ACOP
Approved Code of Practice
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral which can include chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, fibrous actinolite, fibrous anthophyllite, fibrous tremolite and any mixture containing these materials.
CDG
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 1996
CDM
Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbons
CHIP
Chemical Hazards Information and Packaging
Confined spaces
Any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, sewer, flue, well or other space which, because it is enclosed, gives rise to a reasonably foreseeable ‘specified risk’.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994
Describe the health and safety management responsibilities of all involved with construction projects from inception by client to final handover on completion.
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002
These include duties to manage asbestos on premises and requirements for work involving asbestos (e.g. insulation and coatings). They also apply to any maintenance work where asbestos may be present, not just asbestos removal.
COSHH
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
First introduced in 1988, they set out a systematic approach to controlling hazardous substances and apply basic occupational hygiene principles to management practice. Amended in 2004 to introduce Workplace Exposure Limits (in place of OESs and MELs) in April 2005.
CTS
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CVD
Cardiovascular Disease
dB
Decibel
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2776)
These regulations set out risk assessment requirements for assessing fire/explosion risks for dangerous (e.g. flammable and/or explosive) substances and for the formation of explosive atmospheres.
DSE
Display Screen Equipment is any alphanumeric or graphic display screen, commonly referred to as VDU, monitor, word processor etc.
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Specifically apply to risk assessment of VDU workstations taking account of lighting, posture and ergonomics.
EAW
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
EHO
Environmental Health Officer
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Apply to every aspect of work with electricity and include requirements to ensure effective electrical maintenance of systems and equipment.
EMAS
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EU environmental management system)
EMAS
Employment Medical Advisory Service (HSE)
Ergonomics
This considers the interaction of the human being and his or her work environment or work task. It aims to improve human performance and also to ensure that work does not have an adverse effect on employees' health.
FA
Factories Act 1961
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
Describe basic requirements for fire precautions: fire-fighting and fire detection; emergency routes and exits and maintenance of fire equipment and amend the ‘Management’ regulations (MHSWR).
Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981
Set out duties of employers to make adequate arrangements for first-aid. (HSE’s amended code of practice and guidance suggest minimum requirements and include advice on training and electric shock.)
FLT
Fork Lift Truck
FPA
Fire Precautions Act 1971
FPWR
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
GMC
General Medical Council
GP
General Practitioner
H&S
Health & Safety
HASWA
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
HAZCHEM
Hazardous Chemical Warning Signs
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This Act sets out the general principles which form both the foundation and criminal framework for subsequent health and safety legislation. It contains key duties for employers to protect the health and safety of employees, and for both employers and the self-employed to protect the health and safety of contractors, visitors and the public from work activities and undertakings.
HSC
Health & Safety Commission
HSDSER
Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
HSE
Health & Safety Executive
Health and Safety (Information for Employees) Regulations 1989
Require employers to display an approved health and safety law poster or provide approved leaflets to all employees.
IOSH
Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
LEV
The most effective way to control contaminants such as fumes, dusts or vapors and provide a healthy and safe working environment is to “capture” them at the point of release and remove them by local exhaust ventilation before they are dispersed into the air you may breathe.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Apply comprehensive requirements to all lifting equipment (from eyebolts and chains to passenger lifts and tower cranes) and build on the ‘Work Equipment’ regulations.
LOLER
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
LPG
Liquid Petroleum Gas
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Spell out fundamental principles for managing health and safety and require the risks of work activities and operations to be assessed and controlled. Include requirements for fire precautions, new and expectant mothers and young persons.
Manual handling
Any transporting or supporting of a load by hand or by bodily force whether applied directly or indirectly; it includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling carrying or moving.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Require risk assessment for all manual handling operations. For example: lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling, taking account of individual suitability and the range of movements involved (ergonomic factors).
MEL
Maximum Exposure Limit
MHOR
Manual Handling Operation Regulations 1992
MHSWR
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999
MSD
Musculoskeletal Disorder
MSDS
Material Data Safety Sheet
NAWR
Noise at Work Regulations 1989
NEBOSH
National Examination Board of Occupational Safety and Health
NHS
National Health Service
NIHL
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Noise assessments
Audiometric assessment for the workforce to establish threshold levels for those working with noise.
Noise at Work Regulations 1989
Set specific noise action levels and requirements for the reduction of noise exposure throughout the working day.
OEL
Occupational Exposure Limit
OHAC
Occupational Health Advisory Committee of the Health & Safety Commission
OHSAS 18001
OHSAS 18001 is an occupational health and safety management system developed in response to demand for a standard against which a company's health and safety management system can be assessed, and subjected to third party certification.
PAT
Portable Appliance Test
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Require suitable PPE to be provided after primary engineering controls have been put into effect, to reduce any remaining risk, taking compatibility into account.
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment is equipment designed to be worn or held by persons to protect them against one or more risks; it excludes working clothes and uniforms, and equipment relating to road safety (such as crash helmets, but includes ‘high visibility’ clothing) sport, self-defence and risk detection (eg dosimeters) or for handling food.
PPEWR
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
Require a written scheme of examination for all pressure systems (greater than 0.5bar). This involves the advice of competent engineers.
PUWER
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 are comprehensive requirements for maintenance, inspection, guarding and other controls for work equipment including mobile equipment and power presses.
QA/QC
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
RCD
Residual Current Device
RIDDOR
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 inform employers and the self-employed when to report an accident or health problem to ‘HSE’. The Regs lList all work-related incidents, injuries and diseases which are required to be reported to the HSE or the local authority.
RSI
Repetitive Strain Injury
Safety awareness
Promote awareness of all aspects of health and safety legislation for managers, supervisors and workpeople
Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
Describe the duties and rights of union appointed safety representatives.
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
Specify the form of safety signs and signals and when they are required.
SBS
Sick Building Syndrome
Sustainable development
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; living on nature's income rather than its capital.
The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
Require employers to consult their employees (where they are not represented by union appointed ‘safety reps’) on matters of health and safety, either directly or through means of elected representatives.
VDU
Visual Display Unit
VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds are organic chemicals such as petrol or trichloroethylene which evaporate at room temperature. They contribute to low level ozone formation through their reaction with sunlight and are implicated in upper atmosphere ozone depletion.
WHSWR
Workplace (Health Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992
Work equipment
Work equipment means any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation (such as a series of machines connected together) for use at work.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Comprehensive structural, welfare and premises-related requirements which apply to almost all workplaces from factories to offices, hotels to warehouses (e.g. lighting, ventilation, floor surfaces, rest facilities, facilities for disabled persons etc.).
WRULD
Work Related Upper Limb Disorder