Which term refers to an undesired event in which exposure or movement of a person to objects or conditions may cause personal injury or property damage?

• A. Accident
• B. Incident
• C. Hazard
• D. Near miss

Answer: (A)

An accident is an unplanned event in which exposure to a hazard can cause personal injury or property damage. The focus here is on an undesired event where someone is exposed to objects or conditions that could lead to harm, which is the typical description of an accident—a situation where harm occurs or could occur because of exposure during work. A hazard refers to the potential for harm itself, not the event, while an incident is a broader term for any unplanned event, and a near miss describes an event that could have caused harm but didn’t. So, when the description centers on an undesired event involving exposure to a hazard that could cause injury or damage, it aligns with an accident.