Background

Identifying hazards and their consequences are key to mounting an effective response should such a situation occur. The Hazard Catalogue lists the hazards which Switzerland could potentially face or which could have serious repercussions for the country.

Three hazard categories

The Hazard Catalogue classifies hazards into three main categories: nature, technology and society. Each of these categories is further divided into several sub-categories. It should be noted, however, that in the hazard catalogue the hazards have neither been assessed nor are listed in order of importance.
To take better account of users’ needs, the updated catalogue now includes hazards of communal and cantonal relevance as well as hazards of particular relevance to critical infrastructures.

Using the Hazard Catalogue

The Hazard Catalogue is a key reference document for integrated risk management in the field of civil protection. It is aimed at any person or institution involved in hazard and risk analyses or strategy development. This target audience includes federal, cantonal and communal offices and agencies as well as critical infrastructure operators.

New 2019 edition

The revision of the catalogue began in 2018. The process considered the different needs of the various agencies concerned and drew on the findings of consultations and workshops attended by multiple stakeholders (the Confederation, cantons, the scientific community and the private sector). Examples of incidents used to illustrate the hazard concerned and the various forms it can take were also revised and additional information provided. In view of the range of possible applications, short descriptions have also been added to aid a better understanding of the hazard concerned.

The catalogue is available in German, French and Italian.