Safety Terms
These terms and their definitions can be useful when reading more technical information about the safety industry
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Absorption - To take in through pores in the skin, or through wicking action of fibers in a substance.
Accident - An accident is an unplanned, unforeseen event, with potential for causing harm to humans and equipment. Most often used once such an event has occurred and caused damage.
Aerosol - An aerosol is a liquid, or fine particles within liquid, dispensed by a gaseous propellant from a pressurized can.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - ANSI is the organization in the USA which recommends and enforces standards in various industries from construction to electronics to livestock production.
Biohazard - A biohazard is a danger (or hazard) of biological origin, such as flowing blood, other bodily liquids and solids, or infectious microorganisms. A biohazard can also mean conditions that could cause contact with such stuff.
B
Biological Safety - This is system of best practices for handling biohazardous material to prevent the possibility of infection of the handler or the community.
Body Belt - A body belt fits around the waist to support the body when in danger of falling a short distance. Since 1998 has not been recommended for protection in falls.
Body harness - A body harness is used to protect workers from falls when the worker is high above the ground or equipment. They minimize injury to the worker and provide support while awaiting rescue.
C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - USA Government organization that tracks health hazards within the country and the world, and promotes public health including health and safety in the workplace.
Certified - To be certified is to be accredited by a standards body, such as ANSI, or a professional organization as meeting the requirements of that organization.
Circuit - An electrical circuit is path which carries electrical voltage between two or more points.
Claim Form - The form an accident victim or survivors of an accident victim would complete and submit in order to claim insurance or other benefits.
D
Death Benefits - Death benefits are the monies or services paid to survivors of a deceased person under the terms of life insurance, or a due to a legal requirement.
Deceleration Device - A deceleration device slows down a mechanism. It is a brake, or acts as one.
Department Of Labor (DOL) - A department of the US government responsible for regulating working conditions, wages, hours worked, unemployment benefits, etc.
Disaster - An accident, which causes widespread damage, destruction, and distress.
E
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Many companies offer EAPs as part of their health benefits packages. The EAPs provide confidential counseling services, and substance abuse services.
Ergonomics - Ergonomics is the science of designing equipment to minimize operator fatigue, discomfort, repetitive strain injuries, and mistakes.
F
Fire And Life Safety Program - These programs ensure safe environments by providing standards for training workers to handle hazards in the workplace safely.
First aid - Emergency medical treatment provided before thorough medical examination and resources are available. The aim of first aid is to stop any noticeable damage from spreading.
G
Ground - The ground is the part of an electrical circuit that minimizes risks of electrocution of workers, also of electrical interference by other circuits, and drains away electrostatic charge.
Guarding - Guarding is keeping control over conditions to minimize danger.
H
Hazard - A hazard is anything that could be a source of danger.
Hepa - HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter removes 99.97% of the 0.3 micrometer articles in the air.
I
Incident - Incident is usually used for minor occurrences that interrupt the flow of work. They are not as noteworthy as accidents, and nowhere near as noteworthy as disasters.
Injury - An injury is harm to a person, often suffered during an accident or incident. A leg injury could range from a small cut, to one or more broken bones.
J
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) - A JHA is done to discover what hazards exist in the performance of a job, and find ways to eliminate or minimize them.
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) - The JAMA is the premier publication of medical news and research in the USA.
K
Kilowatt - A unit of electricity equal to one thousand watts.
L
Liability - Any kind of debt or obligation can be called a liability. It is most often used, though, for legal liability, especially costs or damages.
Lifeline - Usually a lifeline is a component of a complete body harness (see above); a lanyard attached at one end to the harness and at the other to a firm anchor point.
M
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) - These are standardized forms containing safety information about the properties and ingredients of substances in the workplace.
Medical Provider Network (MPN) - This is the term health insurance companies use to refer to those medical providers they have contracts with.
N
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - NIOSH is the part of the CDC (see above), responsible for research and recommendations on workplace safety.
Nitrogen - Nitrogen is a colorless odorless gas, which will kill if breathed in its pure form. When liquefied, it is used as a coolant.
O
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - OSHA is the part of the Department of Labor (see above) responsible for regulating safety in the workplace.
Ohm - An ohm is the measure of electrical resistance between two points on a conductor.
P
Personal fall arrest system - This is the term for a complete set of body harness and lifeline designed to save a person from serious falls.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - The term used by OSHA and other organizations to mean protective clothing helmets, boots, goggles, gloves, etc.
Q
Qualified Person - This is a person who is professionally certified (see above) or possesses other credentials by virtue of training and experience to be able to handle the work or project.
R
Radiation - Any type of energy that travels in straight lines in all directions can be called radiation. Hazardous radiation includes certain types of electro-magnetic radiation, x-rays, and ultraviolet radiation.
Respiratory - Respiratory means relating to breathing, inhaling and exhaling.
S
Safety coordinators - These are people responsible for implementing safety regulations at a worksite.
Society Of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - The SAE is the organization dedicated to all type of engineering relating to mobility whether of cars or space craft.
T
Temporary Disability Benefits - In some states, if a worker is temporarily disabled for reasons unrelated to employment, the worker is able to collect partial wages called temporary disability benefits.
Training - To learn how to handle specific responsibilities, or improve one’s performance at certain tasks is called training.
U
Underwriter - An underwriter assumes financial responsibility for failure. Insurance companies are underwriters.
Utilization Review (UR) - The term utilization review refers to the health insurance industry practice of reviewing requests for treatment to determine if it is medically necessary.
V
Ventilation - Ventilation is the provision of fresh, circulating air. It is especially important in enclosed areas.
Visual field - A visual field is that area in which a person can see objects without moving his eyes.
W
Watt - A watt is the basic measurement unit for electrical power.
Work Restrictions - Work restrictions are medically necessary restrictions for a person doing a particular job. They may include set times for rest, limits on lifting weights, or other special considerations to enable a temporarily disabled worker to return to the job.