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Glossary of Safety Terms

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Glossary of Safety Terms

AABA
Ambient Air Breathing Apparatus.
ACGIH
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. An
organization that annually determines standards of exposure to toxic
and otherwise harmful materials in the workroom air, commonly known
as treshold limit value (TLV).
Absorption
The process by which a liquid adheres to the absorbent material but
does not penetrate the fibers or particles themselves.
Aerosol
A dispersion of solid or liquid particles in a gaseous medium.
AIHA
American Industrial Hygiene Association.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute. This consensus body consists of
volunteer safety professionals who create or revise documents on test
requirements, procedural methods, and product specifications. In the
realm of safety, ANSI Z87.1 is for safety caps. When a manufacturer
meets these specifications, then the forementioned Z logos can be
placed on the product. There is no verification of the product meeting
the standard by ANSI.
APF
Assigned Protection Factor. This is a numerical value assigned to a
specific class of respiratory, and represents by increasing value, the
relative protection that the type of device affords when its fit is verified
by fit testing.
APR
Air-purifying Respirator. This type of respirator uses chemical cartridges
and/or filters.
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials. A technical organization
that develops standards on characteristics and performance of
materials, products, systems and services. It is the worlds largest
source of voluntary consensus standards.
Attenuation
The reduction in sound pressure level incident upon the ear when
hearing protection is worn.
Automatic Darkening
Welding Filter
An optical filter that automatically switches from a light state to a dark
state (shade) in response to change in incident light intensity.
Breakthrough Time
The time for initial chemical contact to detection.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A common affliction caused by compression of the median nerve in the
carpal tunnel. Often associated with tingling, pain or numbness in the
thumb and first three fingers.
Ceiling Limit
In threshold limit value (TLV) and permissable exposure limit (PEL), the
maximum allowable concentration to which an employee may be
exposed.
Ceiling Value, C
The concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of the
working exposure. An employees exposure (to a hazardous material)
shall at no time exceed the ceiling value (OSHA).
CFM
Cubic Feet per Minute. This is a measure of airflow.
CFR
The Code of Federal Regulations refers to the Federal laws of the
United States.
CIH
Certified Industrial Hygienist.
Class A Fire
Wood, paper cloth, trash or other ordinary materials.
Class B Fire
Gasoline, grease, oil, paint or other flammable liquids.
Class C Fire
Live electrical equipment.
Class D Fire
Flammable metals.
CO
Carbon Monoxide.
CO
2

Carbon Dioxide.

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Combustible
A term used by the NFPA, DOT and others to classify certain liquids
that will burn on a basis of flash points. Both NFPA and DOT generally
define combustible liquids as having a flash point of 100º F (38º C) or
higher. OSHA defines combustible liquids within the Hazard
Communication Law as any liquid having a flash point at or above 100º
F (38º C) but below 200º F (93.3º C). lso, any mixture having
components with flash points at 200º F (93.3º C) or higher, the total
volumes of which make up 99% or more of the total volume of the
mixture.
Corrosive
A substance that causes visible destruction or permanent changes in
human skin tissues at the site of contact.
dB
Decibel. A unit for expressing the relative intensity of sounds on a scale
from 0 (average least perceptible) to 130 (average pain level). Unit
used to express sound power levels. The higher the number, the
greater the sound energy.
Degradation
Degradation of glove materials occurs when there is a change in the
materials physical or chemical properties as the result of exposure to a
chemical or chemical mixture.
Dielectric
A material which is an electrical insulator or in which an electric field
can be sustained with a minimum dissipation of power.
Dispense
The final service following eye examination, lens design, frame
selection, ordering & verification; fitting fabricated eyewear properly to
the face
DOL
The Department of Labor, of which OSHA is a part.
Dusts
Solid particles generated by handling, crushing, grinding, rapid impact,
detonation, and decrepitation of organic or inorganic materials such as
rock, ore, metal, coal, wood and grain. Dusts do not tend to flocculate,
except under electrostatic forces; they do not diffuse in air but settle
under the influence of gravity.
Earmuff
A hearing protector usually consisting of a headband and earcups.
Earplug
A hearing protector worn within the external earcanal.
ELSI
End of Service Life Indicator is used on a chemical cartridge to indicate
when the cartridge should be discarded and replaced by showing a
colorimetric change on the cartridge. This color change takes place
before the contaminant breaks through the cartridge.
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency. This executive agency is
responsible for outdoor air and water quality.
Ergonomics
A multi-disciplinary activity dealing with interactions between workers
and their total working environment plus stresses related to such
environmental elements as atmospheric heat, light and sound, as well
as tools and equipment of the workplace.
Explosion Class 1
Flammable gas/vapor.
Explosion Class 2
Combustible dust.
Explosion Class 3
Ignitable fibers.
Explosion Proof
An electrical apparatus so designed that an explosion of flammable gas
or vapor inside the enclosure will not ignite flammable gas or vapor
outside.
Exposure Level
The level or concentration of a physical or chemical hazard to which an
employee is exposed.




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Exposure Limits
Concentration of substances (and conditions) under which it is believed
that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day
without adverse effects. ACGIH limits are called threshold limit value
and OSHA exposed limits are called PEL (permissible exposure limits).
Eye Hazards
Any number of things that can harm an eye including: foreign objects,
dust, sparks, chemical liquid and fumes, and harmful rays. May also
include tasks or conditions that create eye strain or impair effective
vision (excessive VDT use in poor conditions, glare, poor lighting, etc.).
FDA
Food and Drug Administration.
First Responder
The first personnel trained to arrive on the scene of a hazardous
material incident, accident, or drowning. Usually officials from local
emergency services, firefighters and police.
Flame Arrestor
A mesh or perforated metal insert within a flammable storage can that
protects its contents from external flame or ignition.
Flammable
Flash point less than 37.8º C and a vapor pressure of not over 60 psi at
37.8º C.
Flammable Liquid
A liquid with a flash point below 100º F (37.8º C) excluding gases.
Flash Point
The lowest temperature at which a flammable-vapor-air mixture above
the liquid will ignite when the ignition source is introduced.
FM
Factory Mutual. A nationally recognized testing laboratory and approval
service recognized by OSHA.
Fumes
Particulate matter consisting of the solid particles generated by
condensation from the gaseous state, generally after violation from
melted substances, and often accompanied by a chemical reaction,
such as oxidation.
Gas
A state of matter in which the material has very low density and
viscosity; can expand and contract greatly in response to changes in
temperature and pressure; easily diffuses into other gases; readily and
uniformly distributes itself throughout any container.
Gauntlets
Gauntlets are similar to safety cuffs but extend further down the arm to
provide protection to the lower forearm.
Goggles
A device contoured for full facial contact and held in place by a
headband or other suitable means, for the protection of the eyes and
eye sockets.
H
2
S
Hydrogen Sulfide.
Hazardous Waste
Under RCRA, any solid or combination of solid wastes, which because
of its physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may pose a
hazard when improperly managed.
Hearing Protec