occupational hazard

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   a danger or risk that is a normal part of a particular job

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an occupational hazard' or 'occupational hazards'.

   Patterns

   • an occupational hazard of something
   • occupational hazards for someone

   Back pain is an occupational hazard for nurses who lift patients.

   Hearing loss is a common occupational hazard in construction work.

   Long hours are an occupational hazard of running your own business.

2. 2nouncountablefigurativehumorous

   something unpleasant that regularly happens in a particular activity or situation and is accepted as normal

   Grammar: Often used figuratively and humorously, not about physical danger.

   Patterns

   • an occupational hazard of doing something
   • just an occupational hazard

   Getting criticized is an occupational hazard of being a manager.

   Losing a few plants to frost is an occupational hazard of gardening.

   For a comedian, a joke that fails is just an occupational hazard.

Word forms

Common combinations

common occupational hazard

Stress is a common occupational hazard in busy offices.

an occupational hazard of

Sore feet are an occupational hazard of waiting tables.

face an occupational hazard

Divers face serious occupational hazards every day.

reduce occupational hazards

The new rules aim to reduce occupational hazards in factories.

Synonyms and how they differ

workplace risk

A more general term for any danger at work; 'occupational hazard' often suggests it is a known, accepted part of the job.

job risk

Informal and broader; 'occupational hazard' is the standard phrase in health and safety contexts.

Commonly confused: occupational hazard or occupational therapy?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “occupational hazard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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