DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RISK AND HAZARD

In this article we analyse the definition of hazard according to Legislative Decree 81/08, and therefore understand how hazard can be defined and the difference between hazard and risk.

Legislative Decree 81/08 is a fundamental regulatory cornerstone in the field of occupational health and safety.

Among the many important elements provided for in this decree, two definitions stand out, for example, which make it possible to distinguish two fundamental concepts in the field of safety: risk and hazard.

These are two terms that are often confused by common opinion, but which in reality have differences that are not exactly subtle. Particular attention must be paid to these notions with reference to safety in the workplace.

Below we look at the difference between risk and hazard and add further considerations on the matter:

• Hazard: the property of a factor that can cause harm, linked to its intrinsic nature. This concept focuses on the inherent characteristics of an element or situation which, in itself, has the potential to be harmful.
• Risk: the measure of the probability that harm will occur following exposure to a hazard, considering the frequency and severity of the potential harm. Risk assesses the hazard itself and the fact that exposure to it may lead to harmful consequences.

Examples of risks and hazards in the workplace

But what is the difference between risk and hazard? What are the properties of a hazard, and what are those of a risk? The differences are not obvious, nor should they be underestimated. From the point of view of the law and of responsibility before it, it is necessary for those operating in the sector to have a clear understanding of the distinction between the two conditions, and to know how to address both separately.

To better understand the differences between risk and hazard, at least as they emerge from the legislative definition, it is appropriate to consider examples that clarify the two concepts.

Let us start with some examples of hazards:

• The presence of exposed electrical cables.
• A load that has not been secured with due care and therefore remains suspended.
• The presence of particular substances which, if not handled correctly, could cause harm to workers.
• Failure to maintain plants and machinery.
• The use of potentially toxic products without adequate control.

Now let us look at some common categories of risk:

• Physical risks, such as those linked to the presence of electromagnetic fields, mechanical vibrations and optical radiation, which can create problems for employees, underline the importance of carrying out a specific and physical risk assessment. This essential process makes it possible to identify all potential threats to health and safety in the workplace and to implement appropriate preventive measures to mitigate these risks, thereby ensuring a safe and protected working environment for all employees.
• Biological risks, concerning all those agents such as microorganisms (natural or artificially modified) that can cause illness in people with whom they come into contact (including some types of food risks, such as contamination, which may bring pathogenic or harmful microorganisms into contact both with those handling and preparing food and with the end consumer).
• Chemical risks, associated with any chemical element or compound that may cause harm to workers’ health, require careful and accurate assessment. Chemical risk assessment is a fundamental step in identifying, evaluating and managing the potential chemical hazards present in the workplace. During this process, data on toxicity, concentration and duration of exposure are analysed in order to determine the risk levels for workers. Based on the results of the assessment, appropriate preventive and protective measures are adopted to reduce or eliminate exposure to chemical hazards. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), staff training and the implementation of adequate safety procedures are some of the measures adopted to ensure a chemically safe working environment. Chemical risk assessment is a cornerstone of occupational safety management, making it possible to safeguard employees’ health and well-being and to avoid possible accidents or illnesses linked to chemical exposure.

The examples show that, while in the case of hazards there are factors to which potential harm can be associated, in the case of risks there are probabilities that harm of a certain magnitude will occur, depending on how those agents act and are treated.

How to deal with a risk situation in company contexts

Various laws at national level, in particular the repeatedly cited Legislative Decree 81/08, guarantee the protection of employees with regard to health and safety in the workplace. In particular, the employer is required to carry out the risk assessment and to implement specific interventions to reduce risks, as well as to adopt preventive measures. How is it possible to prevent accidents or real emergency situations, such as a fire? And how should these be managed? There are various behaviours to adopt in this regard:

• The correct use of work equipment.
• The use of safety devices.
• Compliance with the regulations in force.
• The preparation of an emergency management plan.
• The correct execution of the procedures to be followed in the event of real danger.

All these intervention methods are adopted with the aim of providing protection services for workers in the business world and preventing hazards and risks from being managed in an unsuitable manner, thereby improving their working conditions (and therefore their living conditions). The important thing is to start from a correct monitoring scale, from the lowest to the highest risk, and to adopt a consistent behaviour. Both underestimating a risk or hazard condition and, conversely, exaggerating it may in turn lead to a worsening of working conditions.

This way of acting also has the effect of transmitting greater knowledge to people active in the company about the risk and hazard situations they may in one way or another encounter.

There are numerous methods for assessing risks within a company context. In any case, it is important to choose the one most suitable for the individual case, depending on the characteristics of both the workplaces and the tasks performed by each worker individually.

Following the assessment, with a view to risk management commensurate with the probabilistic term of the occurrence of the event, the correct identification of the origin of the risks and the related vulnerabilities is essential, so as to adapt work activities and protection measures for the persons involved.

Training and updating of workers

In light of what has been set out in this article, the importance within the company of proper training for the various figures present stands out even more, and this must be followed by timely updating (not only because it is required by law).

In this way, workers will be informed about legislative changes concerning the tools and techniques used to manage risks and hazards, the rescue activities to be implemented in the event of an emergency, and the importance to be attributed to environmental factors in risk analysis.

It is also essential to coordinate the skills acquired during training and updating, so that each company has all the personnel assigned to managing the various risks that may occur, capable of dealing with different situations and coordinating efforts both in prevention and in management.