As veterinarians, you should be able to assess the situation to identify ____, then develop and implement a plan to reduce the risk of disease.

• A. hazards
• B. risks
• C. factors
• D. points of exposure

Answer: (A)

Identifying hazards is the essential first step in preventing disease in veterinary settings. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm or illness—such as a contaminated water source, improper vaccine storage, poor sanitation, a vector, or risky handling practices. By recognizing these sources of potential harm, you can move on to assessing how likely it is that they will cause disease and then develop a plan to reduce that risk. The risk reduction plan targets exposure and vulnerability, using controls that aim to eliminate the hazard when possible, or reduce exposure through engineering, administrative measures, and appropriate protective equipment. While related concepts like risks, factors, or points of exposure describe other parts of the process, the core step is pinpointing the hazards that could lead to disease so you can address them effectively.