Biohazard Level 2: Agents that can cause severe illness
in humans and are transmitted through direct contact
with infected material. Examples include HIV, hepatitis B,
and salmonella.
Biohazard Level 3: Pathogens that can become airborne
and cause serious diseases. Examples include
tuberculosis and Coxiella burnetii.
Biohazard Level 4: Pathogens that pose a high risk of
life-threatening disease for which there are no
treatments. Examples include the Ebola virus and Lassa
 EXAMPLES
Human blood and blood products. This includes items
that have been contaminated with blood and other body
fluids or tissues that contain visible blood.
Animal waste. Animal carcasses and body parts, or any
bedding material used by animals that are known to be
infected with pathogenic organisms.
Human body fluids. Semen, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural
fluid, vaginal secretions, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid,
saliva, and peritoneal fluid.
Microbiological wastes. Common in laboratory settings,
examples of microbiological wastes include specimen
cultures, disposable culture dishes, discarded viruses,
and devices used to transfer or mix cultures.
 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS

Geologic Hazards are naturally occurring (or

man-made) geologic conditions capable of
causing damage or loss of property and/or
life.
Geologic hazards phenomena can occur
suddenly, or slowly.
 SUDDEN PHENOMENA

Earthquakes – Liquefaction (soils), Tsunamis

Volcanic Eruptions – Lava Flows, Ash Fall,
Lahars
Landslides – Rock Falls or Slides, Debris
Flows, Mud Flows
Floods – Inundation, Erosion
Snow Avalanches
Sand Blasting (Windblown)
 GRADUAL OR SLOW DEVELOPING

Ground Settlement
Ground Subsidence or Collapse
Sinkholes
Erosion (stream or shoreline)
 TECHNOLOGICAL/MAN-MADE HAZARDS

Technological or man-made hazards (complex

emergencies/conflicts, famine, displaced
populations, industrial accidents and
transport accidents) are events that are
caused by humans and occur in or close to
human settlements. This can include
environmental degradation, pollution and
accidents.
 TECHNOLOGICAL/MAN-MADE HAZARDS

Technological or 'man-made' hazards are an

inevitable potentiality of technological
innovation, and can occur after the failure of
an existing technology. These tend to be less
understood than natural hazards due to the
scope of technological expansion.