What does the term 'principal hazard' refer to?

The term 'principal hazard' is indeed best defined as a hazard with the potential to cause multiple fatalities. This definition emphasizes the severity and risk associated with principal hazards, which are typically serious and have a high consequence if they occur. In many regulatory and industry contexts, understanding principal hazards is crucial for risk management and implementing safety measures effectively, as they represent the most significant threats to life and safety in a given environment.

Recognizing a hazard as a principal hazard aids organisations in prioritizing their safety strategies, ensuring that the most critical issues are addressed first to protect worker safety and reduce the risk of catastrophic incidents. Hence, the focus is on hazards that could lead to multiple fatalities rather than those that are minor, have no history of incidents, or are categorized as probable safety issues, which may not pose the same level of risk.