HAZARD

HAZARD: ITS IMPACT,
IDENTIFICATION AND RISK

ASSESSMENT
Disaster Readiness and
Risk Reduction - 12
• Hazard is defined is simply a
condition or a set of circumstances
that present a potential for harm.
• Risk refers to the potential for

loss, damage or destruction a
hazard can cause.
• Vulnerability refers to the

characteristics of a community or
system that make it susceptible to
the possible damaging effects of a
hazard.
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One way to classify hazard impacts is by
means of general impact themes namely:
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• Danger to life which includes physical and psychological harm and

diseases.
• Denial of access like energy, water, communication and transport
access.
• Damage to the physical environment like buildings and land
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6 TYPES OF
HAZARD
IMPACTS
1. Physical impact
• Physical injuries (bone fracture, wounds,
bruises)
• Destruction and loss of vital infrastructures
like transportation system, roads, bridges,
power lines and communication lines.
• Wide spread destruction of housing and
buildings
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2. Psychological impact
• Grief and psychological illness

• Marital conflict
• Depression due to loss of loved ones and
properties
• Chronic anxiety
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3. Socio-cultural impact
• Displacement of population
• Loss of cultural identity
• Forced of adoption of new sets of culture
• Ethnic conflicts
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4. Economic impact
• Loss of job due to displacement

• Loss of harvest and livestock
• Loss of farms, fish cages and other source
of food
• Loss of money and other valuables
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5. Environmental impact
• Loss of forest due to forest fires

• Loss of fresh water due to salination
• Disturbance of biodiversity
• Loss of natural rivers
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6. Biological impact
• Epidemic to people, flora and fauna

• Chronic and permanent illness caused by
biological agents
• Proliferation of different viral diseases
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Identification of Hazards and Risk Assessment
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Hazard identification is the process of determining all physical and
nonphysical agents in the workplace or specific environment. Most
occupational health and safety problems are caused by hazards which are
not eliminated or managed. In order to prevent untoward incidents in a
workplace or community, elimination or controlling of hazards is crucial. In
some workplaces where hazards cannot be eliminated, they must be
monitored and properly managed at the least. 11
Identification of Hazards and Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a way to determine which hazards and risks should prioritized
by taking into consideration the probability and severity of impact.
Below are the steps in hazard identification and risk assessment.
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 manufactures and suppliers. It gives
information on possible harm from hazardous substances and precautions that need to be taken.
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 would be at
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risk.
d. Discussion groups – are useful for identifying hazards and recommending
solutions.
e. Safety adults – a committee must be assigned to periodically check safety in
the area.
2. Assess the Risk. 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 modification
like installation of exhausts, safety barriers and safety exits, modification of
procedures, etc.
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HAZARD

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HAZARD: ITS IMPACT,

IDENTIFICATION AND RISK

• Risk refers to the potential for

• Vulnerability refers to the

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• Danger to life which includes physical and psychological harm and

• Grief and psychological illness

• Loss of job due to displacement

• Loss of forest due to forest fires

• Epidemic to people, flora and fauna

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