What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

• A. A hazard is a potential source of harm; risk is the probability and severity of harm.
• B. A hazard is the actual harm that occurred; risk is the likelihood of future harm.
• C. A hazard is the protective device; risk is the PPE requirement.
• D. A hazard is the probability of harm; risk is the severity.

Answer: (A)

Hazards are potential sources of harm in the workplace. They are things or situations that could cause injury or illness if someone is exposed to them—for example, a wet floor, a damaged electrical cord, or a chemical spill. Risk is about what could happen if someone encounters that hazard. It combines both how likely the harm is to occur and how severe the consequences would be. So, risk considers both the chance of an incident happening and the seriousness of the outcome, often influenced by exposure and existing controls. In practice, a hazard can exist even when risk is low (because controls are in place or exposure is limited), but the hazard itself is not the harm—it's the potential for harm. The idea that hazards are actual harm, or that they are protective devices or solely the likelihood or solely the severity of harm, misses the essential link: risk is the combination of probability and severity, while a hazard is the source that could cause harm.

Hazards are potential sources of harm in the workplace. They are things or situations that could cause injury or illness if someone is exposed to them—for example, a wet floor, a damaged electrical cord, or a chemical spill.

Risk is about what could happen if someone encounters that hazard. It combines both how likely the harm is to occur and how severe the consequences would be. So, risk considers both the chance of an incident happening and the seriousness of the outcome, often influenced by exposure and existing controls.

In practice, a hazard can exist even when risk is low (because controls are in place or exposure is limited), but the hazard itself is not the harm—it's the potential for harm. The idea that hazards are actual harm, or that they are protective devices or solely the likelihood or solely the severity of harm, misses the essential link: risk is the combination of probability and severity, while a hazard is the source that could cause harm.