Which term is defined as the likelihood of suffering harm from a hazard?

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

Answer: (C)

The main concept here is understanding what risk means in hazard analysis. Risk is the probability that harm will occur to someone or something as a result of a hazard, taking into account how exposed people are and how susceptible they are to harm. A hazard is something that could cause harm, exposure is how much contact there is with the hazard, and vulnerability is how susceptible the system or people are to that harm. Because risk specifically describes the likelihood of suffering harm from a hazard (often alongside the potential consequences), it best fits the definition. The other terms describe the source of harm, the degree of contact with it, or the level of susceptibility, not the likelihood itself.