Hazard, Risk & Disaster

Hazard, Risk & Disaster

[Date of Submission]

What are the similarities and differences between disaster, risk and hazard? Are distinctions between these concepts important in understanding how the security manager might manage risk?

In order to address this question, this essay will first demonstrate a basic understanding about the definition and concept of hazard, risk and disaster. The difference between the definitions of these terms will be reflected through the various factors of these terms. For example, Complex disasters are more common in developing countries, where there is no single cause, although, human-made and natural are the two classifications of hazards (Shah & Ranghieri, 2012: 31). Factors that came before particular exposure to the hazard in question or which are either inherited genetically are the risk factors, like, when it comes to considering the likelihood of developing asthma from exposure, a high risk factor might be considered to have by the people who are atopic, meaning, the sort of persons that may have suffered from asthma, hay fever, dermatitis in childhood or eczema (Davidson & Lambert, 2001: 132).

In identifying a hazard, damage caused by the energy when released or the presence of stored energy, is one key concept of Hazard (Tsai & Chen, 2011: 158). Whether immediate, such as, the hazards present at a construction site or long-term, such as, global-warming, are man-made hazards that are created by humans, are the second causes of hazards (Sassa & Canuti, 2009: 521). 

Second, this essay will outline the different definitions of these terms in context to the academic disciplines. How have different academic disciplines given rise to these definitions, along with the examples, in order to highlight the main distinction between these terms. For example, the probability or likelihood of any given hazard event to be occurred is considered as risk (Cardona, 2003: 17). In comparison to non-smokers, cigarette smoker are twelve times more likely to die of lung cancer (Frank, 2008: 16). This statement expresses the risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes.

Third, this essay will shed light on the importance of hazard, risk and disaster in the management of risk. For example, a holistic approach to disaster risk management is promoted by the value and originality of this framework and the relationships between development and disasters/ hazard risks are demonstrated (Randolph, 2004: 200). Such as, with preparedness linking both types of efforts, the development portion is comprised by the activities on prevention and mitigation, the humanitarian assistance portion is comprised by recovery and relief.

In the end, by carefully considering these definitions of hazard, risk and disaster, this essay will address the management of risk by security officers, their role as a protector of assets and the important of these terms in the management of risk.

What are the similarities and differences between disaster, risk and hazard? Are distinctions between these concepts important in understanding how the security manager might manage risk?

The combination of the insufficient measures or capacity to cope or reduce with the potential negative consequences, the presence of the ...