Which term refers to a source of harm in the workplace?

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Multiple Choice

Which term refers to a source of harm in the workplace?

In workplace safety, a hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. That means a hazard is the source of danger—like a chemical stored improperly, a wet floor, exposed electrical wiring, a sharp tool, or faulty equipment. Recognizing hazards helps you understand where harm could come from so you can put controls in place. Risk is a separate idea: it describes the chance that harm will actually occur and how serious it could be if exposure happens, considering how likely you are to come into contact with the hazard and how well you’ve mitigated it. Emergency procedures are the planned steps to follow during an incident, not the source of harm themselves. A safe environment is the desired state you work toward, the outcome of managing hazards and risks, not the source of harm.

In workplace safety, a hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. That means a hazard is the source of danger—like a chemical stored improperly, a wet floor, exposed electrical wiring, a sharp tool, or faulty equipment. Recognizing hazards helps you understand where harm could come from so you can put controls in place.

Risk is a separate idea: it describes the chance that harm will actually occur and how serious it could be if exposure happens, considering how likely you are to come into contact with the hazard and how well you’ve mitigated it. Emergency procedures are the planned steps to follow during an incident, not the source of harm themselves. A safe environment is the desired state you work toward, the outcome of managing hazards and risks, not the source of harm.

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