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A hazard is a source of risk. This includes any element, agent, environment or state that has potential to cause a negative outcome. The following are illustrative examples.MaterialsA substance such as a chemical that represents a health and safety risk.
MachinesMachines such as a conveyor belt that can easily catch a person's clothing or hand.StructuresDangerous structures such as a heavy portable soccer net that is stored on a field in an unsecured manner such that children may climb on it not realizing that it can easily fall on them.NatureNatural conditions such as a beach with a strong current.WeatherWeather conditions such as a strong wind that is a hazard to construction workers.
StateA state or condition such as a firm with a large debt that represents a risk of bankruptcy.BehaviorA repeated behavior such as gambling that is a source of a financial risk.DesignA design flaw in a jet engine that represents a safety risk.A user interface that is difficult to use such that it demands a person's attention in a fast moving situation. For example, a car navigation system with a difficult to use touch screen that tends to distract drivers.
CommunicationVocabularies and communication procedures that can lead to confusion in a fast moving situation. For example, standard instructions from air traffic control that sound alike such that they can be easily misunderstood.InformationInformation that is unclear or misleading such as instructions for securing furniture that represent a safety risk because they are commonly misinterpreted by users.Training and talent issues can represent a hazard. For example, a pilot who is too quickly put in charge of equipment that is new to them.
A design that makes human error likely. For example, trading software with a visually similar price and quantity field such that the two numbers can easily be confused. ProceduresProcedures that are lacking or failure prone. For example, a maintenance procedure for a jet engine that fails to account for tools such that they could have been left in an engine.
ProcessesProcess hazards such as a production process that involves workers performing tasks in close proximity to extremely hot materials.PracticesPractices such as a diet program that encourages customers to adopt an unhealthy or dangerous diet such as drinking large volumes of water.CultureA culture that encourages risk such as an airline that disciplines a pilot for being too cautious about safety.
ThreatsA threat is a mode of attack. This is a security term that is also applied to information security. For example, computer viruses are a security hazard.VulnerabilitiesVulnerabilities are weaknesses that can be exploited by a threat. For example, software that lacks security patches are a hazard to information security.PoliticalPolitical conditions can represent a hazard to a business or individual. For example, a trade war between two nations may represent a supply risk to a business.ErgonomicRepeated tasks that represent a health and safety hazard. For example, repeatedly lifting heavy objects generally puts a worker at risk of injury. EnvironmentsA physical environment that represents a health and safety hazzard such as a former industrial site that has structures and materials that are likely to injure anyone who is unprepared.EnvironmentalWaste that enters the environment that harms people, animals and/or ecosystems such as particulate matter emitted by a diesel truck.|
| Type | | | Definition | A source of risk. | | Related Concepts | |
Risks
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