Risk
The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, often combined with the severity of that harm. Not all frameworks include both elements in the same statutory text.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“risk”SharedUsed throughout HSE legislation without a single statutory definition. MHSWR 1999 requires suitable and sufficient risk assessment but does not define risk itself.
Irish HSA
“risk”SharedUsed throughout the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 without a statutory definition. Section 19 requires identification of hazards and assessment of risks.
US OSHA
“risk”SharedNot defined as a general term in the OSH Act 1970. OSHA standards refer to hazard and exposure rather than risk as a combined likelihood-severity measure.
Practitioner note: Risk is not hazard. Confusing the two produces assessments that list dangers without ever evaluating likelihood or severity.