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

Documents and publications

This book draws from the contributions to the international workshop on relations between natural hazards and management in Europe, which took place from 22 to 24 October 2002 in the Grande Arche, La Défense, Paris (France).

It first focuses on

Documents and publications

This booklet is a practical, and easy to comprehend, assistance manual for citizens to be prepared for emergency situations.

This document is a Russian contribution to the implementation of IDNDR programmes.

Documents and publications

Proceeding volume of the National Workshop, 30 September-01 October 2008, New Delhi:

This document on chemical disaster management contains detailed descriptive lectures, talks of holistic disaster management (DM) framework, integration of chemical risk

Documents and publications

In addition to presenting a recapitulation of data on disasters in Indonesia during 2006-2007, regarding people affected and extent of damages, this book reviews some of the major disasters that occurred in terms of cause, impact and effort in disaster

Educational materials

In French:

Cette animation en flash présente dix risques majeurs (avalanche, inondation, séisme, cyclone, éruption volcanique, rupture de barrage, accident nucléaire..) Chaque séquence permet de visualiser les différentes étapes de ces événements, d'en

Documents and publications

This annual report contains detailed information on all the disasters during the year by country. It is intended for policy makers, scientists, researchers and practitioners on disaster management in the South Asia region and outside.

It is structured in

Documents and publications

JRC scientific and technical reports:

This document contains a summary of the country presentations, group activities, case studies, and results carried out during the second Natech workshop, which hold on 17-18 September 2007 in Stresa, Italy. It aims

Documents and publications

In Spanish:

Conocer la situación actual de los países de la Subregión Andina sobre la prevención y respuesta a emergencias causadas por productos químicos peligrosos y materiales radiactivos, este documento planes y programas orientados a mejorar estos

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