What is a hazard?

• A. A hazard
• B. A risk
• C. A danger
• D. A threat

Answer: (B)

Hazards are anything in the environment or a process that has the potential to cause harm. In risk assessment, we look at both the hazard itself and the likelihood that harm will actually occur when someone is exposed to it. The term that best fits the given option set as the answer is risk, because risk combines both the presence of the hazard and the chance of harm happening, given exposure. For example, a wet floor is a hazard; the risk depends on how many people are likely to walk there, whether it’s signposted, and whether people wear appropriate footwear. The other terms describe immediacy or intent rather than the probabilistic concept used in risk assessment, so they don’t fit as well.