What risks do you know?

Step by step

1. Before starting. The class reads the definition of the word risk in the glossary:

Risk - the possibility that a phenomenon may cause harm to people and the environment in a given period of time and in a given area

2. How many risks do you know? The teacher divides the class into pairs or groups and asks each group to list all the risks they know. The class has 5 minutes to write down all the risks.

After each group has written down the risks they know, the teacher writes anthropogenic and natural risks on the blackboard, specifying that the risks may derive from natural hazards (heavy rain) or from the actions of human beings (chemical risk) and asks them to write under each category the risks they have identified.

This leads to a second reflection:

What do we know about these risks? Can we associate a hazard to each risk?

3. Causes and effects. The following natural hazards are then examined:

Earthquake/ Tidal wave/ Flood/ Volcanoes

With reference to this website, information on the different hazards is read together.

Anthropogenic risk is then introduced by referring to the activity Anthropogenic Risk.

4. The risk equation. The teacher introduces the risk equation and applies this equation to some or all of the risks identified by the class. This activity can be carried out in groups. Each group examines a risk by indicating hazard, vulnerability and exposure and writing down actions to reduce it.

R = H x V x E

H = Hazard

Hazardousness is the probability that a phenomenon of a given intensity will occur in a given period of time, in a given area.  

V = Vulnerability

Vulnerability is the propensity to suffer damages from an event. In other words, it indicates the propensity of people, buildings, infrastructure and economic activities to be damaged as a result of the stresses induced by an event of a certain intensity.

E = Exposure (or exposed value)

Exposure is number of people and elements (or 'value') at risk in a given area.

5. Conclusive thoughts. What are the risks you fear most in your area? The teacher examines with the class which of the risks listed by the class are present in the area, for which you feel most vulnerable and for which you feel safest.