Which of the below best describes a hazard?

• A. Something with the potential to cause harm
• B. Something that always causes harm
• C. A risk-control measure
• D. A safe condition

Answer: (A)

A hazard is an inherent property or situation with the potential to cause harm. It doesn’t guarantee harm will occur; harm depends on exposure, dose, duration, and other factors. That’s why describing something with the potential to cause harm best captures what a hazard is.

The other ideas describe different things: a risk-control measure is something used to reduce risk, not a hazard itself; a safe condition describes a scenario where exposure to hazards is controlled or absent; and stating that something always causes harm is incorrect because many hazards only have the potential to cause harm, not an inevitable outcome in every situation.