Which statement accurately defines hazard and risk?

• A. Hazard is the source of potential harm; risk combines probability and consequence.
• B. Hazard and risk are the same.
• C. Risk equals exposure.
• D. Hazard is a measure of exposure frequency.

Answer: (A)

Hazard vs risk: a hazard is the inherent potential of something to cause harm, such as a chemical, noise, or a moving machine. Risk is about how likely that harm could happen and how serious it would be if it did, given how people are exposed and other context. So risk combines probability (how likely) and consequence (how bad) of harm occurring.

That’s why the statement stating hazard as the source of potential harm and risk as a combination of probability and consequence is the best fit. It captures that hazards exist independently of people and exposure, while risk depends on how exposure interacts with those hazards to produce harm.

The other ideas are off because they blur these distinctions. Saying hazards and risks are the same treats harm potential as if it were already harm happening. Equating risk with exposure ignores that harm also depends on how serious it would be if exposure leads to harm. Describing a hazard as a measure of exposure frequency confuses inherent harm potential with how often people encounter it.