For hazard assessment, risk is determined by which two factors?

• A. Time and cost
• B. Weather and terrain
• C. Experience and training
• D. Probability and severity

Answer: (D)

Risk in hazard assessment comes from two pieces: how likely the hazard is to cause harm (probability) and how bad the harm would be if it happens (severity or consequence). These two factors are what you multiply or combine in a risk assessment to determine the level of risk and, in practice, to prioritize controls.

Understanding this helps you see why this option is correct: probability tells you how often the hazard could cause harm, and severity tells you how serious that harm would be. Together, they define risk more than other factors like weather, terrain, time, cost, or an individual’s experience or training, which can influence risk but don’t by themselves define it. This framework also explains why high likelihood of a severe outcome drives the highest risk, guiding where to focus mitigations.