Which term denotes an unexpected and unintentional event that tends to result in damage or injury?

Which term denotes an unexpected and unintentional event that tends to result in damage or injury?

• A. Accident
• B. Incident
• C. Hazard
• D. Loss

Answer: (A)

In safety and risk language, an accident is an unplanned, unintended event that tends to cause injury or damage. That matches the description exactly: it’s unexpected, unintentional, and it leads to harm or property damage. An incident is a broader term that can include events with no injury or damage (near misses), so it’s not as precise for a harm-causing event. A hazard is a dangerous condition or situation, not an event itself. Loss refers to the outcome after harm or damage has occurred, not the initiating event. So the best answer is the term that describes the event itself causing harm or damage.

In safety and risk language, an accident is an unplanned, unintended event that tends to cause injury or damage. That matches the description exactly: it’s unexpected, unintentional, and it leads to harm or property damage. An incident is a broader term that can include events with no injury or damage (near misses), so it’s not as precise for a harm-causing event. A hazard is a dangerous condition or situation, not an event itself. Loss refers to the outcome after harm or damage has occurred, not the initiating event. So the best answer is the term that describes the event itself causing harm or damage.