USEFUL DEFINITIONS:

1.Safe System of Work (SSW):

The integration of people, equipment and material in correct environment to produce safest possible
conditions in a specific work area

Or

Safe System of Work is a step by step procedure taking into account of hazards, controls, essential equipment,
PPE and training

2.Permit To Work (PTW):

The Permit to Work procedure is a formal, written system used to control certain type works which are
potentially hazardous

Or

Permit to Work systems and procedures constitutes the most formal methods of ensuring safe working
practices and Safe System of Work.

3.Meaning of hierarchy of control:

A list of measures designed to control risks which are considered in order of importance, effectiveness or
priority

Or

A list of measures designed to control risks that are normally begin with an extreme measure of control and
end with PPE as lost resort.

4.As far as reasonably practicable

A requirement that has to be carried out ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’ is on where there is a risk /
benefit trade off

An employer is entitled to Balance costs of remedy against benefits in reduction of risks and if the benefits
are minimal compared to the cost, he/she need to carry out the duty.

5.Confined Space:
Confined Space defined as any enclosed space or other similar spaces in which by virtue of its enclosed nature
there is a foreseeable risk of specified occurrence.

For Example: Pits, Silos, Processing Vessels, Wells and Trenches etc.

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6.Lone Worker:
Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close supervision or direct supervision

7.Communication:
Communication is the passing on and receiving information, ideas, thoughts and feeling so that the
understanding is achieved

8.Safety Culture:
A product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behavior that determine the
commitment to, and the style and proficiency of an organization’s Health and Safety performance

9.Health:
The term ‘Health’ has been defined as ‘A state of well being’. It includes well being in a Physiological and
Psychological sense.

In occupational terms this would include not suffering from noise-induced deafness, mental fatigue or stress.

10.Safety:
The term ‘Safety’ is considered to be ‘The absence of danger of physical harm to people’.

The term would extend to other things that could be harmed in the workplace such as Equipment, Structures
and Materials.

11.Environment (ISO 1992):

The term ‘Environment’ is defined as ‘The surroundings in which an organization operates includes air, water,
land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelationships’

12.Environmental Protection
The term’ Environmental Protection’ is defined as ‘A measure used to prevent harm to the environment of the
world’.

As such it focuses on such things as protection of plant life, animals, water and land and air quality. Though
the protection does not focus on the worker or other people directly by protection the environment people
obtain a benefit.

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13.Welfare:
The term welfare relates to the provision of workplace facilities that maintain the basic well being and comfort
of the worker, such as eating, washing, toilet facilities and first-aid

14.Accident:
Accident is ‘an unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event which results in a loss of some kind’.

15.Incident:
Incident is ‘an unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event that had a potential to result in a loss’

Or

An unsafe occurrence arising out of or in the course of work where no personal injury is caused, or where
personal injury only requires first aid

16.Occupational Accident:
An occurrence arising out of or in the course of work which results in a fatal occupational injury or non fatal
occupational injury

17.Occupational Incident: - Death, any personal injury or disease is resulting from an occupational
accident.

18.Commuting (Travel) Accident:

‘A commuting accident is an accident occurring on the direct way between the place of work and

1. The worker’s principal or secondary residence

2. The place where the worker usually takes his or her meals
3. The place where he or she usually receives his or her remuneration

And which results in death or personal injury involving loss of working time’

19.Dangerous Occurrence
A readily identifiable event as defined under national laws and regulations, with potential to cause an injury or
disease to persons at work or the public

Examples:

1. Explosion of a pressure vessel

2. Collapse of a scaffold of five meters high or more
3. Failure of lifting equipment

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20.Nearmiss
‘An accident that results in no apparent loss’

The term ‘Nearmiss’ refers to an event (accident) which did not result in personal injury, equipment damage
or some other loss, but under slightly different circumstances should have done

Example: A building block falling off a scaffold and landing on the floor

21.Work related ill health / Occupational Disease

The term refers to ‘Harm to worker’s health caused by their work’ and it will include harm to health in a
Physiological or Psychological way.

This would include ill-health in the form of asbestosis, noise induced deafness and mental fatigue or stress

22.Hazard:
‘Hazard is something that has a potential to cause harm (loss)’

For Example: A wet mixture of cement or concrete could present a chemical (alkaline) burn hazard.

- Heat - Acids and Alkalis - Noise - Fire

- Machinery - Plant and Equipment - Light

23.Risk
‘Risk is the combination of the likelihood and consequences of a specified hazardous event occurring’

For Example:

1. A risk of serious personal injury due to fire or explosion from flammable substances such as Methane
or Oxygen enrichment
2. Coming into contact with rotating part of the machinery
3. Tripping over trailing cables across busy walkways

24.Health Effects:

1. Acute Effect:
‘Resulting from a single or short exposure producing an immediate effect which is usually reversible’

For Example: Alcohol affecting the nervous system

2. Chronic Effect

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 'Resulting from prolonged or repeated exposure producing a gradual effect that may be unrecognized
for a number of years and may be irreversible’

For Example: Alcohol causing cirrhosis to liver.

25.Important words and definitions

1. So far as is reasonably practicable

Balancing the risk against cost in terms of money, time and efforts

Or

Comparing cost of remedy against benefit in reduction of risks

2. Informing
Informing is a one way process of providing information to employees

For Example: – Providing information on hazards, risks and control measures

3. Consulting
Consulting is two ways process in which the employee receives the information and provides feedback,
and the employer take account of views of employees before a decision is taken

26.Motivation
Motivation is the driving force behind the way in which a person acts in order to achieve goal or objective

What motivates or de-motivates people in work

1. Incentives
2. Recognition
3. Job satisfaction
4. Personal achievement
5. Team spirit
6. Peer approval
7. Realistic goals
8. Committed Management / Involvement in decisions
9. Safe environment
10. Threat of discipline

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27.Attitude
Attitude is the tendency to behave in a particular way in a certain situation

An employer’s attitude to Health and Safety issues may be affected by

1. Culture
2. Experience
3. Peer groups
4. Management commitment
5. Home influence

For Example: a person’s attitude to wearing PPE may be affected by the actions of colleagues

28.Perception
Perception is the way people interpret and try to make sense of presented information.

For Example in relation to their surroundings

29.Communication
Communication is the passing on and receiving of information, ideas, thoughts and feelings so that
understanding is achieved

1. Communication is a two way process where the needs of the receiver as critical as the needs of the
speaker
2. The speaker should not assume that the receiver has understood what has been said.
3. Both participants must be sure that they are using the same language.

30.What is Risk Assessment?

A Risk Assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what in work could cause harm. So that you
can weight up whether you taken enough precautions or should do mere to prevent harm

31.Competence / Competent Person

A competent person is defined as someone who has a combination of training, knowledge, experience, skills
and personal abilities and also knowledge of their own limitations

32.Safety Audit
Safety audit is systematic, critical examination of an organization’s systems and procedures to determine the
extent of compliance with a set of agreed standards

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33.Safety inspections
Safety inspections involves examination of the workplace or equipment in order to identify hazards and
determine if they are effectively controlled

34.Safety sampling
Safety sampling is where only a partial amount of area is examined to establish the facts that can indicate the
standards of compliance of the whole. For Example: examination of three pieces of lifting tackle, may only give
a rough, but acceptable, indication of situation relating to lifting tackle as a whole

35.Safety tours
Safety tours involving unscheduled workplace inspection to check on issues such as wearing of PPE and
housekeeping.

Or

Safety tours provide an opportunity for management to explore the effectiveness of risk control measures
through planned visits to the workplace to observe and discuss the controls in use

36.Safety surveys
Safety surveys focusing on a particular activity such as manual handling, training programs and workers’
attitude towards safety

37.Bench marking
Where an organization’s performance in certain areas is compared with that of other organization with similar
process and risks or industry standards

38.Health surveillance
By carrying out health surveillance on employees- the employer will be able to detect problems at an early
stage and put in place preventative measures

For Example: using techniques such as audiometry, blood or urine analysis

39.Hazard and operability studies

This is the application of a formal critical examination of the process and intention of new facilities at the
design stage.

- To assess the hazard potential of mal-operation of individual items of equipment and

- The consequential effects on the workplace as a whole
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 - Remedial action is then possible at a very early stage of the project with the maximum
effectiveness and minimum cost

40.Performance review
Performance review analyses data gathered through monitoring techniques and make judgments
about whether the performance is adequate and risks are being adequately controlled and managed