What is the difference between a threat and a risk?

What is the difference between a threat and a risk?

• A. A threat is a potential source of harm or stated intent; risk is the likelihood and severity of harm if the threat is realized.
• B. A threat is a past incident; risk is future.
• C. Threat and risk are the same.
• D. Risk is only about financial loss.

Answer: (B)

In workplace violence risk management, the distinction between a threat and risk is about potential harm versus its likelihood and impact. A threat is a potential source of harm or an expressed intent to harm someone. Risk takes that threat and looks at how likely it is to be realized and how severe the harm would be if it happened. So threat points to danger that could occur; risk weighs how probable it is and how bad the consequences would be, guiding what you prioritize for mitigation. This isn’t about past events. A threat isn’t defined as something that already happened; it’s about what could happen. Risk isn’t limited to the future either; it focuses on the chance of harm and its potential severity given the current vulnerabilities. Also, risk isn’t only about financial loss—it encompasses physical safety, emotional well-being, and organizational disruption.

In workplace violence risk management, the distinction between a threat and risk is about potential harm versus its likelihood and impact. A threat is a potential source of harm or an expressed intent to harm someone. Risk takes that threat and looks at how likely it is to be realized and how severe the harm would be if it happened. So threat points to danger that could occur; risk weighs how probable it is and how bad the consequences would be, guiding what you prioritize for mitigation.

This isn’t about past events. A threat isn’t defined as something that already happened; it’s about what could happen. Risk isn’t limited to the future either; it focuses on the chance of harm and its potential severity given the current vulnerabilities. Also, risk isn’t only about financial loss—it encompasses physical safety, emotional well-being, and organizational disruption.