OSHAidProductsDemosIndustriesPricingMoreClient access Create my accountFree🇺🇸ENCreate my accountResource

Workplace safety & OSHA glossary

US occupational safety and health uses many acronyms and regulatory concepts. This glossary defines OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), its key standards and forms, and the acronyms and terms you encounter in workplace hazard prevention and in the OSHAid app.

Occupational safety & health acronyms

The main acronyms of US workplace safety, with their full form and definition.

OSHAOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationFederal agency enforcing workplace safety law. Under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act), every employer must provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm — even where no specific standard applies.JHAJob Hazard AnalysisThe process of identifying, analysing and rating hazards for each task or job. It underpins your safety program and leads to concrete hazard controls.IIPPInjury and Illness Prevention ProgramWritten, systematic safety program (required in several states, notably by Cal/OSHA) listing hazard identification, prevention measures, responsibilities and training.CAPACorrective and Preventive ActionsPrioritised list of corrective and preventive actions from the hazard assessment, each with an owner, deadline and follow-up.WPVWorkplace Violence PreventionWork-related risks of violence, threats, harassment and stress. OSHA cites employers for unaddressed workplace violence under the General Duty Clause, like physical hazards.MSDMusculoskeletal DisordersDisorders of muscles, tendons and joints caused by repetitive motion, awkward postures and manual handling. A leading cause of recordable injuries in the United States.PPEPersonal Protective EquipmentEquipment worn by the employee to guard against hazards (helmet, gloves, safety shoes, hearing/respiratory protection). Provided at no cost to workers; used after higher-level controls.ECEngineering ControlsProtection covering everyone exposed without individual action (guardrails, source extraction, machine guarding, ventilation). It takes priority over personal protection in the hierarchy of controls.WCWorkers' CompensationState-run insurance scheme compensating employees for work-related injuries and illnesses: medical care, wage replacement and disability benefits.OSHOccupational Safety and HealthAll measures protecting workers' physical and mental health. The OSH Act of 1970 created OSHA and NIOSH and set nationwide employer duties.HSEHealth, Safety, EnvironmentThe field and role covering occupational hazard prevention, hygiene and environmental protection within the company.QHSEQuality, Health, Safety, EnvironmentIntegrated approach adding quality to the HSE scope; the QHSE manager drives compliance, prevention and continuous improvement.QSEQuality, Safety, EnvironmentVariant of the QHSE function combining quality, safety and environmental management systems.EHSEnvironment, Health, SafetyScope focused on people's health and safety and on controlling environmental impacts; the most common US name for the function.CSRCorporate Social ResponsibilityVoluntary integration of social, environmental and ethical concerns into business; workplace safety is a key social pillar.SMSSafety Management SystemStructured organisation (policy, objectives, procedures, indicators) to steer hazard prevention sustainably — e.g. ANSI/ASSP Z10 or ISO 45001.JHSCJoint Health and Safety CommitteeJoint labor-management safety committee. It reviews hazards, incidents and working conditions, and is consulted on the safety program.VPPVoluntary Protection ProgramsOSHA recognition program for worksites with exemplary safety management systems; participants are exempt from programmed inspections.PLHCPPhysician or Other Licensed Health Care ProfessionalProfessional providing medical surveillance of employees (respirator clearance, hearing tests) and advising the employer on health matters.NIOSHNational Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthReference research body producing studies, guidance and tools to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.State PlanOSHA-Approved State PlanState-run safety and health program approved by federal OSHA, which conducts its own inspections and may set stricter standards.Cal/OSHACalifornia Division of Occupational Safety and HealthThe largest State Plan: it enforces California standards, often stricter than federal OSHA, including the mandatory IIPP.BLSBureau of Labor StatisticsFederal body compiling national statistics on workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities that guide prevention policy.CPWRThe Center for Construction Research and TrainingOrganisation dedicated to hazard prevention in construction: research, training and practical tools for jobsite safety programs.TWHTotal Worker HealthNIOSH program supporting companies on work organisation, stress prevention and better overall working conditions.CSHOCompliance Safety and Health OfficerOSHA inspector who conducts workplace inspections — sometimes unannounced — checks records, and can issue citations and penalties.HAZLOCHAZardous LOCationsAreas where a flammable or explosive atmosphere may form (gas, vapour, dust), requiring classification (Class/Division) and suitable rated equipment.PELPermissible Exposure LimitThe maximum legal exposure to a hazardous substance (e.g. asbestos, silica, lead) under OSHA standards. Exceeding it triggers reinforced prevention rules.HCSHazard Communication StandardOSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) on chemical hazards: labeling, safety data sheets (SDS) and worker training, feeding your hazard assessment.SDSSafety Data SheetManufacturer document describing a chemical's hazards and precautions; essential to assess chemical risk.Form 301Injury and Illness Incident ReportOSHA form completed for each recordable case, detailing the incident circumstances and the injury or illness sustained.Form 300Log of Work-Related Injuries and IllnessesOSHA log listing every recordable work-related injury and illness during the year. Keeping it accurate is a core recordkeeping duty.Form 300ASummary of Work-Related Injuries and IllnessesAnnual summary of the 300 Log, signed by an executive and posted in the workplace from February 1 to April 30 each year.EMRExperience Modification RateInsurance rating factor. A company's workers' compensation premium depends on its claims record compared with its industry.BBPBloodborne PathogensExposure to blood or body fluids (needlestick, cut, splash) carrying an infection risk. Covered by 29 CFR 1910.1030, a major standard in healthcare.PPDPermanent Partial DisabilityRating assessing lasting after-effects of a workplace injury or occupational illness, giving rise to workers' compensation benefits.EAPEmergency Action PlanWritten plan (29 CFR 1910.38) covering evacuation routes, alarms and accounting for employees, paired with fire-prevention and exit-route rules.OSH ActOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970Body of law setting employers' safety and health obligations, including the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) and whistleblower protections.29 CFRCode of Federal Regulations, Title 29The OSHA standards themselves: Part 1910 for general industry, Part 1926 for construction, plus recordkeeping and reporting rules.

Key hazard-assessment terms

The essential concepts used to identify, rate and control hazards in your safety program.

HazardIntrinsic property of something (product, machine, situation) able to cause harm — distinct from risk, which combines the hazard with exposure.Occupational riskLikelihood that an employee is harmed through exposure to a hazard in a given work situation.Work unitBreakdown of the company (post, job, place or activity) used as the basis for hazard assessment in your safety program.WorkstationThe concrete situation where an employee performs tasks; the fine-grained level for analysing exposure and prevention.ExposureContact between an employee and a hazard (noise, chemical, load, biological agent…), defined by its intensity and duration.RatingMethod of ranking hazards, usually combining severity and probability (sometimes control) to obtain a criticality level.SeverityExtent of a hazard's potential health consequences, from minor discomfort to a fatal accident.ProbabilityFrequency or likelihood of harm given the exposure and the prevention measures in place.CriticalityPriority score of a hazard from the rating (severity × probability), guiding the order of prevention actions.Risk controlLevel of prevention already in place (technical, organisational, human) reducing exposure or severity.Prevention measureAction removing or reducing a hazard, per the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls (EC), administrative controls, PPE, training.High-hazard exposureExposure to risk factors that may leave lasting health effects (night work, postures, noise, chemicals…). It can trigger medical surveillance under OSHA standards.Safety registerLog recording self-inspections, equipment checks and observations on the safety of installations and machinery.Audit / inspectionSystematic examination of work situations to check compliance, find gaps and feed the prevention diagnosis.Chemical riskRisk from using, storing or emitting hazardous chemicals, assessed from safety data sheets (SDS) under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS).Biological riskRisk of exposure to micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi), notably in healthcare, food and sanitation.Physical riskFamily including noise, vibration, thermal conditions, radiation and electrical risk.Manual handlingLifting, carrying and moving loads by hand, a major source of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and back pain.ErgonomicsAdapting work to people (workstation, tools, organisation) to reduce fatigue and MSDs and improve safety.AsbestosA carcinogen regulated by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1001) present in many older buildings; any work likely to release it requires strict prevention measures.

From theory to real OSHA compliance

OSHAid turns this vocabulary into a guided workflow: assess hazards, rate criticality and generate audit-ready OSHA records. Free, no commitment.

Create my accountFree Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play

The intelligent OSHA companion that automates your field compliance. Mobile app + web console + specialized safety AI agent, built for US workplaces.

🇫🇷 Hosted in EuropeGDPR CompliantProduct

Industries

Guides

More info