What is a significant hazard that can be caused by structural collapse?

Falling debris is a significant hazard associated with structural collapse because when a structure fails, various materials, including concrete, metal, and building components, can come loose and descend towards ground level. This presents a severe risk to anyone in the vicinity, as falling objects can cause injury or worse. The potential for injury is amplified in densely populated areas or during times when many people are present, highlighting the critical nature of this hazard.

While broken windows, inadequate lighting, and wet floors can pose safety risks, they do not directly stem from the immediate dangers associated with structural failure. Broken windows may occur as a secondary effect of structural damage but are not the primary hazard of collapse itself. Inadequate lighting and wet floors pertain more to general safety and maintenance issues, rather than the immediate and life-threatening scenarios that falling debris from a collapsing structure presents.