What is the difference between hazard and risk?

What is the difference between hazard and risk?

• A. Hazard is a potential source of harm
• B. Risk is the probability and severity of harm from exposure to that hazard
• C. A risk is a protective measure
• D. Hazard is the same as risk

Answer: (B)

Hazard is a potential source of harm. Risk takes that hazard and weighs it by how likely harm is to occur and how severe it would be if exposure happens. In other words, risk depends on exposure and the consequences: even a dangerous hazard becomes a real risk only when people or the environment are exposed to it, and the outcome could be serious. That’s why the statement defining risk as the probability and severity of harm from exposure to that hazard is the best choice. The other ideas are incomplete or incorrect: hazard alone describes danger, not the likelihood or consequences of harm; a risk is not a protective measure; and hazard is not the same as risk.

Hazard is a potential source of harm. Risk takes that hazard and weighs it by how likely harm is to occur and how severe it would be if exposure happens. In other words, risk depends on exposure and the consequences: even a dangerous hazard becomes a real risk only when people or the environment are exposed to it, and the outcome could be serious. That’s why the statement defining risk as the probability and severity of harm from exposure to that hazard is the best choice. The other ideas are incomplete or incorrect: hazard alone describes danger, not the likelihood or consequences of harm; a risk is not a protective measure; and hazard is not the same as risk.