What is a hazard log and how is it maintained?

• A. A fixed list of hazards created at project start and never updated.
• B. A living document listing identified hazards, their risk levels, and mitigations, updated throughout design, development, and post-market.
• C. A log of financial hazards only, updated yearly.
• D. A list of hazards that only affect manufacturing.

Answer: (B)

A hazard log is a living risk-management record that captures identified hazards, their assessed risk levels, and the mitigations in place, and it is actively updated as the design evolves and new information comes in, including post-market feedback. This means hazards found at any stage—during design, development, testing, production, use, maintenance, or field data—are added or re-evaluated, risk levels are adjusted as mitigations are added or removed, and ownership and verification status are kept current.

In practice, you list each hazard, estimate its risk (often using severity and probability), note any existing controls, assign responsibility, and track the status and effectiveness of mitigations. As changes occur in the product, new test results come in, or users report issues, the log is revised to reflect updated risk and new actions. This continuous updating ensures safety considerations keep pace with the product throughout its lifecycle, from conception to post-market.

The other options miss this dynamic, lifecycle-spanning nature. A fixed list never updated ignores new hazards or changing risk as designs change. Limiting to financial hazards focuses on a narrow category and misses safety-related hazards; meanwhile restricting to manufacturing confines hazard consideration to production risks only, ignoring hazards that can arise during use, maintenance, or disposal.