Difference between Hazard and Catastrophe
Main differences
The main difference between Hazard and Disaster is that Hazard is a condition or situation that affects the surrounding environment while Disaster is a natural process that ruins the community in a minute.
Danger versus disaster
The danger occurs in a less populated area, while the disaster occurs in a populated area. Due to negligence, a hazard can occur while due to many other conditions including multiple upheavals of nature, it can cause a disaster.
Hazard is a condition in which the environment, property, life, and health are in danger; meanwhile, the disaster is an incident that completely damages the community and is responsible for the loss of humanity, areas and economy in a short period.
Once a hazard is inactive, it becomes a disaster. In many ways, the threat acts as a tool that targets various vulnerable victims; on the other hand, disaster is a rag from nature that destroys a specific area.
Hazard is a risk, while a disaster is a type of risk related to humanity and its natural environment. Hazard gives minimal loss, while disaster is widespread demolition of lives, things, money, environment and other materials. When a danger occurs due to negligence, but the increase in the level of pollution and global warming, a disaster often occurs.
Comparison chart
| Danger | Disaster |
| A situation that ruins life, health, property, and the environment is called a hazard. | A phenomenon of nature that causes the loss of material, economy, environment and humanity is called a disaster. |
| Affected | |
| less area. | Large area. |
| Affected the population | |
| A small number of people | a large number of people |
| Work area | |
| In work areas, there are some safety hazards. | There is no security in the work areas. |
| Idea | |
| by negligence | due to nature |
| Risk | |
| It’s a risk. | It is a kind of risk. |
| Lost | |
| The danger gives a minimal loss | Disaster gives maximum loss |
| Emergency situation | |
| People are ready to deal with them. | People are not prepared to deal with them |
What is a hazard?
A hazard is a behavior or any object that is likely to cause harm to health, the environment, and property. In any workplace, there are health and safety risks. Some safety hazards are easily identified while others are managed through the use of protective equipment.
In an emergency, most job hazards are down and employers are ready to deal with them. Day by day, we become modern, but still, we are faced with these human-made rags and are unable to deal with them.
Some serious hazards pose an immediate danger to the physical integrity and health of workers. Others can have a cumulative effect and take a long time to materialize, as is the case with certain fumes, radiation and chemicals, which can cause chronic medical conditions.
hazard classification
- Ergonomic risks: It puts pressure on the body due to the different positions of the stiffness, the working conditions and the various types of work. When these dangers occur, we may not immediately notice the tension in a body.
- Chemical Hazards: Chemical hazards are present in the preparation of chemicals in any form of workplace. It causes illness, respiratory problems and skin irritation.
- Physical Hazards: An environment that causes disease without touching the body are physical hazards.
- Biological hazards: Different animals, infectious plants, people, and materials are responsible for many genetic hazards.
- Work organization risks: risks related to work problems such as workload. It causes stress and strain on workers for a short period. Sometimes it takes a long time.
What is a disaster?
In a short time, the disaster occurs everywhere, causing material, economic, environmental and human loss. Disaster is a sudden and severe weather distraction that affects the entire community.
It allows the society or community to survive using its resources. Disaster is an original thread that destroys the situation of society. It can shock the entire community. People facing a disaster can experience emotional upheaval.
Disasters affect society in a short time, but it takes a long time to solve different losses. Before, during, and after the event, people face constant worry, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and other depressions.
From these events, a large number of the public can recover and facilitate the family and the community, but others may have to recover and receive additional support to move forward. Types of disasters such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes and severe storms, etc.
disaster classification
- Natural Disaster: A natural phenomenon or process that causes injury, health problems, property loss, social and economic disruption, and the loss of thousands of people. Various types of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides. Every year due to natural disasters, billions of deaths occur. In developing countries, due to lack of insufficient budget, people suffer more.
- Man -made disasters – Terrorist attacks, industrial accidents, and plane crashes are examples of man-made disasters. Scientific tragedies are an initial response to man-made disasters. These types of shocking events can lead to fatalities and property damage.
Key differences
- Danger is a condition; on the other hand, a disaster is an event.
- Hazards can affect a smaller variety of areas than a disaster.
- Hazards are man-made problems; on the other hand, disaster is a natural process.
- People are prepared to deal with hazards other than disasters.
- There are safety hazards; conversely, security disasters are not possible.
Final Thought
Hazards bring small-scale losses; on the other hand, disasters cause large-scale losses. Hazards are more bearable than disasters.