ABCs of Safety: your ultimate list of safety acronyms

In the safety industry there are a lot of phrases, abbreviations and acronyms to keep up with. Let us make your life easier. Here are the most common safety terms you’re likely to come across:

• AED – automated external defibrillator
• AHJ – authority having jurisdiction
• APF – assigned protection factor
• APR – air purifying respirator
• CBRN – chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear
• CCOHS – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• CEV – ceiling exposure value
• CGA – Compressed Gas Association
• CSA – Canadian Standards Association
• dB – decibels
  • dB(A) decibels, a-weighting
  • dB(C) decibels, c-weighting
• EBA – escape breathing apparatus
• ECGs – electrocardiograms
• eLearning – online training
• ELSI – end-of-service-life indicator
• ESEW – emergency showers and eyewashes
• FF – fit factor
• Fit testing – the practice of measuring how effective the seal of a respirator is on a person.
• FM – factory manual
• FR – fire resistant/retardant
• GHS – Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
• HEPA – high-efficiency particular adsorber
• HR – hazard ratio
• HHR – highest hazard ratio
• IAQ – indoor air quality
• IDLH – immediately dangerous to life or health
• JSA – job safety analysis
• LC – Labour Canada
• LEL – low explosive limit
• LFL – lower flammable limit
• LFFV – loose-fitting facepiece/visor
• LMS – learning management system
• LOTO – lock out, tag out
• MUC – maximum use concentration
• N95 – filter rated at 95 per cent efficiency and not for us in oil atmospheres
• NFPA – National Fire Protection Association
• NIOSH – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• OEL – occupational exposure limit
• OHSA – Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario)
• PAPR – powered air purifying respirator
• PEL – permissible exposure limit
• PPE – personal protective equipment
• QLFT – qualitative fit testing
• QNFT – quantitative fit testing
• SaaS– software as a service
• SAR – supplied-air respirator
• SCBA – self-contained breathing apparatus
• SDS – safety data sheet
• SPCC – spill prevention, control and countermeasures
• SRD – self-retracting device
• SRL – self-retracting lifeline
• STEL – short term exposure limit
• SWPF – simulated workplace protection factor
• TC – Transport Canada
• TLV – threshold limit value
• TRIF – total recordable incident frequency
• TRIR – total recordable incident rate
• TWA – time weight average
• UEL – upper exposure limit
• UFL – upper flammable limit
• UL/ULC – Underwriters Laboratories / Underwriters Laboratories Canada
• VFSS – vehicle fire suppression system
• WEEL – workplace environmental exposure limit
• WHMIS – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
• WPF – workplace protection factor
• ZAP – zero accident program

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