Health and Safety Glossary

Get to know some of the most common terms of the industry with our ABCs of health and safety. Click a letter in the bar below to jump to that section.

Index

ASTM Standards Meaning & Definition

ASTM International develops and publishes standards for a variety of different industries, with the overarching aim of improving performance and safety.

Asbestos-Containing Materials Meaning & Definition

Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials have been historically used in buildings and construction work throughout the best part of the 20th century.

Acute Exposure Meaning & Definition

Acute exposure refers to excessive contact with a substance. Depending on a person’s own weight and health, exposure to different dosages may be harmful.

Accident Prevention Meaning & Definition

Accident prevention is an umbrella term that focuses on the activities, plans, and steps taken by an organization to reduce the risk of accidents.

Business Continuity Management Meaning & Definition

Business continuity management is the process of developing a plan so your business can continue to operate in the event of an unexpected disruption.

Biological Hazards

Biological hazards refer to any organism or substance that poses a threat to human health. Typically, they come from living organisms or byproducts of their activities.

Behavioural Safety Meaning & Definition

Behavioural safety is ‘the proactive identification and control of human factors that could lead to unsafe acts or conditions.’

Corrosive Meaning & Definition

“Corrosive” refers to materials which can destroy other materials they come into contact with. Most corrosives are bases, oxidizers, or acids.

Construction Phase Plan (CPP) Meaning & Definition

All construction projects require a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) before work begins. It’s an important document for managing the project safely.

Confined Space Meaning & Definition

A confined space is any space that offers limited entry and exit points, and is generally not designed to accommodate humans.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Meaning & Definition

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are generally a mixture of chemicals that are commonly used as a refrigerant.

Chemical Identity Meaning & Definition

Chemical identity is the concept that each chemical or substance has a distinct property that separates it from other chemicals.

Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposure occurs when a worker comes into contact with any substance that can cause harm to their health. These may include liquids, gases, solids, or even dusts that can be inhaled.

CE marking Meaning & Definition

The CE marking, also known as the Conformitè Europëenne Mark (which translates to European Conformity) is a mandatory conformity marking required in the European Union for regulating the sale of goods throughout the European Economic Area.

CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Meaning & Definition

The CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) is an international not-for-profit charity that runs the worlds largest environmental disclosure system.

Dynamic Risk Assessment Meaning & Definition

Dynamic risk assessment (DRA) is a process for assessing risks that takes into account the constantly changing nature of the world around us.

DOT Hazard Classification Meaning & Definition

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has specified clear rules for shipping hazardous goods and materials.

ESG Meaning & Definition

Environmental social governance, or ESG, is a set of standards for measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of businesses and organisations.

Ergonomics Meaning & Definition

Ergonomics is a holistic term that refers to the process of arranging a workplace in a way that makes it easy for people to use it.

Ergonomic Hazards Meaning & Definition

An ergonomic hazard refers to any physical condition or factor found in the workplace that can cause injury or health concerns.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a vital process used to determine the possible environmental effects of a proposed project and analyze ways to mitigate those effects.

Emergency Response Plan

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone.

Emergency Evacuation

Emergencies can strike anytime and unexpectedly. Natural disasters, fires, chemical spills, and even terrorist attacks can cause situations where an immediate evacuation becomes necessary.

Electrical Safety

Electrical safety is crucial to ensure a secure and healthy working environment for employees who work with electronic equipment.

EHSQ Meaning & Definition

EHSQ systems help businesses identify risks and take steps to mitigate them before they cause harm.

Ecological Footprint Meaning & Definition

The ecological footprint is a method that determines how dependent humans are on natural resources.

Flammability Meaning & Definition

Flammability is a measure of how quickly a specific material is capable of catching fire and burning.

First Aid Meaning & Definition

First aid is the term for the immediate medical care provided to someone after an injury occurs, usually at the same location where the event takes place.

Fire Safety Plan

A fire safety plan is a document that outlines all aspects of fire prevention procedures, evacuation procedures, and policies for responding to a fire.

Fire Risk Assessment Meaning & Definition

A fire risk assessment is the evaluation of a workplace to identify fire hazards, assess the likelihood of a fire occurring, and analyse any consequences

Fall Protection

Accidents related to fall protection are one of the most common causes of non-fatal workplace accidents.

Fall Arrest System

A fall arrest system is a safety system that consists of different components designed to protect workers from falls.

Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA) Definition

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a method that involves evaluating various systems and components to identify how a failure might occur.

Hydrofluoric Acid Meaning & Definition

Hydrofluoric acid is different from other types of acids because of the fluoride ion, which easily penetrates the skin and starts damaging body tissue.

HSEQ Meaning & Definition

HSEQ is an management system that outlines the best practices for organizations to ensure a safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly working environment

Hot Work Permit

A hot work permit is a document that authorizes hot work in a controlled manner. The permit provides a systematic process that identifies and controls potential hazards from hot work.

Heat Exhaustion Meaning & Definition

Heat exhaustion is a serious condition or illness that often manifests after an individual is exposed to extremely high temperatures.

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Meaning & Definition

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) is an approach designed to manage and control workplace hazards, environmental risks, and employee well-being

Health Hazard Meaning & Definition

In occupational health and safety, a health hazard refers to any substance or a chemical that might prove to be dangerous if exposed to individuals.

Health and Safety Audit Meaning & Definition

A health and safety audit is an assessment of a company’s systems, procedures, and policies related to employee health and safety to ensure compliance with current regulations.

HAZWOPER Meaning & Definition

The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, also known as HAZPOWER, is a comprehensive series of guidelines that are regularly maintained by OSHA.

Hazardous Waste Meaning & Definition

Hazardous waste is defined as waste that is hazardous to human health, mainly because it contains toxic chemicals or substances

Hazardous Waste Management

Hazardous waste management is an essential but often overlooked aspect of environmental health and safety.

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials are substances, materials, and products that can pose a risk to human health, safety, and the environment.

Hazardous Event Meaning & Definition

A hazardous event is described as any situation that leads to the creation of a hazard or exacerbates the impact of existing hazards.

Hazard Meaning & Definition

A hazard is defined as anything that can be a potential source of harm, or that could have an adverse health effect on those who come into contact with it.

Hazard Communication

Hazard communication is the process of identifying and communicating potential hazards and risks associated with chemicals and other hazardous materials in the workplace.

Inhalation Meaning & Definition

Inhalation is the process by which other gases or air enter your lungs. Inhalation is a vital process in breathing that is critical for sustaining life.

Incident Investigation Meaning & Definition

An incident is a situation or an occurrence during the course of work that could result in an injury, illness, affliction, or prove to be fatal.

Job Hazard Analysis

As an EHS team member, your primary responsibility is to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for everyone.

Lost Time Injury

Lost time injuries are a vital benchmark for any organization concerned with the health and safety of its employees.

Liquefied Gas Meaning & Definition

Liquefied gasses are gases that are in a liquid state at normal room temperature and stored in cylinders under pressure.

Mutagen Meaning & Definition

A mutagen is defined as any chemical or physical agent that has the ability to permanently alter a victim’s DNA.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Meaning & Definition

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a set of conditions that cause serious pain, mainly in the musculoskeletal system, like nerves, tendons, and muscles.

Material Safety Data Sheet Meaning & Definition

The material safety data sheet provides handlers and employees with relevant information about the materials and what they can be exposed to.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a crucial aspect of many jobs, particularly in industrial workplaces, warehouses, construction sites, and healthcare facilities.

Management of Change Meaning & Definition

Change is expected in virtually every business, irrespective of its size. Management of change (MOC) is a method designed to deal with the change.

Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Definition

Maintenance, repair, and operations, or MRO, includes all the activities performed by the facility to ensure that all equipment remains in good condition.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Meaning & Definition

A person’s ability to hear is one of five major senses. Hearing loss therefore, even minimal, can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life.

Near Miss Meaning & Definition

A near miss is defined by the HSE as any event that doesn’t lead to harm but does have the potential to cause illness or injury.

Occupational Illness Meaning & Definition

An occupational illness is defined as a chronic illness or disease that is caused primarily due to exposure to a workplace hazard.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is an area of public medicine that primarily focuses on the safety, health, and welfare of employees at work.

Occupational Health (OH) Meaning & Definition

Occupational health (OH) primarily focuses on maintaining the physical, mental, and the social health of employees in different occupations.

Occupational Exposure Limit

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) are guidelines developed by regulatory bodies to promote worker safety and prevent the harmful effects of chemical exposure in the workplace.

Process Safety Management

Process safety management is a vital element of employee and environmental protection in industrial processes.

Preventive Maintenance Meaning & Definition

Preventive maintenance (PM) is the routine maintenance of different assets, equipment and machinery to ensure smooth operations and reduce any unplanned equipment failures.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Meaning & Definition

Portable appliance testing (PAT) is a common term that refers to the inspection and examination of electrical machinery and equipment to determine if they are operating at maximum effectiveness and if they are safe to use.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Meaning & Definition

Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs for short, are a category of synthetic organic chemicals that contain hydrogen, chlorine, and carbon atoms.

Plan, Do, Check Act (PDCA)

If you are a part of an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) team or a manager in your organization responsible for implementing EHS management systems, you may have come across the term “PDCA.”

Personal Protective Equipment Meaning & Definition

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a term that defines any piece of clothing or equipment that’s worn by employees to minimize exposure to biological, chemical, or any physical hazards on the worksite.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) | Glossary

A personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) is a dedicated plan for an individual who may require assistance or support to evacuate from the premises in case an emergency arises.

Permit to Work Meaning & Definition

Permit to Work systems are commonly used in the Health and Safety industry and are designed to mitigate the risks of safety in high-risk tasks.

Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE)

Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) management is a critical aspect of any successful organization, ensuring that the different aspects of your business function together efficiently, responsibly, and safely.

Quality Management System (QMS)

The foundation of a successful and thriving business lies in an organization’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality products and services.

Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) Meaning & Definition

Risk-based inspection is a business process that’s used to examine equipment, ranging from pressure vessels to the pipes used in industrial plants.

Risk Meaning & Definition

Risk is defined as the possibility of a hazard actually causing harm. Companies use various techniques to identify risks and eliminate or mitigate them.

Risk Management Meaning & Definition

In terms of Health & Safety, risk management refers to identifying workplace hazards and outlining the steps to be taken to eliminate or mitigate them.

Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)

When it comes to ensuring the safety and well-being of employees in the workplace, particularly those in high-risk industries, a comprehensive understanding of all the necessary precautions and procedures is undeniably crucial.

Risk Assessment Matrix

A risk assessment matrix is essentially a table that contains different levels of severity and likelihood of potential hazards.

RIDDOR Meaning & Definition

RIDDOR, or the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, is health and safety law in the UK.

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI), also known as repetitive stress injuries, are injuries that occur due to the gradual decline of muscle tissue, tendons, and the nerves caused by performing repeated strain.

REACH Meaning & Definition

REACH, which is an acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals, is a regulation of the European Union from 2007.

Supply Chain Meaning & Definition

Find out all about supply chain monitoring and why they are crucial to your sustainability performance and achieving your goals.

Stress Risk Assessment Meaning & Definition

A stress risk assessment is a detailed evaluation of different sources of stress in the workplace.

Solvent Meaning & Definition

A solvent is any substance, usually liquid, which is capable of dissolving one or several substances, thus creating a solution.

Severity Meaning & Definition

Severity is the degree of hardness of a specific thing. Severity indicates just how serious or harsh the effects of an incident can be.

Scope 1 Scope 2 and Scope 3 Emissions Meaning & Definition

Find out all about scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 emissions and why they are crucial to GHG accounting and achieving your climate targets.

Scissor Lift Meaning & Definition

A scissor lift is a commonly used piece of equipment often found on construction sites: An aerial platform with a lifting mechanism attached to it.

Safety PLC Meaning & Definition

Safety PLC, also known as a safety programmable logic controller, is used to control machinery & equipment, and automate industrial processes.

Safety Mitigation Meaning & Definition

Mitigating safety risks in the workplace is the employer’s responsibility. Whether you own a business or are the manager of a plant in a company, it’s important to take proper actions to mitigate safety risks.

Safety Management System Meaning & Definition

A safety management system (SMS) is the framework or management approach taken by an organization to mitigate and control safety risk in the workplace.

Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Meaning & Definition

A safety instrumented system (SIS) is a system that contains control elements, sensors, and logic solvers to monitor parameters and values of processes within a plant.

Safety Equipment

At its most basic level, safety equipment is any device or tool that is designed to protect workers from injury or illness.

Safety Compliance Meaning & Definition

Safety compliance is defined as an ongoing process of complying with the health and safety standards established by regulatory legislators and bodies.

Safety Audit Meaning & Definition

A safety audit is a process through which businesses collect information about the company’s overall safety culture and protocols.

Safety Analysis Risk Assessment (SARA) Meaning & Definition

Safety Analysis Risk Assessment (SARA) is a powerful tool for reducing risk in the workplace.

Safe Systems of Work (SSOW)

Workplace safety is at the top of every employer’s list of priorities, and for a good reason. In a safe and healthy work environment, employees can perform at their best without fear of injury or harm.

Toxin Meaning & Definition

A toxin is defined as a naturally occurring organic poison that’s generally produced due to the metabolic activities of an organism or living cells.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration | Glossary

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor.

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme Meaning & Definition

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is a British company that offers training and qualification verification schemes that are commonly used throughout the construction industry in Britain.

The Construction Regulations 2015 Meaning & Definition

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 were introduced by the Health and Safety Executive and focus on the management of health, safety and the general welfare of individuals who work on construction projects.

The Bradley Curve Meaning & Definition

The Bradley Curve, also known as the DuPont Bradley model, is a powerful tool that can be used to visualize and assess safety performance in the workplace.

Workplace Stress Meaning & Definition

Workplace stress can be defined as the mental & emotional response of the body when employees are under significant pressure due to workplace conditions

Workplace Accident Meaning & Definition

A workplace accident, also commonly known as an occupational accident, is an unforeseen event in the workplace that results in an injury to an employee.

Working at Height Meaning & Definition

Working at heights refers to any work that is done above ground level, such as on a roof or up a ladder. It can also refer to work done near edges.

Young Person’s Risk Assessment

EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) professionals play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of young workers in the workplace while also fostering their growth and development, especially in high-risk workplaces.