Biohazard and biorisk in a laboratory

A hazard is defined as a source that possesses the potential to cause harm or adverse health effects on individuals. Risk is the likelihood of an undesirable event happening, that involves a specific hazard or threat and has consequences. A hazard is not a risk without a specific environment or situation. A hazard only becomes a risk in a specific environment or situation.

In a laboratory, biohazard is identified as biological source of potential harm to a person or animal while biorisk is the likelihood that harm will happen due to biohazard.