Hazard means existing unsafe condition or action or situation or event or their combination
which has potential to cause accident. Thus hazard can become a cause of accident or risk and it can exist
without accident or risk. When due to hazard, accident happens, it is converted into accident. If hazard
still exists, accident may happen again, viz. flammable atmosphere.
The causes of accidents generally remain latent for some time before anaccident occurs. These
latent or potential causes are hazards. Hazards are sometimes referred to synonymously with accident
causes, but there is a clear distinction that a. hazard can exist without an accident whereas an accident
cause without an accident is an absurdity. Hazard recognition, diagnosis and elimination are essential to
any successful safety programme.
Hazard is an inherent property of a substance, agent, a source of energy or situation having the
potential of causing undesirable consequences.
Hazard means an intrinsic capacity associated with an agent or process capable of causing harm.
Hazard is defined as, 'any event with the potential to cause harm, ill health, injury, damage to
property, plant, products or the environment, production losses or increased liabilities.'
Hazard is a condition with the potential of causing injury to personnel, damage to equipment or
structures, loss of material, or lessening of the ability to perform a prescribed function. When hazard is
present, the possibility exists of these adverse effects occurring.
Chemical Hazard is a hazard due to chemical (including its property, storage, process, handling,
effect etc.) and it is realised by fire, explosion, toxicity, corrosion, radiation etc.
Major Hazard is a large-scale chemical hazard, especially one, which may be realised through an
acute even.
For Major Accident Hazard (MAH)
Occupational hazards are the hazards arising in course of and out of occupation or employment.
They include physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, electrical, psychological and all occupational
health hazards, diseases and poisoning.
Rapid ranking method is a means of classifying the hazards of separate elements of plant within
an industrial complex, to enable areas for priority attention to be quickly established.