Technological hazard

Technical or technological disasters are caused by events that can be intense and sudden, induced by human processes. They originate from technological or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities (UNGA, 2016).

Technical systems are complex, with many dependent subsystems. The failure of one element within this system can cascade throughout the chain, causing a series of failures leading to a disaster. Technical hazards are increasing due to the scope of technological expansion. They include industrial activity that includes dangerous conditions, processes, all transport systems (land, sea, air), defensive or offensive weapons systems and power plants.

A new set of emerging technological risks under the Sendai Framework include Information and communications technology (ICT)-related hazards. The increasing dependence upon complex large-scale network architectures of information technologies also increases exposure to cyber security threats. These threats include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, malware, spoofing attacks, identity theft, the theft and illegal disclosure of data, the loss of data and contamination of data. They have the potential to disrupt essential infrastructure operations such as communication, health, banking, transportation, energy, education and many other services.

Risk factors

  • Ageing, abandoned or idle installations.
  • Insufficient institutional and legal capacities.
  • Natural hazards: storms, landslides, floods or earthquakes can cause industrial accidents.

Vulnerable areas

  • Residential communities around industrial establishments tend to be most at risk because of their proximity.

Risk reduction measures

  • Assess the risks before planning and building critical infrastructure.
  • Develop policies and practices for continuity management.
  • Integrate the risks into planning, foresee and reduce cascading effects.
  • Create a hazard map to identify people at risk and their vulnerability.
  • Draft national, regional and local response plans.
  • Put in place early warning/monitoring systems to inform response.
  • Ensure contingency and response plans are in place at a national and local level to evacuate people on time.
  • Assess new technologies.
  • Improve crisis communication before, during and after the event.
  • Organize training and exercises for complex scenarios involving multiple interdependent failures.
  • Educate and raise awareness on potential risks.

Latest Technical Disaster additions in the Knowledge Base

Cover and source: Royal Society of Chemistry
Documents and publications
Following the February 2023 train derailment in Ohio, the authors conducted a rapid response to understand the chemical identity, fate, and exposure pathways after the evacuation order was lifted.
Oil refinery as seen from a river, USA.
Update
Toxic material can spread, settle and impact surrounding communities. A team of researchers mapped out hazardous industrial sites across the US and paired them with hurricanes' projected impact maps to help communities hold nearby facilities accountable.
Conversation Media Group, the
Cover and source: University of Birmingham
Educational materials
Forged by Fire is an innovative set of resources designed for students of different ages to learn about community, place, and resilience through the history of burns injuries in twentieth century Britain.
Panorama of the dam and surrounding landscape at Katse Dam in Lesotho in summer with low water level on a clear sunny day
Update
Many of the world's 70,000+ dams are at a higher risk of failure amid aging and the increasing severity of extreme weather. In conflict zones, where maintenance may be absent, there is an increased risk of further collapses, with catastrophic impacts.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Office - IHE DELFT Institute for Water Education
Cover
Educational materials
Jouez au jeu passionnant BE-Ready qui vous prépare à toute situation d'urgence. En réalisant les bonnes actions à temps en cas d'incendie, d'inondation ou d'accident chimique, vous pouvez mettre en sécurité, vous et vos amis.
Research briefs
A new scientific mechanism for assessing the potential risk to worldwide mineral commodity supplies from seismic activity has been developed by USGS scientists.
United States Geological Survey
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Documents and publications
This case study aims to present the lessons learned from Lebanon’s Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) as an example of developing post-disaster recovery governance structures in a context of FCV, specifically under compounded crises.
Research briefs
New research in the journal Risk Analysis has confirmed that longer freight trains bring with them a higher risk of derailment. The study found that a 100-car train is more than twice as likely to experience a derailment than a 50-car train.
The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)
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