Dear Suresh
You are speaking my language. Please see suggested definitions as follows:
A HAZARD is any situatuation, condition, thing or action (inaction if appropriate) which has the potential to cause harm. This harm includes injury to personnel and/ or damage to property. This includes third party personnel and private/ public property. All hazards in the workplace must be identified in order to be managed. It is a sad truth that not all hazards can be eliminated. it is important that all employees must (if possible a a condition of employment) report all hazards to magagement.
Once hazards have been identified, they must be considered in terms of PROBABILITY (what is the chance of the potential harm becoming a reality) and SEVERITY (how bad could it be if the potential harm became a reality). Only once this has been fully considered, can this hazard be considered in terms of RISK. This could become a very complex issue. To start keep it simple. Consider both the aspects of the RISK (PROBABILITY and SEVERITY) as LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH). This will enable you to have a realistic understanding of the hazard and will give som indication of how to prioritize and manage the risk. Some sort of mitigation meaures must be appied to the risk in order to decrease the possible consequences to a minimum.
An ACCIDENT is the exchange of energy which takes place when the elements of a RISK come together, causing injury or damage. If there has been no damage or injury, the event is by definition not an accident, but an INCIDENT.
An UNSAFE ACT is an act or ommission by any person in the workplace which has the potential to cause harm (injury/ damage). Unsafe act are usually not deliberate. UNSAFE CONDITIONS are as defined above as HAZARDS.
I hope this helps. Best regards, Craig