Before Risk Communication: Hazard and Hazard Communication

halksagligiozel10-2-24kapaka

Çağrı Emin ŞAHİNa,b, Mehmet GÜLLÜOĞLUc

aİstanbul Medipol University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Epidemiology Program, İstanbul, Türkiye
bUniversity of Health Sciences Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Ankara, Türkiye
cEmbassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Darussalam, Darussalam, Tanzania

ABSTRACT
Risk and crisis management plays an important role in areas such as disaster management and occupational health. In this study, the concepts of hazard and hazard communication, which form the basis of risk communication, are discussed. The aim of this chapter is to present the conceptual framework of hazard and hazard communication and to emphasise its importance for risk management with examples. Through a literature review, concepts and definitions related to hazard and hazard communication are analysed. The importance of hazard communication is emphasised through hazards that are prominent in the field of public health. Hazard is defined as an event or situation that has the potential to cause harm. Hazard communication is a process used to increase knowledge and awareness about hazards. Hazard and hazard communication are of great importance for effective risk management. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the concepts underlying risk communication.
Keywords: Biohazard release; chemical hazard release; public health; health communication

Referanslar

  1. Hazard Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster [Internet]. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  2. HAZARD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary [Internet]. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  3. Gan SL. Importance of hazard identification in risk management. Ind Health [Internet]. 2019;57(3):281. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC]
  4. Pramanik MK, Szabo S, Pal I, Udmale P, Pongsiri M, Chilton S. Population health risks in multi-hazard environments: action needed in the Cyclone Amphan and COVID-19 -hit Sundarbans region, India. Climate and Development; 2022;14(2):99-104. [Crossref]
  5. Fielding JE.Appraising the health of health risk appraisal. American Journal of Public Health. 1982;72(4):337-40. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC]
  6. Fredriksson-Ahomaa M. Public Health Hazards: A. Biological hazards. In: Ninios T, Lundén J, Korkeala H, Fredriksson-Ahomaa M, eds. Meat Inspection and Control in the Slaughterhouse. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.; 2014. p. 277-8, 304-5. [Crossref]
  7. Djalante R, Shaw R, DeWit A. Building resilience against biological hazards and pandemics: COVID-19 and its implications for the Sendai Framework. Prog Disaster Sci. 2020;6:100080. [Crossref]  [PubMed]  [PMC]
  8. Chemical releases caused by natural hazard events and disasters - information for public health authorities. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  9. Sattler B, Lippy B, Jordan T. Hazard Communication: A Review of the Science Underpinning the Art of Communication for Health and Safety. US-DOL OSHA Report. 1997.
  10. Wogalter MS, Mayhorn CB, Laughery KR, Sr. Warnings and hazard communications. In: Salvendy G, Karwowski W, eds. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.; 2021. [Crossref]
  11. Health Hazards | Public Health Ontario [Internet]. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  12. Hazard Communication | Environmental Health and Safety [Internet]. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  13. Hazard Communication - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Internet]. [cited: Mar 16, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  14. OSHA at 50 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Internet]. [cited: Mar 18, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  15. Nations U. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-14 June 1992 | United Nations.[cited: Mar 18, 2024]; Available from: [Link]
  16. United Nations Conference on Environment & Development [Internet]. Available from: [Link]
  17. GHS 1st edition (2003) | UNECE [Internet]. [cited: Mar 18, 2024]. Available from: [Link]
  18. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS Rev. 10, 2023) | UNECE [Internet]. [cited: Mar 18, 2024]. Available from: [Link]