What does risk refer to in the context of health and safety?

In the context of health and safety, risk is specifically understood as the likelihood of suffering harm from a hazard. This definition encompasses both the probability of an incident occurring and the potential consequences that may result from that incident. By focusing on likelihood, it emphasizes the importance of assessing how probable it is that harm will occur due to exposure to hazards, which is crucial in developing safety measures and protocols.

Understanding risk in this way allows safety professionals and organizations to prioritize their efforts on mitigating the most significant risks—those that are both likely to occur and can have severe consequences. This risk assessment is fundamental in establishing effective health and safety programs, allowing for targeted interventions to reduce the risk of injury and illness.

Other concepts such as the source of a risk, conditions that prevent injury, and evaluations of safety measures do have relevance in the broader context of health and safety management. However, they do not specifically define what risk is. Rather, they contribute to the overall understanding and approach to managing health and safety within an organization.