Certainly, here are some important terminologies in health and safety:
Hazard: A potential source of
harm or danger that can lead to injury, illness, or damage to property.
Risk: The likelihood and
potential consequences of a hazard causing harm. It involves assessing the
probability of an event happening and the severity of its impact.
Ergonomics: The
study of designing and arranging products, systems, and environments to fit the
needs, abilities, and limitations of individuals to enhance their well-being
and performance.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Gear designed to protect workers from workplace hazards. This can include items
like helmets, gloves, goggles, respirators, and more.
Safety Culture:
The values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that employees at all levels
share in relation to safety within an organization.
Incident/Accident: An
unplanned event that results in harm, injury, or damage to people, property, or
the environment. An accident is a more severe incident.
Risk Assessment:
The process of evaluating potential risks and hazards in a given situation,
estimating their likelihood and potential impact, and determining appropriate
measures to manage or mitigate them.
Emergency Response Plan: A
detailed plan outlining procedures and actions to be taken in case of
emergencies, such as fires, natural disasters, chemical spills, etc.
Workplace Inspection:
Regular assessments of the workplace to identify potential hazards, assess the
effectiveness of safety measures, and ensure compliance with regulations.
Hierarchy of Controls: A
system used to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards, consisting of five
levels: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative
controls, and personal protective equipment.
Confined Space: A
space with limited entry and exit points that may have hazardous conditions.
Special procedures and precautions are needed for working in confined spaces.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): A
safety procedure used in situations where equipment maintenance or repair is
being performed. It involves isolating energy sources to prevent unexpected
startup.
Fall Protection:
Measures to prevent falls from elevated work surfaces, including guardrails,
safety harnesses, and safety nets.
Chemical Hazard:
Any substance that can cause harm or damage to health due to its properties,
including toxicity, flammability, reactivity, and corrosiveness.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): A
document providing information about the potential hazards of a chemical, as
well as guidelines for safe handling, storage, and disposal.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): A
multidisciplinary field focused on ensuring the health, safety, and well-being
of employees in the workplace.
Workplace Violence:
Any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other
threatening behavior that occurs at the workplace.
Respiratory Protection:
Measures and equipment, such as masks or respirators, used to protect workers
from inhaling harmful airborne substances.
These are just a few key terms in the
field of health and safety. The terminology can vary based on regulations and
industry specifics, so it's important to be familiar with the terms relevant to
your workplace or context.
