In an EHS context, which statement best defines hazard and risk?

In an EHS context, which statement best defines hazard and risk?

• A. The potential consequences of a hazard without considering likelihood.
• B. The likelihood and severity of harm occurring from exposure to that hazard.
• C. The physical property that makes a chemical reactive.
• D. The act of eliminating all hazards from the workplace.

Answer: (B)

In EHS practice, hazard refers to something that has the potential to cause harm. Risk adds the element of how likely that harm is to occur and how severe it would be if it does happen, specifically from exposure to the hazard. The best choice describes risk as the likelihood and severity of harm from exposure to that hazard, which is the core idea behind risk assessment. The other statements miss the full concept: focusing only on potential consequences without considering how likely they are, or describing a property that makes a chemical reactive (a hazard attribute rather than risk), or describing the goal of eliminating hazards (a control aim) rather than defining hazard or risk.

In EHS practice, hazard refers to something that has the potential to cause harm. Risk adds the element of how likely that harm is to occur and how severe it would be if it does happen, specifically from exposure to the hazard. The best choice describes risk as the likelihood and severity of harm from exposure to that hazard, which is the core idea behind risk assessment.

The other statements miss the full concept: focusing only on potential consequences without considering how likely they are, or describing a property that makes a chemical reactive (a hazard attribute rather than risk), or describing the goal of eliminating hazards (a control aim) rather than defining hazard or risk.