WH&S Work Health & Safety

Terms & Definitions

A Accident An unplanned, undesirable energy release that may result in injury to people and/or damage to property. Accident Investigation The process of gathering and analysing information about an accident for the purpose of identifying causes and making recommendations to prevent re-occurrence. Accident Prevention The application of actions to reduce incidents or accident from occurring. Attitude A person’s attitude towards safety can either be positive (Helpful) or negative (Hindering). Agreed Procedure Is an outline of processes or steps to be used to resolve issues and is agreed upon by the PCBU, HSR and workers.

Accountability The obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. Agenda A plan or list of items to be considered at a meeting. Authorised Officer A person from a union given legal power to enter a workplace on health and safety issues. Asthma Is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease that can cause the lining of the airways to swell and seriously affect airflow throughout the lungs. Serious Asthma attacks can be fatal.

A

Bullying Is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that victimises, humiliates, undermines, threatens or creates a risk to health and safety. Biological Hazards A rarely visible hazard that can consist of bacteria, viruses, fungi, moulds and parasites. Breaks A short pause from work used to allow a worker the chance to rest and recover muscles. Frequent short pauses are generally preferable to infrequent longer pauses.

B

Chief Warden The person responsible for the overall co-ordination of emergency actions. Contaminant An unwanted substance that is likely to harm the quality of the working environment. Confined Space Is an area which is not designed for continuous human occupancy and has limited openings for entry, exiting or ventilation. Combustible Substance A substance capable of catching fire and burning. Corrosive A substance that will burn the skin or eyes on contact.

C

Discrimination Is treating a worker less favourably because of age, disability, family responsibilities, gender, sexual preference or race. Due Diligence Defined as the need to take reasonable steps to acquire knowledge of health and safety matters, understand risks, monitor and respond to incidents, hazards and risks and ensure legal compliance. Duty of Care Is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. Duty to Consult A PCBU has a duty to consult with it’s workers that are directly affected by health and safety matter, gaining their input into reducing injuries.

D

Dangerous Incidents An incident in the workplace that exposes the worker to a serious risk to their health and safety. Dangerous Goods Are substances that can be corrosive, flammable, explosive, spontaneously combustible or toxic and can be deadly or cause serious injury to people, property or environment. Dust Fine particles of a solid that can remain suspended in the air and can cause respiratory problems, especially to people with Asthma.

D

Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) Identifies types of emergencies & hazards likely to occur in order to establish emergency plans & procedures. They also nominate the personnel for the Emergency Control Organisation. Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) Their structure will depend on the type of workplace but their primary role is to ensure that life safety takes precedence over asset protection. Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) A facility from which the control of emergency operations and co-ordination of resources is effected. Environment The surrounding conditions, influence and forces to which a worker is exposed to in the workplace.

E

Evacuation The removal of all personnel from a building or area in the case of an emergency. Emergency Warning & Intercommunication System (EWIS) Is a system, usually found in large workplaces, that provides an early warning of an emergency. It alerts the occupants and co-ordinates emergency systems. E-crime Refers to crime committed against individuals or groups that involves a computer & a network. This includes fraud & scams, hacking & intrusion, and distribution of malice software. Elimination Redesigning the job or equipment used to remove the risk.

E

Emergency An event that will produce or exacerbate injury to people and/or damage to property unless immediate intervention occurs. Error An inappropriate or missing action by a person, or failure by equipment. Exposure Quality of an environmental agent impinging on a person. Essential Services Are services that are required to provide and maintain a safe work environment for workers. These include air conditioning, early and emergency warning systems, exit doors and signs, emergency lighting, smoke alarms and fire extinguishes.

E

Ergonomics Is the science of designing, developing and adapting or building equipment that meets the needs of the human body. It is an important element in an office workplace.

E

Faults Defects within a system that affects its performance and may result in an incident. Fraud Is the misrepresentation of fact in a way that is intended to cause loss. This can include bank fraud, identity theft, extortion, and theft of classified information. Fatigue Is a state of tiredness that can affect a worker’s performance or health and safety and requires rest or sleep in order to recover. Fatality Death resulting from an accident. First Aid The immediate care given to a person who is injured or suddenly become ill.

F

Glare Is a lighting problem mostly associated with computer screens and can cause eye strain and headaches. Grounding Electrical connection of one or more conductive objects to the earth to prevent risk of shock or electrocution. Gas A formless substance that expands to occupy the space of its container.

G

Hazard Is defined as any unsafe condition or unsafe act which can result in property damage, injury, or death. Hazard Identification A range of processes used to identify all situations or events that can result in injury, illness or death. Hazardous Substance Products, such as cleaning solvents, that can cause injury, illness or death. Health & Safety Representative (HSR) A person that represents the health and safety interests of a workgroup, and monitors health and safety measures in the workplace. Health Means physical and psychological well being of a person.

H

Harmonise The Commonwealth and each state and territory government have agreed to harmonise their work health and safety laws, including regulations and codes of practise, so they are similar in each jurisdiction. Harassment Contact Officer (HCO) Are employees trained to provide other employees with information and impartial support regarding issues of discrimination, harassment and bullying, as well as provide clarification about policies and procedures. Harassment Is repetitive behaviour that is found threatening, disturbing offensive to other people. Health and Safety Committee (HSC) Represents a workgroup and reviews measures taken to ensure health and safety and invetigates risks so that they can advise and make recommendations to management.

H

Heat exhaustion Overheating of the body that can happen when the body losses to much fluid, especially through excessive sweating.

H

Isolation Enclosing or isolating the hazard from workers to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of harm, injury or illness. Injury Immediate damage to the body caused by exposure to a hazard. Incident Is an unplanned or undesired event that could have resulted in harm. Incident Investigation Is intended to identify all the possible root causes of an incident. Inspector Is appointed by Workcover to ensure health and safety is observed.

I

Intimidation Is threatening behaviour that causes a person to fear injury or harm and is usually used against a person to get them to do something they don’t want to do. Ingestion The swallowing of a substance. Inhalation The breathing of a airborne contaminant. Irritant A substance that can inflame or irritate the eyes, skin or respiratory system.

I

Likelihood Used as a general description of probability or frequency. Liquid A formless fluid, usually wet substance. Localised Restricted to one spot or area.

L

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Is a document that contains important information to allow workers to safely manage the risk from exposure to a hazardous chemical, substance or dangerous goods. Manual Handling Means the use of force by a worker to lift, push, pull, carry, or otherwise restrain an object. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Is a collective term for a range of conditions characterised by discomfort or pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues that may or may not have any visible symptoms. The onset of MSD is commonly gradual especially in office environments. Mitigation Actions or measures taken to decrease or eliminate the impact of an incident on the workers and the environment before it occurs.

M

Maintenance Records A detailed document that contains all failures, faults and maintenance or repair activities related to equipment in the workplace.

M

Noise Is an underestimated hazard of the workplace where exposure to high or constant noise from either internal or external sources that can result in hearing loss. Notifiable Incident Means a serious injury, illness, or death of a person or a dangerous incident. National codes of practise Practical guides for businesses and workers that contain specific advice for how compliance can be achieved in particular work activities and areas.

N

Occupational Violence Is any incident in which a worker is physically attacked or threatened in the workplace. This can include statements or behaviours that makes a worker believe they are in danger of being physically attacked. Ozone Is a gas produced, in small amounts, by electrostatic photocopiers and in sufficient amounts can cause illness to workers. It is best to store photocopiers in a well ventilated area and have it fitted with a filter. Organisation Group of people and facilities with an arrangement of responsibilities, authorities and relationships. Officer An officer may be a person who makes or participates in making decisions that affects a substantial part of a corporation.

O

Occupational safety Accident prevention through work systems aimed at minimising the risk of injury. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Prevention of disease and injury caused by workplace influences. OHS Management The design, implementation and maintenance of work activities to minimise, as far as is reasonably practicable, the occurrence of injury and disease.

O

Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) Replaces the word employer. Prevention Regulatory and/or physical measures employed to ensure harm is prevented or reduced. Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN) A notice that is issued to a person requiring them to address a health and safety concern in the workplace. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Equipment worn by workers to reduce risk from occupational safety and health hazards. Plan A formal record of agreed emergency management roles, responsibilities, strategies, and arrangements.

P

Policy Is a line of actions adopted from legislation to guide and determine present and future decisions. Procedure A sequence on actions or processes that need to be undertaken to produce the desired result or outcome.

P

Risk Is the likelihood of harm, illness or damage occurring with the exposure to a hazard and also the consequences or seriousness of the harm, illness or damage. Risk Assessment Is a process used to determine and implement appropriate measures to control risk. Risk Management The identification and assessment of the risks which an organisation is exposed and the selection of the most effective way to protect assets and minimise potential losses. Radiation Energy transmitted by waves through space mostly present around electrical equipment.

R

Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM) Is a risk priority rating tool that allows the worker to prioritise the identified hazard to ensure that hazards with the high potential of creating an incident are eliminated or controlled first. Reasonable Care Taking care of one’s own health and safety without adverse affect to others and complying with instructions, policies and or procedures. Responsibility It is the responsibility of the PCBU to ensure they provide a safe workplace for workers. It is the worker’s responsibility that they conduct their work in a safe manner.

R

Restricted access Imposed conditions on access to an area or building and, in regards to computers, data. Regulations Are the rules, procedures, guidelines and codes of practice written by Worksafe Australia.

R

Safety Freedom from the danger of injury. Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) A document that lists the types of high-risk construction work being done, what the health and safety hazards and risks arising from that work are, and then describes how the risks will be controlled and the risk control measures will be put in place. Stress He reaction that people have when trying to cope with excessive demands or pressures connected to their job. Sprains & Strains A common occurring injury to workers caused through the use of manual handling. Substitution Replacing materials, equipment or processes with less hazardous ones.

S

Shift – work Is working a shift at anytime with the 24 hours of the day. It is a significant cause of fatigue in workers at it disrupts the body clock. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Is a situation where a portion of workers complain of symptoms of discomfort such as headaches, eye or throat irritation, fatigue and nausea while at work but disappear when they leave the building. These instances are usually rare and often have psychosocial factors but can also be caused by poor air quality. Serious injury or illness An injury or illness of a person that requires immediate treatment. Substance Means any natural or artificial substance, whether in the form of a solid, liquid, gas or vapour.

S

Safety Focus Group They ensure the well being of workers through maintaining and continually improving safe work procedures. As well as promote a culture of safe working practises and attitudes amongst workers while working towards having an incident free workplace. Surge Protection A surge protector is a device used to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. Safe Operating Procedure Is a step-by-step description of the safest way to carry out a task.

S

The Act Refers to the Work Health & Safety Act 2012. Thermal Comfort This can be influenced by clothing, type of work being done, temperature, humidity and air flow. Toxic Harmful or poisonous. Tag Testing The process of testing electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use in the workplace. Trip Switch An electric switch arranged to interrupt a circuit suddenly and disconnect power from a running machine so that it is quickly stopped.

T

Trouble Shooting Tracing and correcting faults in mechanical or electrical systems. Training Instruction on haw to do a job safely.

T

Unsafe Acts Actions that will potentially lead to injury, death or property damage. Unsafe Conditions A Hazardous physical condition or circumstance which can cause the occurrence of an incident. Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) An electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to electrical equipment when the normal power supply is interrupted. Union Is an employee organisation that is registered under the fair work act 2009.

U

Visual Fatigue Tiredness in the eye muscles due to eye strain or constant focus on close work. Volunteer A person who is acting on a voluntary basis. Ventilation The supplying a removing of air, at the same time, to an enclosed machine room or building.

V

Worker Is a person who carries out work in any capacity for a business or undertaking (PCBU). This can include employees, contractors, volunteers, apprentices, outworkers, trainees and work experience people. Workgroup A group of workers who share similar WHS concerns. Workplace A place, whether or not in a building or structure, where employees or self-employed people work. Warden A person who assists with evacuation control during a workplace emergency.

W

Workplace Standards Tasmania (WST) A resource depository raising awareness of the need to value safe workplaces and take responsibility for safe and healthy work practises. Warning A statement or event that indicates a possible or impending danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation. Work Health and Safety (WHS) Prevention of disease and injury caused by workplace influences, replacing the acronym ‘OHS’

W