international or civil war.

In such situations, large

DISASTER READINESS AND numbers of people are displaced from their homes due to
RISK REDUCTION the lack of personal safety and the disruption of basic
infrastructure including food distribution, water,
WEEK 1 electricity, and sanitation, or communities are left
stranded and isolated in their own homes unable to
Disaster – A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that
access assistance.
seriously disrupt the functioning of a community or
society and causes human material and economic or EXAMPLE: conflicts or wars and Genocide the
environmental losses that exceed the community's or deliberate killing of a largegroup of people, especially
society's ability to cope using its own resources. those of a particular ethnic group or nation.
- Disasters are natural or man-made emergencies WEEK 2
that cannot be handled by affected communities
who experience severe danger and incur loss of Risk – the probability of harmful consequences or
lives and properties causing disruption in its expected loss of lives, people injured, livelihood,
social structure and prevention of the fulfillment disruption of economic activities and damages to the
of all or some of the affected community's environment
essential functions. IMPORTANT ELEMNT OF RISKS
CLASSIFICATION OF DISASTERS 1. Exposure - The elements at risk from a natural
Natural Disasters – a natural phenomenon caused by or man-made hazard event
natural forces, such as earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic 2. Hazard - A potentially dangerous physical
eruptions, hurricanes, fires, tornados, and extreme occurrence, Phenomenon or human activity that
temperatures. They can be classified as rapid onset may result in loss of life or injury property
disasters and those with progressive onsets, such as damage social and economic disruption or
droughts that lead to famine. These events, usually environmental degradation.
sudden, can have tremendous effects. 3. Vulnerability- the condition determined by
physical, social economic and environmental
Man-made - Disasters caused by man are those in which factors or processes that increase the
major direct causes are identifiable intentional or non- susceptibility of a community did the impact of
intentional human actions. hazard
a. Technological/industrial disasters – THE FOLLOWING ARE TAKEN INTO
Unregulated industrialization and inadequate CONSIDERATION WHEN RISK FACTOR
safety standards increase the risk of industrial UNDERLYING DISASTER ARE INVLOLVED:
disasters.
EXAMPLE: leaks of hazardous materials; 1. Severity of exposure - which measures those
accidental explosions; bridge or road collapses, who experience disaster first-hand which have
or vehicle collisions; Power cuts the highest risk of developing future mental
b. Terrorism/Violence - the threat of terrorism has problems
also increased due to the spread of technologies 2. Gender and Family - the female gender suffers
involving nuclear, biological, and chemical more adverse effects. This worsens when
agents used to develop weapons of mass children are present at home. Marital
destruction. relationships are placed under strain.
EXAMPLE: bombs or explosions; release of 3. Age - adults in the age range of 40-60 are more
chemical materials; release of biological agents; stressed after disasters but in general, children
release of radioactive agents; multiple or exhibit more stress after disasters than adults do
massive shootings; mutinies. 4. Economic status of country - evidence
c. Complex humanitarian emergencies - the term indicates that severe mental problems resulting
complex emergency is usually used to describe from disasters are more prevalent in developing
the humanitarian emergency resulting from an countries like the Philippines
RISK – is an estimated measure that can be used to
compare past and future disasters, express the chance of
disaster happening and quantitatively describe the Displaced people are people who have had to
impact of a disaster leave their homes
2. Health Risks - Aside from the obvious
RISK FACTORS
immediate danger that natural disasters present,
1. Physical Factors – refers to tangible things, the secondary effect can be just as damaging.
features and structures in the area, may pertain Severe flooding can result in stagnant water that
to objects, building features, equipment and allows the breeding of waterborne bacteria and
structures malaria-carrying mosquitoes
2. Psychological factor - refers to the state of 3. Food Scarcity - The aftermath of natural
mind of every individual in the community, disasters affects the food supplies. Thousands of
pertains to the mental health and capacity of an people around the world are hungry because of
individual. Risk perception refers to how destroyed crops and loss of agricultural supplies,
people feel or perceive the risk they are exposed whether it happens suddenly in a storm or
to gradually in a drought
3. Socio-cultural factor – refers to the social and 4. Emotional Aftershocks - Natural disasters can
cultural dimension of the community, example be particularly traumatic for young children.
are religion, social hierarchy, etc… Confronted with scenes of destruction and the
4. Economic Factors – refers to the economic deaths of friends and loved ones, many children
situation, circumstances, systems and the develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a
activities that exists in the community. serious psychological condition resulting from
5. Biological Factor – refer to the living things, extreme trauma.
the environment, and their situation and status.
Ways to plan ahead of disaster
Factors which underlie disasters
1. Check for hazards at home
1. Climate Change 2. Identify safe place indoors and outdoors
2. Environmental Degradation 3. Educate yourself and family members
3. Globalized Economic Development 4. Have disaster kits/supplies on hand
4. Poverty and Inequality 5. Develop an emergency communication plan
5. Poorly Planned and Managed Urban 6. Help your community get ready
Development 7. Practice the disaster preparedness cycle
6. Weak Governance
WEEK 3
Hazard – dangerous situation or event that carries a
threat
Disaster – an event that harms human and society
Vulnerability – accounts for the susceptibility to
damage
Exposure – element at risk
Disaster Risk = hazard x exposure x vulnerability DISASTERS FROM DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES
The Human Effect of Natural and Man-Made
Disasters 1. Physical Perspective - Calamities are phenomena
that cause great physical damage in a community
1. Displaced Populations - One of the most
infrastructure, its people and their properties
immediate effects of natural disasters is
- Effects: Injuries, Physical Disabilities or Illness,
population displacement. When countries are
Sanitation, Damage in infrastructure
ravaged by earthquakes or other powerful forces
2. Psychological Perspective - Victims of disasters
of nature, many people need to abandon their
may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
homes and seek shelter in other regions.
(PTSD) and other serious mental health conditions,
 which are not being given much attention to by the buildings, wooden houses, houses near
authorities or even by the victims, themselves mountains.
- Examples - Distress hopelessness 2. Social Vulnerability – refers to the condition
intrusion/avoidance emotional effects which are prone to hazards, affecting the
hatred/revenge Cognitive Effects welfare of humans, communities and society.
dependence/insecurities Physical Effects Example is poverty, gender biased.
grief/withdrawn/isolation interpersonal effect 3. Economic Vulnerability – refers to the
guilt feeling helplessness lack of trust conditions that are prone to hazards, affecting
3. Socio Cultural Perspective - Filipinos are generally the level of economic status of humans,
known as “matiisin”, resourceful, helpful, optimistic, communities, and society.
and prayerful. These characteristics are manifested 4. Environmental Vulnerability - refers to the
in the country’s recent fight against COVID-19 conditions that are prone to hazards, affecting
- Effects: change in individual roles, disruption of the quantity of the natural resources.
social relationships and personal connections
WEEK 4 D2
4. Economic Perspective - Disasters affect the
economic condition of a community because they Sector – specific part of society or the economy, made
reduce local and international trade up of similar elements – like the health care sector or the
- Effects - loss of life • unemployment • loss of education sector
property • loss of household articles • loss of
crops • loss of public infrastructure Some of the sectors of the society that are vulnerable to
5. Political Perspective - Natural disasters are disasters are: agriculture, education, infrastructure,
commonly thought to be less politically livelihood, health.
argumentative than armed conflicts, yet a closer look WEEK 4 D3
shows that both the effects of a natural disaster and
the resulting distribution of humanitarian aid are RISK DISASTER MODEL
profoundly linked to politics.
6. Biological Perspective - The disturbing effects
caused by a prevalent kind of disease or virus in an
epidemic or pandemic level is known as a biological
disaster.
(a) Epidemic Level: Biological disaster affects large
numbers of people within a given community or area.
Ex: Dengue.
(b) Pandemic Level: Biological disaster affects a much
larger region, sometimes spanning entire continents or
the globe ex. Swine Flu
WEEK 4 D1
Vulnerability – factors of the community that allow a
hazard to cause a disaster
The Vulnerability of an area increases the chances of
not being able to handle or survive an emergency or
disaster
TYPES OF VULNERABILITY
1. Physical Vulnerability – characterized by the
conditions which are prone to hazards,
physically affecting humans or infrastructures.
Examples are poor designed and construction of
 1. Occupational Hazards – refers to various
environmental factors or stresses that can cause
sickness, impaired health or significant in
workers
2. Biological Hazards – is one originating from an
organism that is foreign to the organism being
affected.
3. Biological Hazard – a chemical can be
considered a hazard if by virtue of its intrinsic
properties can cause harm or danger to humans,
property, or the environment.
4. Mechanical Hazards – is any hazard involving
machines or processes.
5. Physical Hazard – is a naturally occurring
process that has the potential to create loss or
damage.
6. Ergonomics Hazard – it is a physical factor
within the environment that harms the
musculoskeletal system.
7. Psychological hazard - is any hazard that
affects the mental well-being or mental health of
the worker by overwhelming individual coping
mechanisms and impacting the worker’s ability
to work in a healthy and safe manner.
WEEK 6
What are the Different Impacts of Hazards?
A hazard can bring about many impacts which can come
in different types. Facilities and infrastructures are
commonly the target of natural hazards. Specifically,
these impacts can trigger accidents and the release of
toxic substances, fires, and explosions, potentially
resulting in health effects, environmental pollution,
and economic losses.

One way to classify hazard impacts is by using general

impact themes namely;
- Danger to life which includes physical and
psychological harm, and diseases
- Denial of access to energy, water,
communication, and transport access
- Damage to the physical environment like
buildings and land
Six Specific Types of Hazard Impacts

WEEK 5 1. Physical Impact

- Physical injuries (bone fracture, wounds,
TYPES OF HAZARD bruises)
- Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure like hazardous substances and precautions that
transportation systems, roads, bridges, power, need to be taken.
and communication lines. c. Hazard and risk surveys - interview other
- Widespread destruction of housing and buildings people about their safety concerns as far as the
2. Psychological Impact workplace is concerned. Utmost consideration
- Grief and psychological illness should be given to children or visitors who
- Marital conflict could be at risk.
- Depression due to loss of loved ones and d. Discussion groups - are useful for identifying
properties hazards and recommending solutions.
- Chronic anxiety e. Safety audits – a committee must be assigned
3. Socio-cultural impact to periodically check safety in the area.
- Displacement of population, loss of cultural
2. Assess the Risk. Once a hazard has been identified,
identity, forced to adopt new sets of culture,
the likelihood and possible severity of injury or harm
ethics conflicts
will need to be assessed before determining how best to
4. Economic Impact
minimize the risk. High-risk hazards need to be
- Loss of job due to displacement, loss of harvest
addressed more urgently than low-risk ones.
and livestock, loss of farms, fish cages and other
sources of food, loss of money and other
valuables
5. Environmental Impact
- Loss of forest due to forest fires, loss of
freshwater due to salination, disturbance of
biodiversity, loss of natural rivers.
6. Biological Impact
- Epidemic to people, flora and fauna, chronic and
permanent illness caused by biological agents,
proliferation of different viral diseases.
Identification of Hazards and Risk Assessment
Hazard identification is the process of determining 3. Make the changes. Once risks are assessed, the
all physical and nonphysical agents in the workplace next step is to decide on some necessary changes.
or specific environment. Most occupational health These changes include removing the hazard and
and safety problems are caused by hazards that are replacing it with something less hazardous,
not eliminated or managed. To prevent untoward engineering modifications like installation of
incidents in a workplace or community, elimination exhausts, safety barriers, and safety exits,
or controlling of hazards is crucial. In some modification of procedures, etc. Combination of the
workplaces where hazards cannot be eliminated, risk control measures mentioned above to effectively
they must be monitored and properly managed at the reduce exposure to hazards can also be done.
least.
Risk assessment is a way to determine which
hazards and risks should prioritized by taking into
consideration the probability and severity of impact.
Identifying the hazards
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 manufacturers and suppliers. It
gives information on possible harm from 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. These
changes must be 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 step has to be done periodically to accurately
assess the effectiveness of the entire process.