Abnormal Event | An unplanned, unusual, occurrence or emergency |
Absorption | Taking a substance into the body by penetration through intact skin – one of the Routes of Entry |
Accident | An undesired event resulting in death, injury, damage to health, damage to property or other form of loss |
Adaptation | The limited ability for people to tolerate small departures from optimal conditions (equipment design, environment, etc) without significantly affecting performance, for example _ use of a chair that is a little too high or a little too low |
Adaption | Changes or alterations to scaffolding |
Aerosols | Substance dispersed into the air such that the droplets or particles remain in suspension for a significant period of time |
AITT | Association of Industrial Truck Trainers – Accrediting body for fork lift truck instructors |
ALARP | As low as reasonably Practical |
Allergen | Substance causing an allergic reaction in a person who is sensitive to that substance |
Ambient | Surrounding, e.g. Ambient temperature usually means the outside temperature |
ACOP “Approved Code of Practice” | An Approved code of practice, associated with specific regulations, that has been approved by the Health & Safety Commission. A Code of Practice is seen as the accepted standard and can be used as evidence in a court of law. It is not mandatory to follow a Code of Practice but, to be acceptable, any alternative must be demonstrated to be of equal measure or better. |
Asbestos | A fibrous mineral used extensively in the middle of the last century. Harmful if disturbed when the fibres can be breathed in |
Asbestos Management Plan | A requirement placed upon those persons responsible for non-domestic premises built before 1999. Provides information on the ACMs to be found on the premises and how the risks from disturbing them is to be managed. |
Asbestosis | Illness – scarring of the lungs caused by breathing in asbestos |
Asbestos Survey | Used to locate and identify ACMs on premises. Either management (non-destructive) or Refurbishment and Demolition Type (required prior to all construction works on pre-1999 premises) |
ACM | Asbestos Containing Materials |
Aspect | Environmental term – a company’s interaction with the environment |
Audit | A systematic inspection to determine a company’s compliance with legislation and best practices |
BSI | British Standards Institue |
Best Practice | A standard of risk control that is above the legal minimum |
(See Good Practice) | |
Biological Agents | A living organism or something made from a living organism that can be used beneficially (e.g. to prevent or treat disease) or maliciously (e.g. germ warfare) |
CDM | Construction (Design & Management) Regulations |
CE | The letters “CE” do not represent any specific words but the mark is a declaration by the manufacturer, indicating that the product satisfies all relevant European Directives. Note, however, that the mark only applies to products that fall within the scope of European Directives. |
CFC | Chlorofluorocarbons – causal factor in ozone depletion |
CHAS | The Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme – A pre-qualification accrediting body used by clients and contractors to determine competence of companies prior to appointment |
Cherry Picker | A boom elevating work platform |
CHIP | Chemical Hazards Information and Packaging |
CITB | Construction Industry Training Board |
CO | Carbon Monoxide |
CO2 | Cardon Dioxide |
COMAH | Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations |
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome “CTS” | A chronic disorder of the hand and wrist possibly resulting from repetitive work involving repeated wrist flexion or extension |
Chapter 8 | Guidance for managing street works – signs, barriers, etc |
Chronic | Occurring over an extended period of time |
CISRS | Pronounced “scissors” Construction Industry Scaffold Registration Scheme |
CMIOSH | Chartered Member of the Institution for Occupational Safety & Health – diploma or NVQ level 4/5 plus further exam and peer review |
Combustible Liquid | Liquid with a flash point above 37.8 C (100° F) |
Common Law | Source of law that is not written in statute but which has been developed through judicial precedent. A breach of common law could result in a criminal offence or a civil action for damages. |
Competent Person | A person who is appropriately trained, qualified, experienced and skilled to undertake specific health and safety duties without risk to their own safety or that of others |
Compliance | The act or process of fulfilling requirements |
“COSHH” | “Control of Substance Hazardous to Health” Regulations promoting safe working with potentially hazardous chemicals, dusts, etc |
Corrosive | A Substance that causes destruction of another substance, including human tissue |
CPP | Acronym for construction phase plan – needed for all construction works |
CPCS | Construction Plant Certification Scheme |
CSCS | Construction Skilss Certification Scheme |
DB | Decibel |
DDA | Disability Discrimination Act |
DOSA | Demolition Operative Safety Awareness (1 day training) aka SADO |
DSEAR | Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmosphere Regulations |
Display Screen Equipment “DSE” | Any alphanumeric or graphic display screen regardless of the process employed to display the information. Typical examples include computer monitors and microfilm viewers |
EA | Environmental Agency |
EAV | Exposure Action Value – time at which controls must be implemented to reduce exposure to vibration |
ELV | Exposure Limit Value – time which must not be exceeded for exposure to vibration |
EAW | Electricity at Work Regulations |
EHO | Environmental Health Office |
Employment Medical Advisory service “EMAS” | Part of the Health and Safety Executive, offering advice on work related health issues and on people with health problems returning to work |
Ergonomics | The application of information about human characteristics to design applications, e.g. equipment, tools, work tasks, with the aim of improving safety and efficiency |
FLT | Fork Lift Truck |
FRA | Fire Risk Assessment |
FFI | Fees for Intervention |
Fatigue | Transient reduced ability to work as a result of previous activity, resulting in reduced efficiency |
Fires | Class A – Fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper Class B – Fires in flammable liquids and liquefiable solids or electrical fires Class C – Fires involving gases. Class D – Fires involving combustible metals such as potassium or sodium Class F – Fires involving cooking oils or fats |
Flammable Gas | Gas that when mixed with air forms a flammable mixture at ambient temperature and pressure |
Flammable Liquid | Liquid with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C) |
Flammable Solid | Solid that is liable to cause fires through friction, absorption of moisture, etc. or which can be readily ignited |
Grad IOSH | Graduate Member Institution of Occupational Safety & Health – completed diploma or NVQ Level 4/5 but not the exam or peer review |
HASWA | Health & Safety at Work Act |
Hazard | Potential for Harmful effects |
Health & Safety Executive “HSE” | Organisation responsible for proposing safety regulations throughout the UK. It is responsible for enforcing, statute, regulations, approved codes of practice and guidance. |
HIAB | A lorry mounted crane intended for loading and unloading the lorry |
IOSH | Institution of Occupational Safety & Health – memberships run from Tech, Grad, Chartered and Fellow |
Impact | Environmental term – the effect of a companies interaction with the environment |
Improvement Notice | A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute. It states that an offence has been committed, what action needs to be taken, the reason for the action and the time deadline by which it must be taken. |
Incident (or Near Miss) | TA generic term for those events that do not cause harm but which might have done so under different circumstances |
Injestion | Taking a substance into the body through the mouth, for example in the form of food or drink – one of the Routes of Entry |
Inhalation | Taking a substance, typically in the form of gases, fumes, vapours, mists, aerosols or dusts, into the body by breathing it in – one of the Routes of Entry |
Inhibitor | A substance which, when added to another substance, prevents or slows down an unwanted change or reaction |
Injection | Taking a substance directly into the body by puncturing the skin, for example with a needle – one of the Routes of Entry |
IPAF | International Powered Access Federation – accrediting body for training to operate MEWPS |
Irritant | A substance that produces inflammation when it makes contacts with the skin, eyes, nose, or respiratory system |
ITSSAR | Independent Training Standards Scheme & Register – accrediting body for plant training |
KPI | Key Performace Indicator |
LOLER | Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations |
Liquid Petroleum Gas “LPG” | LPG consists of commercial Butane, Propane or a mixture of the two. Major hazards are fire and explosion, though asphyxiation is also a danger in low lying areas due to LPG being heavier than air |
MEL | Maximum Exposure Limit |
MEWP | Mobile Elevating Work Platform – such as a scissor lift or cherry picker |
MHOR | Manual Handling Operations Regulations |
MHSWR | Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations |
MSD | Musculoskeletal Disorder |
Manual Handling Operations | Tasks that require a person to exert force in order to lift, lower, push, pull, move, carry, hold or restrain an object |
Material Safety Data Sheets “MSDS” | Contain information on the hazards associated with a chemical, along with guidance on its safe use |
Mesothelioma | Cancer – caused by asbestos |
NAWR | Noise at Work Regulations |
NEBOSH | National Examination Board of Occupational Safety and Health |
Negligence | Can be either the omission to do something that a reasonable person would do when guided by those considerations that ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, or the commission of some act that a prudent and reasonable person would not do. |
NPORS | National Plant Operators Registration Scheme – a training accreditation body. |
NRSWA | New Roads & Street Works Act |
OHSAS 18001 | BSI Standard for Occupational Health & Safety |
PASMA | Prefabricated access suppliers and manufacturers association – industry recognised accreding body for training in building mobile towers (however pasma accreditation is not a legal requirement) |
PAT | Portable Appliance Test |
PEEP | Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (plan to detail how mobility impaired persons can be evacuated in an emergency) |
PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
PQQs | Pre-Qualification Questionnaires – used to determine health and safety competence |
PUWER | Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations |
Persistance | Remaining for an extended period of time. Applicable to some chemicals (e.g. DDT) that do not easily break down into less hazardous substances |
Permit to Work | Formally delivered criteria for control/risk reduction when undertaking pre-planned work that is hazardous, either because of its location or the nature of the activity. |
Preventive Maintenance | Maintenance (including inspection, cleaning, and repair) of equipment on a regular basis that is sufficient to prevent unplanned failure |
Principal Contractor | A role specified under CDM where there are more than 2 contractors |
Principal Designer | A role specified under CDM where there are more than 2 contractors |
Prohibition Notice | A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute that presents a risk of serious personal accident. The effect of the Prohibition Notice is to stop the activity from starting or to cause it to cease if it has already started. |
RIDDOR | Reporting of Injuries, Disease & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations |
RoSPA | Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents |
RPE | Respiratory Protective Equipment |
RSI | Repetitive Strain Injury |
Risk & Method Statements “RAMS” | Site Documentation which consists of a Method Statement (S) and asscoiated Risk Assessments to accompany the MS, this may also include assessments for “COSHH, Noise, Vibration and Manual Handling” |
Regulation | A statutory device made under a general provision that is contained in an act of parliament. Regulations themselves are approved by parliament and are generally absolute legal standards. |
Residual Current Device “RCD” | An electrical safety device that constantly monitors the electric current flowing through a circuit. If it senses a loss of current where electricity is being diverted to earth (as might happen if a person touches a live conductor), it rapidly shuts down the power. |
Risk | A quantifiable expression of the likelihood of injury or harm resulting from a hazard |
Risk Assessment | A formal estimation of the likelihood that persons may suffer injury or adverse health effects as a result of identified hazards |
Risk Management | The introduction of change or control measures with the intention of eliminating or bringing the level of risk associated with a hazard within acceptable limits |
Routes of Entry | The various ways in which toxic substances may enter the body, including; Absorption, Ingestion, Inhalation, Injection and Eye-splashes |
Safe Systems of Work “SSOW” | A method of working designed to eliminate, if possible, or otherwise reduce risks to health and safety |
Safety Culture | A general term for the degree to which the culture of an organisation promotes and cooperates with safe and healthy work practices |
Scissor Lift | A mobile elevating work platform – sometimes referred to as a flying carpet |
Sensitisation | Development, over time, of an allergic reaction to a substance |
Sensitiser | Substance that may cause a person to develop an allergic reaction after repeated exposure |
Site Safety Evaluation | Also referred to as a site inspection – not as in depth as an audit but intended to identify hazards and to determine the level of compliance with legislation, best practice, policies and procedures |
SMAS | Safety Management Assessment Specialists – Another competence assessment scheme |
SMSTS | CITB Site Managers Safety Training Scheme (5 days) |
Solvent | Substance that is capable of dissolving another substance |
SSIP | Safety Schemes in Procurement – an umbrella organisation for competence accreditation schemes intended to remove the need for duplication. |
SSSTS | CITB Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (2 days) |
Stress | That which might result when an event or situation places increased demand on a person’s mental or emotional resources. Sources of stress may arise from domestic or social situations as well as occupational circumstances. The individual’s response to such situations can lead to health and safety related problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal disorders and an increased tendency to be accident-prone. |
Tech IOSH | Technician Member Institution of Occupational Safety & Health – entry level |
Tenosynovitis | Inflammation and swelling of the tendon sheaths, usually of the wrist or hand, potentially caused by repetitive movements such as very high-speed typing rates |
Toxic | Substances that cause irritation of are otherwise harmful to health, such as carcinogens and poisons |
Vapour | The gaseous form of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature |
WRULD | Work Related Upper Limb Disorder |
Workplace Exposure Limit | Established concentration of a substance that, if not exceeded, will not normally result in adverse effects to persons who are exposed |
Glossary of
Health and Safety Terms