Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering
The meaning of the word hazard can be confusing. Often dictionaries do not give specific
definitions or combine it with the term "risk". For example, one dictionary defines hazard as
"a danger or risk" which helps explain why many people use the terms interchangeably.
There are many definitions for hazard but the more common definition when talking about
workplace health and safety is:
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something
or someone under certain conditions at work.
Basically, a hazard can cause harm or adverse effects (to individuals as health effects or to
organizations as property or equipment losses).
Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it caused
rather than the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard
by some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard" or
"hazardous biological agent".
hazard
A hazard is something with the potential to harm us or cause damage to things that are important
to us. Hazards and are generally split up into two kinds: natural and human-made.
Natural hazards
Natural hazards are created when extreme natural events occur, or may occur, where humans
live, work and play. Natural hazards include earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, meteorological
hazards (wind, rain, snow, hail, drought), coastal hazards (erosion and inundation), wildfire and
volcanic hazards.
Human-made hazards
Human-made hazards, sometimes called technological hazards, are caused by human activity.
The most likely human-made hazards to affect the Wellington Region are spills, fires or
accidents involving hazardous substances (chemicals) or petroleum.
We could also be affected by a pandemic, such as influenza, affecting the region's ability to
function normally with people sick, unable to work and maybe even unable to travel.
Hazards may be limited to a small area or their effects may be widespread. Some hazards may be
small but occur quite often, like isolated landslides. Other hazards happen only occasionally but
have a high impact, such as large earthquakes. We don t always know exactly when or how
hazard events may happen but we know that:
the effects of hazard events are likely to be greater if people are not prepared for them
good ideas and intentions are not enough - we all need to be active in reducing our risk
and getting prepared!
What is risk?
Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse
healtheffect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or
equipment loss.
For example: The risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes could be expressed as
"cigarette smokers are 12 times (for example) more likely to die of lung cancer than non-
smokers". Another way of reporting risk is "a certain number ,"Y", of smokers per 100,000
smokers will likely develop lung cancer" (depending on their age and how many years they
have been smoking). These risks are expressed as a probability or likelihood of developing a
disease or getting injured, whereas hazards refer to the possible consequences (e.g., lung
cancer, emphysema and heart disease from cigarette smoking).
Hazardous waste
Hazardous wastes are poisonous byproducts of manufacturing, farming, city septic
systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals, and other industries. The
waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous
pathogens, or other toxins. Even households generate hazardous waste from items such as
batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides.
The most common method of disposal is to haul garbage and refuse to a designated dumping
site. In the United States, open land dumps have been banned, and the dumping site must be a
landfill. At a landfill, wastes are crushed (to reduce their volume) and covered every day with a
layer of earth. The layer of earth reduces odors from the site and keeps off such disease-carrying
pests as flies and rats. A landfill site must be carefully chosen so that drainage from the landfill
will not pollute water supplies.
Another common method of disposal is to burn garbage and refuse in community or private
incinerators. Some coastal cities dispose of wastes by dumping them at sea.
The disposal of garbage and refuse has become a serious problem in many areas. Many landfills
have reached their capacity; others have been improperly maintained and have been closed for
being health hazards. The use of incinerators can cause pollution of the air, and disposal at sea
can cause pollution of ocean waters and beaches. At the same time, the amount of garbage and
refuse that must be disposed of continues to increase.
Some communities have developed methods for using garbage and refuse as a fuel. The wastes
are burned in specially designed furnaces to produce steam. The steam is then used either to
generate electricity or to provide heat for industrial processes.
Other communities have promoted recycling and composting as a means of reducing the volume
of wastes. Recycling consists of processing discarded products to obtain materials for new
products. Such products as newspapers, glass containers, and aluminum cans are very suitable
for recycling. In the most common kind of recycling operation, products that are to be recycled
are not discarded with other refuse; instead they are taken to a central collection point called a
recycling center. The materials collected at the center are then sold to various manufacturers. In
composting, grass clippings, leaves, and other organic matter are mixed with layers of soil to
promote decomposition of the organic matter. The resulting material is used as mulch and
fertilizer.
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