| Abbreviation | Term | Definition | Further Information | Synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | Advisory Committee | A group providing guidance or advice on specific issues. | ||
| AAIAC | Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee | A committee advising on matters related to adventure activities. | AAIAC | N/A |
| AALA | Adventure Activities Licensing Authority | The authority responsible for licensing adventure activities. | Adventure activities licensing – HSE | N/A |
| AALS | Adventure Activities Licensing Committee | A committee overseeing the licensing of adventure activities. | NA | |
| ABC | Airways Breathing Circulation | A medical acronym for the primary components to check in a patient: their airways, breathing, and circulation. | ABC of CPR/BLS | N/A |
| ABCA | Military standards body for US, UK, Canada, and Australia | A group setting military standards for the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. | ABCANZ Armies | N/A |
| ABCB | Association of British Certification Bodies | An organization representing certification bodies in Britain. | ABCB – The Association of British Certification Bodies | N/A |
| ABCL | Automatic barrier crossing, locally monitored | A type of automatic barrier at crossings, monitored locally. | N/A | |
| ABM | Activity-based management | A management approach focusing on activities to improve business processes. | Activity-Based Cost Management (ABCM) | |
| ABNT | Associacao Brasileira de Normas Tecnicas (Brazil) | The Brazilian Association of Technical Standards. | Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas | N/A |
| AC | Advisory Committee | A group providing guidance or advice on specific issues. | Advisory Board, Advisory Panel | |
| AC | Asbestos Cement | A type of building material made from asbestos and cement. | Wikipedia | Fibro, Fibrolite |
| AC | Alternating Current | An electric current that periodically reverses direction, in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. | European Commission | N/A |
| ACA | Association of Consultant Architects | A professional organization for consultant architects. | Association of Consultant Architects | N/A |
| ACAI | Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate | An agency inspecting alkali and air quality, now part of the Environment Agency. | National Archives | HMACAI, British Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate |
| ACAS | Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service | A UK service helping resolve workplace disputes. | ACAS | |
| ACB | Air Circuit Breaker | A type of circuit breaker that uses air as the dielectric. Air circuit breakers are typically used when fault currents are high. | ||
| ACDP | Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens | A committee advising on dangerous pathogens. | ACDP | |
| ACDS | Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances | A committee advising on dangerous substances. | National Archives | |
| ACE | Association for Consultancy and Engineering | A professional body for consultants and engineers. | ACE | |
| ACES | Amusement Catering Equipment Society | An association for those involved with amusement catering equipment. | A.C.E.S. | |
| ACGM | Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification | A committee advising on genetic modification matters. | Scientific Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification | SACGM |
| ACL | Approved Carriage List | A list of substances approved for carriage. | The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1994 | |
| ACM | Asbestos Containing Material | Any material that contains asbestos and is hazardous. | ||
| ACoP | Approved Code of Practice | Practical advice on how to comply with health and safety law, having special legal status. | Health and Safety Executive | |
| ACP | Advisory Committee on Pesticides | A committee advising on pesticide use and safety. | ACP | |
| ACRE | Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment | A committee advising on environmental releases. | ACRE | |
| ACTS | Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances | A committee advising on toxic substances. | Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC) | HSAC |
| AD | Area Director now Operations Manager | A regional director, now known as an operations manager. | ||
| ADI | Acceptable Daily Intake | The maximum amount of a substance considered safe to consume daily. | ||
| ADN | European provisions concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways | Regulations for transporting dangerous goods by inland waterways in Europe. | ||
| ADR | Accord Dangereux Routier | The European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. | ||
| ADS | Approved Dosimetry Service | A service approved to measure radiation doses. | ||
| AEAT | AEA Technology PLC | A UK-based technology company. | ||
| AED | Automated External Defibrillator | A portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. | ||
| AENOR | Asociacion Espanola de Normalizacion y Certificacion | The Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification. | ||
| AEP | Authorized Electrical Person | A person who has been formally recognized by an employer as being competent to perform electrical work. | ||
| AFAIRP | As Far As Is Reasonably Practicable | A principle ensuring measures are taken to minimize risk as far as reasonable. | ||
| AFARP | As far as reasonably practical | A term used in safety regulations to indicate that an employer must reduce risks to the lowest level that is reasonably practical. | ||
| AFCD | Automatic Flue Closing Device | A device that automatically closes a flue. | ||
| AFFF | Aqueous Film Forming Foam | A type of fire extinguisher foam used for oil, petrol and other similar fires. | ||
| AFNOR | Association Francaise de Normalisation | The French Standardization Association. | ||
| AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein | A protein produced by the liver of a developing fetus. | ||
| AGR | Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor | A type of nuclear reactor. | ||
| AGT | Authorized Gas Tester | A person who is authorized and competent to test for the presence of gases in a specific area. | ||
| AHB | Automatic Half Barrier | A type of barrier at level crossings. | ||
| AHERA | Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act | A US act addressing asbestos hazards in schools. | ||
| AI | Active Ingredient | The ingredient in a product that is biologically active. | ||
| AIA | Asbestos International Association | An international association related to asbestos. | ||
| AIAC | Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee | A committee advising on agricultural industry matters. | ||
| AIB | Asbestos Insulation Board | A board used for insulation that contains asbestos. | ||
| AIC | Active Instability Control | A system used to control instability. | ||
| AIDII | Associazione Italiana Degli Igienisti Industriali | The Italian Association of Industrial Hygienists. | ||
| AIDS | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome | A disease caused by the HIV virus, weakening the immune system. | ||
| AIFTA | Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement | An agreement for free trade between the UK and Ireland. | ||
| AIOSH | Associate of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health | A membership level within the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. | ||
| AIRMIC | Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce | A UK association for insurance and risk management professionals. | ||
| AIST | Agency of Industrial Science and Technology | A Japanese government agency for industrial science and technology. | ||
| AIT | Auto(Genous) Ignition Temperature | The lowest temperature at which a substance will spontaneously ignite. | ||
| ALARA | As Low As Reasonably Achievable | A safety principle that aims to minimize the potential exposure to hazards. | ||
| ALARP | As Low As Reasonably Practicable | A safety principle that requires that the risks associated with a hazard be reduced to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. | ||
| ALG | Association of London Government | An association representing London borough councils. | ||
| ALI | Annual Limit of Intake | The maximum amount of a substance that can be safely consumed annually. | ||
| ALIBI | Assessment of LPG Installations for Bleve Incidents | A process for evaluating the safety of LPG installations. | ||
| ALPI | Asbestos Licensing Principal Inspector | The principal inspector overseeing asbestos licensing. | ||
| ALU | Asbestos Licensing Unit | A unit responsible for licensing asbestos-related activities. | ||
| AM | Administration Manager | A manager responsible for administrative functions. | ||
| AMAG | Agricultural Machinery Advisory Group | A group advising on agricultural machinery issues. | ||
| AMFO | Arbetsmiljofonden (Sweden) | The Swedish Work Environment Fund. | ||
| AMPS | Association of Management and Professional Staff | A UK association for management and professional staff. | ||
| ANC | Association of Noise Consultants | A professional body for noise consultants. | ||
| ANEC | Association Normalisation Européenne pour les Consommateurs | The European Association for the Coordination of Consumer Representation in Standardization. | ||
| ANFO | Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil | A mixture used as an explosive. | ||
| ANHMRC | Australian National Health and Medical Research Council | Australia’s main health and medical research organization. | ||
| ANPAT | Association Nationale pour la Prévention des Accidents du Travail (Brussels) | A Belgian association for accident prevention. | ||
| ANPR | Automatic Number Plate Recognition | A technology for reading vehicle number plates. | ||
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute | A US organization that oversees standards and conformity assessment. | ||
| ANSI | American National Standard Institute | A private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards in the United States. | ||
| AO | Area Office now Regional Office | A regional office of an organization. | ||
| AOCL | Automatic Open Crossing, Locally Monitored | A type of automatic level crossing monitored locally. | ||
| AOCR | Automatic Open Crossing, Remotely Monitored | A type of automatic level crossing monitored remotely. | ||
| AOCTs | Associated Overseas Countries and Territories | Countries and territories associated with a larger political entity. | ||
| AOPD | Active Opto-Electronic Protection Device | A device using light to detect and respond to safety hazards. | ||
| APAU | Accident Prevention Advisory Unit now Operations Unit | A unit advising on accident prevention, now part of the operations unit. | ||
| APB | Auditing Practices Board | A body setting standards for auditing practices. | ||
| APBL | Automatic Power Boom Lowering (System) | A system that automatically lowers a boom for safety. | ||
| APE | Aerosol Photoemission | Emission of light or particles from aerosols. | ||
| APE | Association of Planning Engineers | A professional organization for planning engineers. | ||
| APELL | Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level | A program to prepare for and respond to local emergencies. | ||
| APF | Assigned Protection Factor | The workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees. | ||
| API | American Petroleum Institute | A trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. | ||
| APOSC | Assessment Principles for Offshore Safety Cases | Guidelines for assessing safety cases in offshore environments. | ||
| APR | Air Purifying Respirator | A type of personal protective equipment that protects the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors, or gases. | ||
| APW | Air Pressurized Water | A type of fire extinguisher that uses water and compressed air as an extinguishing agent. | ||
| ASR | Air Supplying Respirator | A respirator that provides breathable air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere. | ||
| ASSE | American Society of Safety Engineers | A global association of safety professionals committed to protecting people, property and the environment. | ||
| BA | Breathing apparatus | A device worn to provide breathable air in environments that are otherwise hazardous. | ||
| BA | Biological agent | Any microorganism or biological substance that can cause harm to humans or the environment. | ||
| BACS | Bankers automated clearing services | A system for transferring funds between bank accounts electronically in the UK. | ||
| BACTA | British Amusement Catering Trades Association | An association representing the amusement and leisure industry in the UK. | ||
| BAFO | Best and final offer | The final bid submitted in a tendering process. | ||
| BALPPA | British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions | A trade association for operators of leisure parks, piers, and attractions in the UK. | ||
| BAM | Bundesanstalt fur Materialprufung | Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Germany). | ||
| BAPE | Benign asbestos pleural effusion | A non-cancerous buildup of fluid in the pleura due to asbestos exposure. | ||
| BASEEFA | British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres | An organization that certified electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres (until July 2003). | ||
| BAT | Best available techniques | The most effective and advanced methods to prevent or reduce environmental impact. | ||
| BAT | Biological Tolerance Value | The maximum concentration of a substance to which workers can be exposed without adverse effects. | ||
| BATNEEC | Best available techniques not entailing excessive cost | The best methods to reduce pollution without excessive costs. | ||
| BAU | Bundesanstalt fur Arbeitsschutz und Unfallforschung | Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Germany). | ||
| BBS | Behavioural Based Safety | A process that creates a safety partnership between management and employees that continually focuses people’s attentions and actions on theirs, and others, daily safety behavior. | ||
| BCA | Building Control Authority | An authority that oversees the compliance of building works with regulations. | ||
| BCC | Biocides Consultative Committee | A committee that advises on the regulation of biocides. | ||
| BCC | British Ceramic Confederation | A trade association representing the UK ceramic manufacturing industry. | ||
| BCECA | British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association | An association representing contractors in the UK chemical engineering sector. | ||
| BCF | Bromochlorodifluoromethane | A chemical compound once used in fire extinguishers and refrigeration. | ||
| BCMC | British Cable Makers Confederation | A trade association for the UK cable manufacturing industry. | ||
| BCME | Bis chloromethyl ether | A highly toxic chemical used in chemical synthesis. | ||
| BCRU | British Committee on Radiological Units | A committee that standardizes radiological measurements and units in the UK. | ||
| BEBOH | British Examining Board in Occupational Hygiene | An organization that certifies professionals in occupational hygiene. | ||
| BEI | Biological exposure indices | Guidelines for the maximum levels of substances in a person’s body for workplace safety. | ||
| BEL | Biological exposure limits | Legal limits on the amount of a substance workers can be exposed to in the workplace. | ||
| BEM | Business excellence model | A framework for assessing and improving business performance. | ||
| BERSA | British Elastic Rope Sports Association | An association representing the interests of elastic rope sports, like bungee jumping. | ||
| BEU | Business efficiency unit | A unit focused on improving business efficiency. | ||
| BEUC | European Consumers’ Bureau | An organization representing consumer interests in Europe. | ||
| BEWA | British Effluent And Water Association | An association focused on the management of water and wastewater in the UK. | ||
| BFI | Benefit Fraud Inspectorate | A government body that investigates and reduces benefit fraud in the UK. | ||
| BG | British Gas | A major energy supplier in the UK. | ||
| BGH | Bundesgerichtshof | The Federal Court of Justice in Germany. | ||
| BGS | British Geological Survey | The UK’s national organization for geological research and surveying. | ||
| BHSS | British Health and Safety Society | An organization promoting health and safety in the workplace in the UK. | ||
| BIAT | British Institute of Architectural Technologists | A professional institute for architectural technologists in the UK. | ||
| BIMBO | Buy in management buy out | A situation where external managers buy into a company and acquire it. | ||
| BIOH | British Institute of Occupational Hygiene | An institute promoting the study and practice of occupational hygiene in the UK. | ||
| BIP | Business improvement programme | A programme aimed at improving business processes and performance. | ||
| Bis CME | Bis chloromethyl ether | A highly toxic chemical used in chemical synthesis. | ||
| BLEVE | Boiling Liquid Expending Vapour Explosion | An explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing a pressurized liquid that has reached temperatures above its boiling point. | ||
| BLR | Blue light radiation | Part of the visible light spectrum with high energy, often from screens and lighting. | ||
| BMA | Bundesministerium fuer Arbeit und Sozialordnung | Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany). | ||
| BMHB | British Materials Handling Board | An organization representing the materials handling industry in the UK. | ||
| BMTA | British Measurement and Testing Association | A trade association for measurement and testing services in the UK. | ||
| BNS | Bureau de Normalisation de la Siderurgie | Steel industry standards bureau in France. | ||
| BNTA | Bureau de Normalisation du Tube Acier | Steel tube standards bureau in France. | ||
| BOHS | British Occupational Hygiene Society | A professional society for occupational hygienists in the UK. | ||
| BOO | Build own operate | A model where a company builds, owns, and operates a facility. | ||
| BOP | Balance of plant | All supporting components and auxiliary systems of a power plant. | ||
| BP | Blanket Permit | A permit that covers a range of activities, rather than a single specific activity. | ||
| BPBIF | British Paper and Board Industry Federation | An association representing the UK paper and board industry. | ||
| BPCA | British Pest Control Association | A trade association for the pest control industry in the UK. | ||
| BPD | Biocidal Products Directive | EU legislation regulating biocidal products. | ||
| BPEO | Best practicable environmental option | The most effective and practical means of protecting the environment. | ||
| BPF | British Property Federation | A trade association representing the UK real estate industry. | ||
| BPM | Best practicable means | The most effective and practical methods to achieve a particular outcome. | ||
| BRAC | Building Regulations Advisory Committee | A committee advising the government on building regulations in the UK. | ||
| BRE | Building Research Establishment | An organization providing research, advice, and testing for the built environment. | ||
| BREF | Best available techniques reference documents | Documents providing information on the best techniques for reducing environmental impact. | ||
| BREL | British Rail Engineering Limited | A company that provided engineering services to the rail industry in the UK. | ||
| BRIB | Better Regulation and International Branch | A government unit focused on improving regulatory practices and international cooperation. | ||
| BRINDEX | Association of British Independent Oil Corporation Companies | An association representing independent oil companies in the UK. | ||
| BROA | British Rig Owners Association | An association representing the owners of drilling rigs in the UK. | ||
| BRTF | Better Regulation Task Force | A task force aimed at improving regulatory frameworks. | ||
| BRU | Better Regulation Unit | A government unit working on enhancing the regulatory environment. | ||
| BSA | Business Software Alliance | A trade group that represents the global software industry. | ||
| BSC | Balanced scorecard | A strategic planning and management system used to align business activities with objectives. | ||
| BSC | British Safety Council | A global health, safety and environmental charity. They provide education, support, advice, and awards. | ||
| BSD | Business Services Division | A division providing various business support services. | ||
| BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy | A neurodegenerative disease in cattle, also known as mad cow disease. | ||
| BSI | British Standards Institution | The UK’s national standards body, developing and publishing standards. | ||
| BSO | Basic safety objective | Fundamental safety goals to protect people and the environment. | ||
| BSOR | Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations | Regulations governing the safety and operation of borehole sites. | ||
| BSR | Board of Standards Review | A board responsible for reviewing and setting standards (ANSI). | ||
| BSS | Basic Safety Standards Directive | EU directive setting out basic standards for radiation protection. | ||
| BSTSA | British Surface Treatment Suppliers Association | An association representing suppliers in the surface treatment industry. | ||
| BTL | Better team leadership | A concept or program aimed at improving leadership skills within teams. | ||
| BTM | Bromotrifluoromethane | A chemical compound used in fire suppression and refrigeration. | ||
| BTP | British Transport Police | The police force responsible for policing the railways and transport systems in the UK. | ||
| BTS | Bureau Technique Syndical Europ’ en par la Sant’ et la Securit’ | A European technical union focusing on health and safety. | ||
| BVS | Bergbau Versuchsstrecke | A mining research center in West Germany. | ||
| BWF | British Woodworking Federation | An organization representing the woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry in the UK. | ||
| BWR | Boiling water reactor | A type of nuclear reactor where water is used as both coolant and moderator. | ||
| CAR | Control of Asbestos Regulations | Regulations covering the management, work, and training related to asbestos materials. | ||
| CAZ | Control Access Zone | An area where access is restricted to protect workers or the public from hazards. | ||
| CBT | Competency Based Training | A training approach that focuses on what the learner should be able to do in the workplace as a result of training. | ||
| CDM | Construction (Design & Management) Regulations | Health and safety regulations for construction work in Great Britain. | ||
| CERCLA | Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act | A U.S. law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances. | ||
| CEV | Ceiling Exposure Value | The maximum allowable human exposure limit for an airborne substance; not to be exceeded even momentarily. | ||
| CHAS | Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme | Health and safety accreditation for construction industry contractors. | ||
| CHIP | Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations | A now repealed set of regulations from the United Kingdom. It has been replaced by the European CLP Regulation. | ||
| CLP | Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures | Regulations on classifying, labelling, and packaging substances for sale. | ||
| CNG | Compressed Natural Gas | Natural gas under pressure which remains clear, odourless, and non-corrosive. | ||
| CO2 | Carbon Dioxide | A colourless and odourless gas that is vital to life on Earth. | ||
| COP | Code of Practice | A set of written rules which explains how people working in a particular profession should behave. | ||
| COSHH | Control of Substance Hazardous to Health | A United Kingdom regulation that places duties on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and incident planning. | ||
| CPP | Construction Phase Plan | A required document for every construction project under CDM regulations. | ||
| CPR | Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation | An emergency procedure that combines chest compressions often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest. | ||
| CS | Confined Space | An enclosed area with limited space and accessibility. An example is the interior of a storage tank, occasionally entered by maintenance workers but not intended for human occupancy. | ||
| CSB | Chemical Safety Board | A U.S. federal agency that investigates chemical accidents to protect workers and the public. | ||
| CSR | Corporate Social Responsibility | A self-regulating business model that helps companies be socially accountable to themselves, their stakeholders, and the public. | ||
| CWP | Cold Work Permit | A document that includes a description of the work to be performed, hazards identified, and precautions to be taken. | ||
| dB | decibels | A unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale. | ||
| dB(A) | Decibel (A-weighted) | A noise measurement that approximates how the human ear perceives sound. | ||
| dB(C) | Decibel (C-weighted) | A noise measurement used for peak noise levels. | ||
| DC | Direct Current | An electric current flowing in one direction only. | ||
| DCP | Dry Chemical Powder | A fire extinguishing medium used for extinguishing flammable liquids, gases and electrical fires. | ||
| DGHS | Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances | Items or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. | ||
| DIFR | Disabling Injury Frequency Rate | A safety metric that gives the number of disabling injuries per million hours worked. | ||
| DoL | Department of Labour NZ | The public service department of New Zealand charged with improving the performance of the labour market and, through this, strengthening the economy, increasing productivity, and enhancing the security and opportunity for those in the labour market. | ||
| DOT | Department of Transportation | A U.S. government agency responsible for regulating all forms of transportation. | ||
| DSE | Display Screen Equipment | Devices or equipment that have an alphanumeric or graphic display screen, regardless of the display process involved; it includes both conventional display screens and those used in emerging technologies. | ||
| DSEAR | Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations | Law requiring control of risks from fire, explosions, and corrosive substances. | ||
| EAV | Exposure Action Value | The level above which action must be taken to control exposure. | ||
| EBA | Escape Breathing Apparatus | A device worn to provide breathable air in an emergency situation where the atmosphere is immediately dangerous to life or health. | ||
| ECGs | Electrocardiograms | A test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. | ||
| EH&S | Environment, Health, and Safety | Alternative abbreviation for Environment, Health, and Safety. | ||
| EHO | Environment Health Officer | A public health professional who is involved in the enforcement of public health laws. | ||
| EHS | Environment, Health, and Safety | A discipline and specialty that studies and implements practical aspects of environmental protection and safety at work. | ||
| EHSR | Essential Health and Safety Requirements | The basic requirements that a product must meet to ensure it does not compromise the safety and health of persons and, where appropriate, domestic animals or property. | ||
| EIWP | Electrical Isolation Work Permit | A permit issued to ensure that electrical equipment is safe to work on. | ||
| ELCB | Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker | A safety device used in electrical installations with high earth impedance to prevent shock. | ||
| ELSI | end-of-service-life indicator | A system that warns the respirator user of the approach of the end of adequate respiratory protection. | ||
| ELV | Exposure Limit Value | The maximum allowable exposure level for certain substances. | ||
| EMP | Emergency Management Plan | A document that outlines how an organization will respond to and recover from a major incident or emergency. | ||
| EMS | Emergency Management System | A system that provides the management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects of emergencies, in particularly preparedness, response and rehabilitation. | ||
| EP | Excavation Permit | A document that outlines the safety measures required for carrying out excavation work. | ||
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency | A U.S. government agency tasked with protecting human health and the environment. | ||
| ERP | Emergency Response Plan | A plan that outlines the procedures for managing major emergencies that could result in serious harm to people or damage to property and/or the environment. | ||
| ERT | Emergency Response Team | A group of employees designated to respond to an emergency in the workplace. | ||
| ESEW | Emergency Showers and Eyewashes | Equipment used in the event of an accident involving chemicals or harmful substances. | ||
| EU-OSHA | European Union – Health & Safety at Work Act | An EU agency that provides information on safety and health at work. | ||
| FAC | First Aid Case | An incident that requires first aid treatment. | ||
| FAI | First Aid Incident | An incident that requires first aid treatment. | ||
| FEE | Fire Extinguisher Equipment | Equipment used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. | ||
| FF | Fit Factor | A quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual. | ||
| FFE | Fire Fighting Equipment | Equipment designed to assist in extinguishing fires. | ||
| FIFR | Fatal Injury Frequency Rate | A calculation used in safety management to indicate the number of fatal injuries per million hours worked. | ||
| FPR | Fall Protection Required | A safety measure that indicates that fall protection is required in a certain area. | ||
| FPS | Fall protection System | A system designed to protect personnel from the risk of falls when working at height. | ||
| FR | Fire Resistant/Retardant | A substance that is used to slow or stop the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. | ||
| GFCI | Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter | A device that shuts off an electric power circuit when it detects that current is flowing along an unintended path, such as through water or a person. | ||
| GHS | Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals | An international standard for the classification and labelling of chemicals. | ||
| GHS | Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals | An internationally agreed-upon system, created by the United Nations, to replace the various classification and labelling standards used in different countries. | ||
| GK | Gas Kit | A kit used for detecting the presence of gases. | ||
| GM | Gas Monitor | An instrument used to detect the presence of gases in an area. | ||
| GWP | Global Warming Potential | A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere up to a specific time horizon, relative to carbon dioxide. | ||
| H&S | Health and Safety | General term for health and safety practices and regulations. | ||
| H2S | Hydrogen Sulfide | A colorless, flammable, extremely hazardous gas with a “rotten egg” smell. | ||
| HASWA / HSW | Health and Safety at Work etc. Act | The main legislation for health and safety duties in the UK. | ||
| HAVS | Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome | A preventable condition caused by vibration exposure, leading to pain and disability. | ||
| HAZOP | Hazard and Operability Study | A structured and systematic examination of a planned or existing process or operation in order to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment. | ||
| HCL | Hydrochloric Acid | A strong, corrosive acid that is commonly used in many industries. | ||
| HCN | Hydrogen Cyanide | A colorless, extremely poisonous and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature. | ||
| HEMP | Hazard And Effect Management Process | A process for identifying hazards in the workplace, assessing their risks, controlling these risks, and regularly reviewing these measures. | ||
| HEPA | High Efficiency Particulate Air | A type of air filter that can trap 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns. | ||
| HF | Hydrofluoric Acid | A solution of hydrogen fluoride in water that is a dangerous hazard in the workplace. | ||
| HFC | Hydrofluorocarbon | A type of compound that is used as a refrigerant. | ||
| HMI | Human Machine Interface | A user interface or dashboard that connects a person to a machine, system, or device. | ||
| HP | High Pressure | A condition of a gas or liquid at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. | ||
| HRA | Hazard Risk Assessment | A process that determines the risk associated with a hazard. | ||
| HSE | Health, Safety, and Environment | A term used to describe the responsibilities related to ensuring the health, safety, and environmental protection at workplaces. | ||
| HSE | Health and Safety Executive | Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. | ||
| HSE | Health, Safety and Environment | A discipline and specialty that studies and implements practical aspects of environmental protection and safety at work. | ||
| HSEQ | Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality | An integrated approach to managing health, safety, environment, and quality. | ||
| HSF | Health and Safety File | A document required for most construction projects under CDM regulations. | ||
| HSSE | Health, Safety, Security, and Environment | An expanded version of HSE that includes security responsibilities. | ||
| HSSEQ | Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality | An extended version of HSSE that also includes quality management. | ||
| HSWA | Health and Safety at Work Act | A primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. | ||
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning | A system used to provide heating and cooling services to buildings. | ||
| IA | Industrial Audiometry | The practice of monitoring and maintaining the hearing of industrial workers. | ||
| IBC | Intermediate Bulk Container | A container used for transport and storage of fluids and bulk materials. | ||
| IDLH | Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health | A term referring to a condition that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere. | ||
| IOSH | Institution of Occupational Safety and Health | Leading membership organization for safety and health professionals. | ||
| IP | Ingress Protection | A standard that defines levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture. | ||
| IR | Infrared | A type of light that is invisible to the human eye, but can be felt as heat. | ||
| IRATA | Industrial Rope Access Trade Association | An international association for companies who are engaged in industrial rope access. | ||
| IS | Intrinsically Safe | A protection technique for safe operation of electrical equipment in hazardous areas by limiting the energy available for ignition. | ||
| JSA | Job Safety Analysis | A procedure which helps integrate accepted safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation. | ||
| LEL | Lower Explosive Limit | The lowest concentration of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing a flash of fire in presence of an ignition source. | ||
| LEV | Local Exhaust Ventilation | Equipment used to control and extract dust and fumes from the workplace. | ||
| LFL | Lower Flammable Limit | The lowest concentration of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing a flash of fire in presence of an ignition source. | ||
| LITE | Load, Individual, Task, Environment | Key areas to assess in a manual handling assessment. | ||
| LOLER | Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations | Regulations for the safe use and inspection of lifting equipment. | ||
| LOTO | Lockout Tagout | A safety procedure used in industry and research settings to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not able to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or repair work. | ||
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas | A flammable hydrocarbon gas that is used as fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment, and vehicles. | ||
| LTA | Lost Time Accident | An incident that results in a delay or stoppage of work due to an injury. | ||
| LTIFR | Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate | A measure for reporting work-related injuries or diseases, calculated by multiplying the number of lost time injuries in a period by 1,000,000 and dividing by the total hours worked in that period. | ||
| MAPP | MethylAcetylene-Propadiene Propane | A discontinued fuel gas that was used in HVAC industry. | ||
| MCB | Miniature Circuit Breaker | An automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. | ||
| MHSWR | Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations | Regulations reinforcing general health and safety duties and adding additional requirements. | ||
| MOC | Management of Change | A best practice used to ensure that safety, health and environmental risks are controlled when a company makes changes in their facilities, documentation, personnel, or operations. | ||
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet | A document that contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical product. | ||
| MSHA | Mining Safety and Health Administration | A U.S. government agency that regulates the safety and health of miners. | ||
| N2 | Nitrogen | A colorless, odorless unreactive gas that forms about 78% of the earth’s atmosphere. | ||
| NEBOSH | National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health | A UK-based examination board offering qualifications and courses in health, safety, environment and well-being management. | ||
| NIOSH | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | The United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. | ||
| Nm3 | Normal Cubic Meter | A unit of volume used in the measurement of the quantity of a gas, defined as the volume of one mole of a gas under standard conditions (temperature and pressure). | ||
| NOx | Nitrogen Oxides | A group of gases that are composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Two of the most toxicologically significant are nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). | ||
| NRC | Nuclear Regulatory Commission | A U.S. government agency that oversees the nation’s civilian use of nuclear materials. | ||
| O&M Manual | Operation & Maintenance Manual | Contains information on the operation and maintenance of a building. | ||
| O2 | Oxygen | A colorless, odorless reactive gas, the life-supporting component of the air. | ||
| OEL | Occupational Exposure Limit | The upper limit of acceptable concentration of a hazardous substance in workplace air for a particular material or class of materials. | ||
| OHS | Occupational Health and Safety | A field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work. | ||
| OHSA | Occupational Health and Safety Act | A federal law that establishes and enforces standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. | ||
| OHSAS | Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series | An international standard giving requirements related to health and safety management systems in order to enable an organization to control its risks and improve its performance. | ||
| OP | Organophosphates | A group of synthetic chemicals that are used in a wide variety of applications, including as insecticides, herbicides, and nerve gases. | ||
| ORP | Oxidation Reduction Potential | A measure of the cleanliness of the water & its ability to break down contaminants. | ||
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration | An agency of the United States Department of Labor whose mission is to “assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance”. | ||
| OXY | Oxygen | A colorless, odorless reactive gas, the life-supporting component of the air. | ||
| P2 | Particulate Filter | A type of filter that removes solid particles such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. | ||
| PA | Public Address | An electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment, used to increase the volume of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound source. | ||
| PAT | Portable Appliance Testing | Testing electrical appliances to ensure they are safe to use. | ||
| PCB | Polychlorinated Biphenyls | A group of man-made chemicals that were widely used in the past, particularly in electrical equipment, but which were banned at the end of the 1970s because of environmental concerns. | ||
| PCI | Pre-Construction Information | Document required on construction projects under CDM regulations. | ||
| PEL | Permissible Exposure Limit | The maximum amount or concentration of a chemical that a worker may be exposed to under OSHA regulations. | ||
| PFD | Personal Flotation Device | A piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer to keep afloat in water. | ||
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment | Equipment worn to protect the user from harm (e.g., hard hats, gloves). | ||
| ppm | Parts Per Million | A unit of measurement that describes the concentration of a substance in a solution. | ||
| PRV | Pressure Relief Valve | A type of safety valve used to control or limit the pressure in a system. | ||
| PS | Pressure Switch | A switch that closes an electrical contact when a certain set fluid pressure has been reached on its input. | ||
| PSI | Pounds per Square Inch | A unit of pressure or of stress based on avoirdupois units. | ||
| PTW | Permit To Work | A formal written system used to control certain types of work that are potentially hazardous. | ||
| PUWER | Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations | Regulations for the safe use and maintenance of work equipment. | ||
| PVC | Polyvinyl Chloride | A type of plastic that is used for many products, including water pipes and vinyl siding. | ||
| QA | Quality Assurance | The maintenance of a desired level of quality in a service or product, especially by means of attention to every stage of the process of delivery or production. | ||
| QC | Quality Control | A system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specification. | ||
| QHSE | Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment | A term describing a framework for quality, health, safety, and environmental management. | ||
| QHSSE | Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment | An expanded version of QHSE that includes security responsibilities. | ||
| QRA | Quantitative Risk Assessment | A formal and systematic process for estimating the likelihood and consequences of hazardous events. | ||
| RAMS | Risk Assessments and Method Statements | Health and safety documents for assessing and managing risks and methods. | ||
| RCD | Residual Current Device | Safety device that automatically switches off electricity if there is a fault. | ||
| RCS | Respirable Crystalline Silica | Harmful dust created when working on materials containing silica. | ||
| REACH | Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals | Regulations requiring companies to manage the risks of substances they manufacture. | ||
| RIDDOR | Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations | Legal requirements for reporting specific workplace injuries and dangerous events. | ||
| RPE | Respiratory Protective Equipment | Equipment like masks and helmets used to filter or supply clean air. | ||
| RRFSO | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order | Legislation covering fire safety responsibilities, duties, and planning. | ||
| SCBA | Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus | A device worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in an immediate dangerous to life or health atmosphere. | ||
| SDS | Safety Data Sheet | A document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. | ||
| SEV | Safety Equipment Vehicle | A vehicle equipped with safety equipment for use at industrial sites. | ||
| SFAIRP | So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable | Legal duty to ensure health and safety as far as is reasonably possible. | ||
| SHE | Safety, Health, and Environment | An alternative term for Health, Safety, and Environment. | ||
| SIS | Safety Instrumented System | A system designed to prevent or reduce hazardous events by taking the process to a safe state when predetermined conditions are violated. | ||
| SL | Safety Level | A measure of the risk reduction provided by a safety function, or to specify a target level of risk reduction. | ||
| SO2 | Sulfur Dioxide | A toxic gas with a burnt match smell, produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. | ||
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure | A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations. | ||
| SSIP | Safety Schemes in Procurement | An umbrella body for health and safety assessment schemes. | ||
| STEL | Short-Term Exposure Limits | Limits for short-term exposure to hazardous substances, typically over 15 minutes. | ||
| STEL | Short-Term Exposure Limit | The acceptable average exposure over a short period of time, usually 15 minutes as long as the time-weighted average is not exceeded. | ||
| SWL | Safe Working Load | Maximum load that lifting equipment can safely handle. | ||
| TAC | Total Allowable Concentration | The maximum concentration of a chemical to which a person can be exposed. | ||
| TBT | Toolbox Talk | Short safety discussions focused on a single topic, often held on the job. | ||
| TDS | Total Dissolved Solids | The combined content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid. | ||
| TILE | Task, Individual, Load, Environment | Key areas to assess in a manual handling assessment. | ||
| TLV | Threshold Limit Value | The level to which it is believed a worker can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without adverse effects. | ||
| TSCA | Toxic Substances Control Act | A U.S. law that regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. | ||
| TWA | Time-Weighted Average | The average exposure to a hazardous substance over a given period, typically a working day. | ||
| UEL | Upper Explosive Limit | The maximum concentration of a gas or vapor that will burn in air. | ||
| UFL | Upper Flammable Limit | The highest concentration of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing a flash of fire in the presence of an ignition source. | ||
| VAWR / Vibration Regs | Control of Vibration at Work Regulations | Regulations to protect workers from vibration-related health risks. | Hand arm vibration – Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (hse.gov.uk) | N/A |
| VOC | Volatile Organic Compound | A type of gas emitted by certain solids or liquids, many of which have short- and long-term adverse health effects. | What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? | US EPA | Carbon-based solvents Volatile agents Volatile substances |
| WAHR / Height Regs | Work at Height Regulations | Regulations for safe planning, equipment use, and supervision of work at height. | The law relating to working at height – HSE | Height Safety Regulations Fall Protection Regulations |
| WBV | Whole Body Vibration | Shaking or jolting of the body, often from machinery or vehicles. | Whole body vibration (hse.gov.uk) | N/A |
| WEL | Workplace Exposure Limit | Limits on exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace under COSHH regulations. | Workplace exposure limits – COSHH | N/A |
| WHMIS | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System | Canada’s national hazard communication standard, providing information on the safe use of hazardous products in workplaces. | Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) – Canada.ca | N/A |
| WPS | Worker Protection Standard | A regulation aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and injury among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. | Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) | US EPA | N/A |
| ZS | Zone Sampling | A method of sampling in which a plant or geographic area is divided into sections or zones and samples are taken from each zone. | Clemson University | Sampling Composite Sampling |
