Hazard and risk: which statement is correct?

Hazard and risk: which statement is correct?

• A. Hazard is a potential source of harm; risk is probability × severity of that harm.
• B. Hazard equals probability; risk equals harm.
• C. Hazard is harm; risk relates to time.
• D. Hazard and risk are identical.

Answer: (A)

Understanding hazard vs risk: a hazard is any condition with the potential to cause harm, while risk is the likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of that harm. In aviation safety, risk is typically expressed as probability × severity. This is why the statement is correct: it cleanly links a hazard to the potential harm it could cause and defines risk as the combination of how likely that harm is and how bad it would be. The other descriptions don’t fit because hazard is not simply probability, nor is risk just harm. Hazard and risk are distinct concepts, and risk is not about time either. They are also not identical.

Understanding hazard vs risk: a hazard is any condition with the potential to cause harm, while risk is the likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of that harm. In aviation safety, risk is typically expressed as probability × severity. This is why the statement is correct: it cleanly links a hazard to the potential harm it could cause and defines risk as the combination of how likely that harm is and how bad it would be.

The other descriptions don’t fit because hazard is not simply probability, nor is risk just harm. Hazard and risk are distinct concepts, and risk is not about time either. They are also not identical.