Explain the difference between a hazard and a risk.

A hazard refers to any potential source of harm or adverse effect. This could be anything from a chemical substance that could cause injury, to a piece of machinery that has the potential to cause accidents. Essentially, hazards are intrinsic and can exist regardless of whether or not an incident occurs.

Risk, on the other hand, is the evaluation of the likelihood that harm will occur as a result of exposure to that hazard, combined with the severity of the harm that could happen. Thus, risk helps us understand not just the presence of a hazard, but also the potential for that hazard to lead to actual harm under certain conditions.

Understanding the distinction between hazard and risk is crucial for safety management. Identifying hazards is the first step, but assessing the associated risks allows for prioritization and implementation of control measures to mitigate those risks effectively. This knowledge is essential for enhancing safety in any environment, particularly in fields such as chemical processing where both hazards and risks are critical considerations.