For an accident to happen, there must be two factors present: the hazard and:

For an accident to happen, there must be two factors present: the hazard and:

• A. exposure to the hazard
• B. duration of exposure
• C. training level
• D. equipment condition

Answer: (A)

An accident happens when a hazardous condition is encountered by a person or process. The crucial idea is that there must be a hazard and there must be exposure to it. A hazard exists, but if no one comes into contact with it, harm doesn’t occur. Exposure is the interaction with the hazard—being in contact with it, or in its path, for a period of time. Without exposure, the hazard can exist but won’t cause an accident; with exposure but no hazard, there’s nothing that can cause harm. For example, a spilled chemical on the floor is a hazard, but an accident only occurs if someone steps in or otherwise comes into contact with it. The duration of exposure is part of exposure, but it’s not a separate factor needed beyond being exposed. Training level and equipment condition influence how well people and systems prevent or reduce exposure, but they aren’t the two factors that must be present for an accident to occur.

An accident happens when a hazardous condition is encountered by a person or process. The crucial idea is that there must be a hazard and there must be exposure to it. A hazard exists, but if no one comes into contact with it, harm doesn’t occur. Exposure is the interaction with the hazard—being in contact with it, or in its path, for a period of time. Without exposure, the hazard can exist but won’t cause an accident; with exposure but no hazard, there’s nothing that can cause harm.

For example, a spilled chemical on the floor is a hazard, but an accident only occurs if someone steps in or otherwise comes into contact with it. The duration of exposure is part of exposure, but it’s not a separate factor needed beyond being exposed. Training level and equipment condition influence how well people and systems prevent or reduce exposure, but they aren’t the two factors that must be present for an accident to occur.