A real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death is defined as what?

• A. Hazard
• B. Risk
• C. Threat
• D. Consequence

Answer: (A)

A hazard is any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death. It’s the source of possible harm—the situation, object, or activity that could lead to harm if someone is exposed to it. The key is that hazard describes the condition itself, not how likely it is to cause harm or how severe the harm would be. Risk, by contrast, looks at the chance and impact of harm given exposure to the hazard, so it’s about probability and severity rather than the condition itself. A threat emphasizes intent or capability to cause harm, rather than a neutral condition that could cause harm. A consequence is the harm that would occur if the hazard actually causes harm, not the condition that could cause it.