162 Accident Investigation: Basic

Hazard Analysis and Control Glossary

• Absorption. The process by which hazardous substances enter the body through the skin or eyes.
• Accident. An unplanned event that results in injury, illness, or property damage.
• Accident Investigation. The process of determining the causes of an accident to prevent future occurrences.
• Accident Costs. The total financial impact of an accident, including medical expenses, lost productivity, and damage repair.
• Accountability. The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities and accept responsibility for them.
• Acids. Substances that can cause burns and other injuries upon contact and pose significant health risks.
• Administrative Controls. Policies and procedures implemented to reduce the risk of hazards through changes in work practices.
• Analysis. The process of examining data to identify patterns, causes, and effects of hazards.
• Asbestos. A hazardous material known to cause serious respiratory diseases when inhaled.
• Blame. Assigning responsibility for a fault or wrong to someone.
• Blevy. Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, a type of explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing pressurized liquid.
• Biohazards. Biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily humans.
• Brainstorming. A group creativity technique used to generate a large number of ideas for the solution to a problem.
• Cause. An event or condition that directly leads to an accident or incident.
• Cause-Effect Diagram. A visual tool used to systematically identify and present all possible causes of a particular problem.
• Caution Signs. Signs used to alert workers to potential hazards and promote safe practices.
• Chemical. A substance with a distinct molecular composition used in or produced by a chemical process.
• Chemical Reactions. Processes in which substances interact to form new substances with different properties.
• Checklist. A tool used to ensure that all steps or requirements of a procedure are completed.
• Closed Question. A question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" or with a specific piece of information.
• Common Sense. Sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.
• Common Sense Hazard Recognition. Identifying hazards based on practical and straightforward reasoning.
• Communication. The exchange of information between individuals or groups.
• Component. An individual part of a larger system or process.
• Confined Space. An area that is large enough for an employee to enter and perform work but has limited means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
• Consensus. General agreement among a group of people.
• Continuous Improvement. Ongoing efforts to improve products, services, or processes.
• Corrective Action. Steps taken to eliminate the causes of existing nonconformities or other undesirable situations to prevent recurrence.
• Corrective Maintenance. Maintenance performed to correct identified issues and restore equipment or systems to proper working condition.
• DART Rate. Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred Rate; a safety metric that calculates the number of incidents per 100 full-time workers that resulted in days away from work, job restrictions, or job transfers.
• De Minimis Violation. A violation that has no direct or immediate relationship to safety or health and does not result in a citation or penalty.
• Discipline. The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.
• Distracted. Unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied.
• Economic Feasibility. The measure of how cost-effective a proposed solution or project will be.
• Education. The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially in a formal setting.
• Electric Shock. The physiological reaction or injury caused by electric current passing through the body.
• Elimination Controls. Strategies to remove the hazard entirely from the workplace.
• Employee. A person employed for wages or salary, especially at a non-executive level.
• Employer. A person or organization that employs people.
• Engineering Controls. Methods built into the design of a plant, equipment, or process to minimize hazards.
• Environment Exposure. Exposure to harmful agents present in the surrounding environment.
• Equipment. The necessary items for a particular purpose, especially machinery used in the workplace.
• Evaluation. The systematic determination of a subject's merit, worth, and significance, using criteria governed by a set of standards.
• Exposure. The condition of being subjected to a hazardous substance or environment without adequate protection.
• Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). A systematic method for evaluating processes to identify where and how they might fail and assessing the relative impact of different failures.
• Fall Arrest. Systems designed to stop a falling worker before they hit the ground or structure below.
• Fall Positioning. Equipment used to hold a worker in place and prevent a fall from occurring.
• Fall Protection Equipment Components. Parts and accessories used in systems to prevent falls from heights, such as harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points.
• Fall Restraint. Systems that prevent a worker from reaching an area where a fall could occur.
• Fatigue. Extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness, which can impair safety and performance.
• Feasible. Possible to do easily or conveniently, especially regarding safety solutions.
• Fishbone Diagram. A tool used to identify cause and effect by visualizing the relationship between a problem and its possible causes.
• Flammable. Easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly.
• Flammability. The ability of a substance to catch fire and burn.
• Foreseeable Hazard. A risk or danger that a reasonable person should anticipate as the result from certain actions or conditions.
• Form Observation. The structured and documented examination of workplace practices and conditions.
• Gap Analysis. A method of assessing the differences between the actual performance and desired performance.
• Gases. Substances that exist in a gaseous state at room temperature and pressure and can pose various health and safety risks.
• General Duty Clause. A provision in the OSH Act that requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.
• Good Sense. Practical judgment concerning everyday matters.
• Hands-on Training. Practical instruction where individuals learn by performing tasks.
• Hazard. A potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons.
• Hazard Categories. Classifications of hazards based on their nature, such as chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards.
• Hazard Identification. The process of finding, listing, and characterizing hazards in the workplace.
• Hazard Tracking. The systematic monitoring and documenting of identified hazards to ensure they are managed and controlled.
• Hazardous Condition. A condition in the workplace that, if left uncontrolled, can result in injury or illness.
• Hazardous Materials. Substances that pose a risk to health, property, or the environment due to their chemical or physical properties.
• Hazardous System. A system that has the potential to cause harm due to its design, operation, or materials used.
• Hierarchy of Controls. A system for managing hazards in the workplace through the following strategies, listed from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
• IDLH. Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health; refers to conditions that pose an immediate threat to life or health, or that pose an immediate threat of severe exposure to contaminants.
• Illumination. The provision of light in a workplace to enhance visibility and reduce the risk of accidents.
• Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). Situations that pose an immediate threat to life or health or that could cause irreversible health effects.
• Incident. An event that could lead to an accident or has the potential to cause an accident.
• Incident Investigation. The process of examining an incident to determine its causes and to prevent future incidents.
• Industrial Hygiene. The science of protecting and enhancing the health and safety of people at work and in their communities.
• Ingestion. The process of taking substances into the body through the mouth.
• Inhalation. The process of breathing in hazardous substances.
• Injection. The process of a hazardous substance entering the body through a puncture or cut in the skin.
• Inspection. A systematic examination of the workplace to identify hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Inspection Report. A document detailing the findings of a workplace inspection, including identified hazards and recommended corrective actions.
• Instruction. Detailed information on how to perform a task safely and efficiently.
• Ionizing Radiation. Radiation with enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions and potentially causing health hazards.
• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). A technique to identify the dangers of specific tasks to reduce the risk of injury to workers.
• Job Safety Analysis (JSA). A process that integrates accepted safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation.
• KSA Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The attributes required to perform a job, which are used to measure and evaluate a candidate's potential performance.
• Leader. A person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
• Leadership. The action of leading a group of people or an organization.
• Legal Obligation. Duties enforced by law that must be performed by individuals or organizations.
• Liability. The state of being responsible for something, especially by law.
• Materials. Substances or components used in the production or manufacturing of goods.
• Mechanical Hazards. Hazards created by machinery or mechanical processes that pose risks of injury.
• Metals. Elements that are typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity, which can pose health risks when handled improperly.
• Mind-Mapping. A diagram used to visually organize information, often used to explore all aspects of a topic or problem.
• Motivation. The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
• Non-Ionizing Radiation. Radiation that has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate but not enough to remove electrons.
• Noise. Unwanted sound that can interfere with normal activities and pose health risks.
• Noise Exposure. The degree to which workers are exposed to noise levels that could cause hearing loss or other health issues.
• Observation. The action or process of closely observing or monitoring something or someone.
• Obligation. A duty or commitment to perform a certain action.
• Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). A law passed to ensure worker and workplace safety, requiring employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety and health regulations.
• OSHA Compliance Officer. An individual who conducts inspections to ensure compliance with OSHA standards.
• OSHA Field Operations Manual. A guide used by OSHA compliance officers to carry out their duties, including conducting inspections and investigations.
• Open-Ended Question. A question that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" and requires a more detailed response.
• Pareto Chart. A bar graph that shows which factors are more significant, often used in quality control to identify the most important causes of problems.
• PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls). Toxic industrial chemicals that pose significant environmental and health risks.
• Penalty. A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Physical Exposure. Exposure to physical agents, such as noise, radiation, or temperature extremes.
• Plastics. Synthetic materials made from polymers that can pose health and safety risks if not properly managed.
• Preventive Maintenance. Regular and routine maintenance to help keep equipment up and running and prevent any unplanned downtime and expensive costs from unanticipated equipment failure.
• Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). A systematic assessment of potential hazards associated with an industrial process.
• Procedure. A series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner to achieve a result.
• Program. A planned series of future events, items, or performances.
• Protective Clothing. Apparel designed to protect workers from physical, chemical, and biological hazards.
• Radiation. The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, which can pose significant health risks.
• Recognized Hazard. A known risk that is accepted as a potential cause of injury or illness in the workplace.
• Recommendation. A suggestion or proposal as to the best course of action, especially one put forward by an expert.
• Responsibility. The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
• Resins. Sticky substances derived from plants or synthesized artificially, often used in industrial applications.
• Risk. The possibility of suffering harm or loss; the exposure to a chance of injury or loss.
• Risk Analysis. The process of identifying and analyzing potential issues that could negatively impact key business initiatives or projects.
• Root Cause. The fundamental reason for the occurrence of a problem, which when addressed, prevents recurrence of the problem.
• Route of Entry. The means by which hazardous substances enter the body, such as inhalation, ingestion, injection, or absorption.
• Safe Work Practices. Methods of working that reduce the risk of injury to workers.
• Safety Committee. A group of employees and management representatives who meet regularly to discuss workplace safety issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Safety Instruction Signs. Signs that provide specific safety-related instructions to workers.
• Safety Manager. A person responsible for overseeing and managing workplace safety programs and initiatives.
• Safety Officer. A designated individual responsible for ensuring workplace safety compliance and managing safety programs.
• Safety Professional. An expert in the field of occupational safety and health who works to prevent workplace accidents and illnesses.
• Safety Technician. A specialist who supports the implementation and monitoring of safety programs and compliance with safety regulations.
• Severity. The extent of harm or injury that could result from a hazard.
• Solids. Substances that are firm and stable in shape and not liquid or fluid, which can pose various health risks in the workplace.
• Solvents. Liquids that dissolve a solute, often used in industrial applications, and can pose health risks if not handled properly.
• Sound. Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's ear.
• Stress. A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
• Substitution Controls. Replacing a hazardous substance or process with a less hazardous one to reduce risk.
• Supervisor. A person who oversees and directs the work of others.
• Supervision. The action or process of overseeing something or someone.
• Surface Cause. An apparent, visible, or initial cause of a problem or incident.
• System. A set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, especially in the workplace.
• System Improvement. Enhancements made to a system to improve performance, safety, and efficiency.
• Technical Feasibility. The practicality of a specific technical solution being implemented successfully.
• Temperature. The degree of heat present in a substance or object, which can pose various health and safety risks in the workplace.
• Toxins. Poisonous substances produced by living organisms that can cause harm to humans.
• Two-Way Communication. A form of communication where information flows in both directions, promoting interaction and feedback.
• Ultraviolet Radiation. A type of electromagnetic radiation that can cause health issues, such as skin cancer and eye damage.
• Unsafe Practice. Actions or behaviors that increase the risk of an accident or injury in the workplace.
• Violation. An act of disregarding or breaking rules, regulations, or laws.
• Visual Warnings. Alerts or indicators that use visual elements to warn of potential hazards.
• Volume. The amount of space that a substance or object occupies or that is enclosed within a container.
• Walkaround Inspection. An on-site review of workplace conditions and practices, typically conducted by supervisors or safety professionals to identify hazards and ensure compliance.
• Warning Signs. Signs that indicate a potential hazard, obstacle, or condition requiring special attention.
• Willful Violation. A violation in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement or acted with plain indifference to employee safety.
• Work Practice Controls. Procedures and methods used by workers to reduce the risk of exposure to hazards.
• Workload. The amount of work to be done by a person or group.
• Workplace Violence. Acts of violence, including physical assaults and threats of assault, directed toward persons at work or on duty.
• 5-Why Analysis. A method of root cause analysis that involves asking "why" five times to drill down into the causes of a problem.