HAZARD

• (UNISDR, 2004) A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon, or human

activity that may cause loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic
disruption, or environmental degradation.

CLASSIFICATION
1. NATURAL HAZARDS - Natural phenomena that pose threats or cause negative
impacts to people and property such as typhoon, storm surge, flood/flash flood,
earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, lahar flows, drought, red tide, pestilence, wild
fire.
2. HUMAN-MADE/ANTHROPOGENIC HAZARDS - Hazards due to human
behavior and activities. Includes hazards due to technology such as transport accidents,
industrial explosion or fires (technological hazards); civil conflict, crime, terrorist
threat, wars (Sociological hazards); displacement due to development projects,
environmental degradation, industrial technological hazards like leakage of toxic
wastes, oil spill, fish kills, nuclear, gaseous, chemical contamination, famine, drought,
fires, and flood.
3. SOCIO-NATURAL HAZARDS/QUASI NATURAL HAZARDS - A combination
of both natural and man-made hazard. Flooding and drought can fall under this category
if these are due to deforestation.

Secondary Hazards - are hazards that follow as a result of other hazard events. Hazards
secondary to an earthquake may be listed as follows to illustrate the concept.

Chronic Hazards - A group of hazards that do not stem from one event but arise from
continuous conditions (e.g., famine, resource degradation, pollution, and large-scale toxic
contamination), which accumulate over time.

TYPES
• BIOLOGICAL/BIOHAZARDS - originate in biological processes of living
organisms, and refer to agents that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, the
security of property, or the health of the environment. bacteria, viruses, insects,
parasites, plants, birds, animals, and humans, food, fungi and foreign toxins. E.Coli
and Salmonella are other examples as well.
• CHEMICAL - A chemical can be considered a hazard if by virtue of its intrinsic
properties it can cause harm or danger to humans, property, or the environment. It
depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical. ex Pesticides,
Nicotine, Alcohol
• ERGONOMIC - are physical conditions that may pose risk of injury to the
musculoskeletal system, such as the muscles or ligaments of the lower back, tendons
or nerves of the hands/wrists, or bones surrounding the knees. Ergonomic hazards
include things such as awkward or extreme postures, whole-body or hand/arm
vibration, poorly designed tools, equipment, or workstations, repetitive motion, and
poor lighting. Ergonomic hazards occur in both occupational and non-occupational
settings such as in workshops, building sites, offices, home, school, or public spaces
and facilities. repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.,
• PHYSICAL - is a naturally occurring process that has the potential to create loss or
damage. Physical hazards include earthquakes, floods, fires, and tornadoes. Physical
hazards often have both human and natural elements. Flood problems can be affected
by the natural elements of climate fluctuations and storm frequency, and by land
 drainage and building in a flood plain, human elements.[13] Another physical hazard,
X-rays, naturally occur from solar radiation, but have also been utilized by humans for
medical purposes; however, overexposure can lead to cancer, skin burns, and tissue
damage.[8]radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum),
noise, etc.,
• PSYCHOSOCIAL - Psychological or psychosocial hazards are hazards that affect the
psychological well-being of people, including their ability to participate in a work
environment among other people. Psychosocial hazards are related to the way work is
designed, organized and managed, as well as the economic and social contexts of work
and are associated with psychiatric, psychological and/or physical injury or illness.
Linked to psychosocial risks are issues such as occupational stress and workplace
violence which are recognized internationally as major challenges to occupational
health and safety. stress and violence are examples of this type.
• SAFETY - Hazards affecting the safety of individuals, usually having an injury or
immediate fatality as the consequence of an incident. Examples are slipping/tripping,
falling from buildings, crossing the street, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment
malfunctions or breakdowns.
• MECHANICAL HAZARDS - any hazard involving a machine or industrial process.
Motor vehicles, aircraft, and air bags pose mechanical hazards

HAZARD ANALYSIS - identification, study, and monitoring of any hazard to determine its
potential, origin, characteristics, and behavior. (UNISDR)
- to provide descriptions of hazard.
- help in setting priorities corresponding to the need for protection; and
- assist in the DRRM system, plan, programs, and services.

TOOLS IN DOING HAZARD ANALYSIS:

1. Community hazards and disaster history construction - in this method, the existing
hazards and the disasters that the community experienced are identified.
2. Hazard and Vulnerability mapping - areas in the community that are vulnerable to a
specific hazard are identified and then located in the map.
3.Factor Analysis - describes the characteristic of the hazard in terms of
• Frequency - How often does the hazard occur
• Duration - How long does it occur
• Speed of Onset (Slow/Rapid Onset) - How fast does it occur from time of detection
• Manageability - How manageable are the effects of the hazard.
• Intensity/Magnitude - What is the strength and magnitude.
• Probability - What is the chance that it will occur.
• Forewarning - Is there adequate time to prepare upon detection. Are there signals
before the occurrence.

VULNERABILITY
• (ASIAN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CENTER, 2006) a set of prevailing or
consequential conditions, which adversely affect the community’s ability to prevent,
mitigate, prepare for and respond to hazardous events.
• the concept of vulnerability comes from many aspects, specifically those that arise
from various social, economic, physical, and environmental factors which affects a
 household or community’s ability to absorb losses after a disaster and to recover from
damage.
• example may include poor design and construction of buildings, inadequate protection
of assets and lack of public awareness, limited official recognition of risks and
preparedness measures and disregard for wise environmental management.
• Is present in the community even before a disaster happens, it contributes to its
severity, impedes disaster response, and may continue to exist long after a disaster has
struck.

CLASSIFICATION
• MOST VULNERABLE SECTORS
• they are the community members whose capacities are low and not sufficient to
withstand and overcome the damaging adverse effects of disaster.
• they are composed of farmers, the urban poor, laborers, indigenous people, persons
with disabilities (PWDs), women, and children.
• they are the so-called “abused sector” and at the lowest level of the society.

• LESS VULNERABLE SECTORS

• They are the community members whose capacities start from their own ability to
acquire material resources, skills and trainings, and position in society.
• Their capacities are higher than those in the most vulnerable sector to overcome the
adverse effects of disasters.
• They are composed of professionals, small entrepreneurs, and others similar to those
who belong to the higher levels of society.
• Their role in disaster management activities is to extend assistance and support to
vulnerable sectors.

• NOT VULNERABLE SECTORS

• They are sectors in the society having high position in the community.
• Most of the time, they are the target of the most vulnerable and less vulnerable sectors
in their advocacy work relating disaster issue to the structure and policies
implemented by the government that are the root causes of vulnerability of the
community.

CATEGORIES OF VULNERABILITY

1. PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY
- refers to the “human-made environment” of buildings and infrastructures, and the “natural
environment” of agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE MAGNITUDE OF PHYSICAL

VULNERABILITY
• Geographic pattern of the severity of hazards
• exposure of the elements of hazards
• Geological and environmental characteristics of the community
• effects of local conditions.

2. SOCIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL VULNERABILITY
- refers to the susceptibility of the population, the social institution or organizations that
ensure the sustenance of families, communities, and society.
Factors Affecting Social Vulnerability
• Special Categories of vulnerable groups of people: ex. women and children, people
with disability, the elderly, chronically ill, indigenous people, Divisions and conflicts:
ethnic class, caste (LGBT, public or private), religion, ideology, political groups,
language groups, and structures of mediating conflicts.
• Educational attainment
• Knowledge and awareness
• Location and type of housing
• Population density
• Perception of risk
• Values and traditions
• Absence of local institution

3. ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY
- pertains to the assets and resources of the community that are susceptible to disasters,
including the production, distribution, and utilization of goods and services that ensure the
well-being of the people.
Factors affecting economic vulnerability:
• sources of livelihood
• community resources
• household income and savings
• markets and access to goods and services

4. ATTITUDINAL/MOTIVATIONAL VULNERABILITY
- people who have low confidence in their ability to affect change or who have “lost heart”
and feel defeated by events they cannot control, are harder hit by disaster than those who
have a sense of their ability to bring the changes they desire
• Attitude toward change
• Sense of ability to affect their world, environment, get things done
• Initiative
• Faith, determination, fighting spirit.
• Religious beliefs, ideology
• Fatalism, hopelessness, despondency, discouragement
• Dependent/independent (self-reliant)
• Consciousness, awareness
• Cohesiveness, unity, solidarity, cooperation
• Orientation toward past, present, and future.

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT - identify the elements at risk and the reasons why
these are at risk.
Things to consider during vulnerability assessment:
1. Extent:
The extent of damage is usually expressed in terms of the quantity of seeds planted on the
affected land, the number of months in terms of food supply lost, the number of houses
damaged, etc.
The best way to indicate this is the “hazard map” which visualizes the exact location and
coverage of hazard.
1. Elements at risk and why:
Elements of the society are considered at risk when they are exposed to hazards and there is a
probability that they will be badly affected by the impact of those hazard when they happen.
• PHYSICAL - includes facilities and services (houses, access roads, bridges, schools,
hospitals, etc.) and community structures.
• SOCIAL - includes people (their lives and health) and household.
• ECONOMIC - includes livelihood and economic activities (jobs, equipment, crops,
livestock, etc.)
• D.ENVIRONMENTAL - includes natural environment
2. People at risk:
The groups of people who are most at risk for a particular hazard, and how they are affected,
are explicitly identified.
People most prone to flooding are those living in low-lying areas, near the river or light
houses.
Children, pregnant women, the disabled, and old people are most vulnerable because they
would need assistance during evacuation; might be more vulnerable to diseases and have
special needs.
3. Location of people at risk:
This means that the groups identified as most vulnerable are located in the hazard map.

CAPACITY
• (UNISDR, 2009) refers to all the strengths, attributes, and resources available within a
community, organization, or society that can be used to achieve an agreed goal.
CAPACITY ASSESSMENT - the process whereby people identify resources they rely on in
times of crisis to reduce the damaging effects of hazards and to secure the sustainability of
their livelihood.
* during disasters, the community’s vulnerabilities are more pronounced than their capacities.
Some examples of Capacity:
• Ownership of land and safe location and construction of home.
• Adequate income
• Savings
• Adequate food sources
• Local knowledge
• Family and community support in times of crises
• Responsive Local Government
• Enabling Legislation
• Strong community organizations

COPING CAPACITY - (UNISDR, 2009) Is the ability of people, organizations, and

systems, using available skills and resources, to face and manage adverse conditions,
emergencies or disasters (UNISDR 2009).
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT - (United Nations Development Program, UNDP 2009) the
process through which individuals, organizations, and societies obtain, strengthen, and
maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time.
furthermore, they identified a number of assumptions in developing sustainable DRR
capacities which consist of the following;
• Essential to the success of any DRR initiative is also ensuring locally generated,
owned and sustained capacity.
• Rather than being the concern of any single agency, professional discipline, or
stakeholder group, the development of DRR capacity is the concern of an entire
society.
• The development of technical capacities associated with professional disciplines or
functions - such as environmental management or land-use management - needs to be
combined with other types of capacity development that include the promotion of
leadership and other managerial capacities and performance-enhancing measures.