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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