Which statement about hazards is true?

• A. A hazard is defined as something with the potential to cause harm
• B. A hazard guarantees harm will occur
• C. A hazard is the same as risk
• D. A hazard disappears with PPE

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the difference between a hazard and risk. A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm—an inherent danger in a source, situation, or chemical, independent of whether harm actually occurs. Risk, on the other hand, is about the likelihood and severity of harm happening given a specific exposure and the controls in place.

That’s why this statement is best: a hazard is defined by its potential to cause harm. It does not guarantee that harm will occur; harm depends on exposure, duration, concentration, and other factors. PPE and other controls can reduce risk, but they do not eliminate the hazard itself. The goal is to identify hazards and then apply measures higher in the control hierarchy (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls) to remove or reduce the hazard, with PPE serving as a final line of defense.