NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Laboratory High School

SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025
degradation or physical or chemical
Lesson 3: Basic Concept of Hazards pollution in the air, water and soil.
However, many of the processes and
INTRODUCTION phenomena that fall into this category
may be termed drivers of hazard and risk
By its location in the tropics, the rather than hazards in themselves, such
Philippines is found to be naturally as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of
vulnerable to environmental disasters. biodiversity, salinization and sea-level
This situation plus other human and rise.
developmental factors compound
communities' incapacity to cope with
such disasters.
The vulnerability of communities to
hazards refers to their susceptibility to
and capacity to cope with environmental
stresses.

DEFINITION OF HAZARD
Elements of the physical 3.Geological or Geophysical
environment harmful to man and hazards originate from internal earth
caused by forces extraneous to processes.
Examples are earthquakes, volcanic
him.
activity and emissions, and related
A source of potential harm or
geophysical processes such as mass
situation with a potential to cause movements, landslides, rockslides,
loss. surface collapses and debris or mud
A natural event that has the flows.
potential to cause harm or loss.
A phenomenon or situation which
has the potential to cause the
disruption or damage to people,
their services and their
environment.

Types of Hazard
4. Hydrometeorological hazards are
of atmospheric, hydrological or
1. Biological hazards are of organic oceanographic origin.
origin or conveyed by biological vectors, Examples are tropical cyclones (also
including pathogenic microorganisms, known as typhoons and hurricanes);
toxins and bioactive substances. floods, including flash floods; drought
and coastal storm surges.
Examples are bacteria, viruses or
parasites, as well as venomous wildlife
and insects, poisonous plants and
mosquitoes carrying disease-causing
agents.

5. Technological hazards originate from

technological or industrial conditions, dangerous
procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human
2. Environmental hazards may include activities. Examples include industrial pollution,
chemical, natural and biological hazards. nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures,
They can be created by environmental
 NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025
transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and - Displacement of population
chemical spills. - Loss of cultural identity
- forced adoption of new sets of culture
- Ethnic conflicts

IMPACTS OF VARIOUS HAZARDS ON

DIFFERENT EXPOSED ELEMENTS
The impacts of various hazards 4. Economic
vary in severity and vary in regard to - loss of job due to displacement
how long they last. In many ways, wealth - loss of harvest and livestock
and development assists in the way - loss of farms, fish cages and other
people recover from hazards. A more sources of living
economically developed country can - loss of money and other valuables like
prepare for and predict hazards more jewelries, furniture and appliances
effectively and they have more resources
to support a faster recovery. In many
developing countries people who
experienced hardship can often recover
more quickly from hazard.

1. Physical
-Death of People
-Destruction and loss of vital 5. Environmental
infrastructure like transport system, - loss of forest due to forest fires
roads, bridges, power, lines and - loss of fresh water due to salination
communication - disturbance of biodiversity
- Wide spread loss of housing - loss of natural rivers

2. Psychological
- Grief and psychological trauma
- Marital conflicts
- depression due to loss of loved ones
and properties 6. Biological
- Chronic anxiety among children - epidemic to people, flora and fauna
severely affected. - chronic and permanent illness due to
nuclear radiation
- mental disorder developed from
consumption of contaminated foods
- proliferation of different viral and
bacterial diseases

3. Socio-Cultural
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025
 NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025

Hazard and Its Types NATURAL HAZARD SIGNS AND

SYMBOLS
Hazards can be categorized in
different types:
1. Natural hazards - arise from natural
processes in the environment.
e.g. earthquakes, tsunami, landslides,
volcanic eruptions and floods
2. Quasi-natural hazards- arise
through the interaction of natural
processes and human activities
e.g. pollution or desertification, smog and
fog
3. Technological (or man-made)
hazards- These arise directly as a result
of human activities. QUASI-NATURAL SIGNS AND
e.g. accidental release of chemicals, SYMBOLS
toxic and pesticides to flora and fauna.

Hazards Signs and Symbols

These signs and symbols with
corresponding meaning below 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”.

Technology or Man Made Hazards Hazard: Its Impact, Identification

Signs and Symbols and Risk Assessment

Identification of Hazards and Risk

Assessment 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.

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:
 NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025
a. Observation - use your senses of step has to be done periodically to
sight, hearing, smell and touch - accurately assess the effectiveness of
combined with knowledge and the entire process.
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.
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. 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
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.

4. 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
 NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025
Activity 1 swept across Lorraine’s town, forcing
hundreds of families to evacuate.
A. OFFICE: Search for seven (7) hazards “Evacuations began when both parents
in the picture were at work, leaving our child with her
nurse assistant stranded at home while
we rushed home fighting traffic,” says
Lorraine.
____________________ 4. The storm swept
away everything, even houses and tall
buildings with strong walls came crashing
to the ground. We still don't know the
extent of the damage in some of the
more remote areas of the archipelago as
many communication lines are down.
____________________ 5. Bueno was in
denial when he first experienced these
symptoms. It wasn’t long until Bueno
realized he had been infected by the
dreaded disease, and would later
B. KITCHEN: Search for ten (10) become COVID-19 patient number 358.
hazards in the picture
B. MODIFIED TRUE or FALSE. Indicate
whether the statement is TRUE or
FALSE. If FALSE change the
underlined word or phases to make
the statement correct.
___________________ 1. The vulnerability of
communities to hazards refers to their
susceptibility to and capacity to cope
with environmental stresses.
___________________2. Technological
hazards are of atmospheric, hydrological
or oceanographic origin.
___________________ 3. Hazard is a
phenomenon or situation which has the
Activity 2 potential to cause the disruption or
A. Encircle and identify the hazard damage to people, their services, and
given in the following scenario. their environment.
___________________4. Loss of forest due
Write your answer in the space
to forest fire is an example of economic
provided.
impact.
____________________ 1. When a super ___________________5. Environmental
typhoon struck the Tacloban in 2013, hazards originate from internal earth
Nancy was with her son Isiah, who has processes.
Down syndrome and a seizure disorder.
As a result of trees that had fallen, Nancy C. Analyze the following. Categorize
could not enter her home. each hazard according to its proper
____________________ 2. A major flood group.
swept through Cathy’s town, resulting in
4,000 homes and businesses being Epidemic Volcanoes Drought
destroyed, unclean public water, limited Disease Floods Landslide
access to local food, and displaced Earthquake El Nino
individuals with developmental Thunderstorm
disabilities. Sinkholes Typhoon Tropical Cyclone
____________________ 3. More than 500
homes were destroyed when a wildfire
 NUEVA ECIJA UNIVEISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory High School
SUBJECT AREA: Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction
2nd Semester SY 2024-2025

Hydrological Geological Atmospheric Biological

Activity 3

As a student, how can you make yourself disaster strong and resilient?

Rubric for Essay

Features Expert Accomplishe Capable Beginner
(5) d (4) (3) (2)
Quality of -Piece was - Piece was - Piece had - piece had
Writing written in an written in an little style no style
extraordinar interesting - gives
- gives no
y style style some new
new
- very - Somewhat information information
informative informative but poorly and very
and well and organized poory
organized organized organized
Grammar, -Virtually no - few spelling - a number - so many
Usage & spelling, and of spelling, spelling,
Mechanics punctuation, punctuations punctuation punctuation
or errors, minor or and
grammatical grammatical grammatica grammatica
errors errors l errors l errors that
it interferes
with the
meaning

Group Performance Task

HAZARD HUNTING

1. In groups, go around the school vicinity and take pictures of hazards that you
observe and determine what type of hazards it is.
2. Report your findings in class with corresponding recommendations as to what can be
done to mitigate the effects of these hazards.