What term describes a condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss and is the source of a risk?

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

Answer: (A)

Hazard is the source of potential harm—the condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss. It represents the inherent property that could cause harm if a person is exposed or if the hazard is released or encounters a vulnerable environment. Risk, by contrast, describes how likely that harm is to occur and how severe it could be, which depends on exposure and the potential consequences. Exposure means actual contact with the hazard (for example, inhaling a toxic gas or coming into skin contact with a corrosive liquid) and is one part of determining risk. Threat focuses on the possibility of intentional harm and is not the standard term used to describe the source of harm in hazmat risk assessment. So the term that fits the description is hazard.