Glossary of Terms for Health and Safety

We hope that you will find the SafeHands glossary a useful reference for understanding certain terms and abbreviations that are regularly used in the Health and Safety sector. Since we use these terms everyday, we sometimes forget that not everybody knows what they mean!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

AED

Automated External Defibrillator is a small inexpensive portable device that can be used to detect an abnormal heart rhythm and apply an electric shock. A non-medical person can use an AED once they have received the proper training. The device is used to save lives.

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B

Best Practice

Standards of Health and Safety that go beyond the minimum required by the law.

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C

Construction Method Statement

A Construction Method Statement is a Safety Statement that covers contractors on a construction site. It is increasingly becoming a requirement in order to get a contract approved.

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D

Defibrillator

Please see AED above.

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E

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F

FSAI

The Food and Safety Authority of Ireland is an independent statutory body set up under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. Their role is to protect the public and make sure that food meets the highest standards of safety and hygiene.

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G

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H

HACCP

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP, is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards (ie microbiological, chemical or physical) that could pose a danger to the preparation of safe food. Businesses are legally required to put in place and employ procedures that are based on HACCP principles (Regulation (EC) No 852/2004)

HSA

The Health and Safety Authority are the guardians of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Their role is to promote health and safety for both employers and employees.

Health and Safety Statement

See Safety Statement.

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I

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J

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K

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L

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M

Method Statement

A Method Statement is derived from the Safety Statement. It describes in detail a particular work situation, the hazards and dangers, the staff concerned and details of their safety training and the steps involved to ensure that the work is carried out safely.
(See also Construction Method Statement)

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N

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O

OHS / OH&S

Occupational Health and Safety is another way of saying 'Health and Safety at Work'. It's about preventing disease or injury that is a direct result of your workplace.

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P

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Q

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R

RSI

Repetitive Strain Injury is an injury caused by repeating the same action over and over again.

Risk Assessment

A Risk Assessment identifies the potential health and safety hazards in the workplace. It is a requirement under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005 that every employer carries out a Risk Assessment and then prepares a Safety Statement based on it.

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S

Safe Pass

Safe Pass is a one day course to ensure that construction workers understand basic health and safety principles when working on a construction site. All contruction workers in Ireland are required by law (SI 481/2001) to have Safe Pass training and to carry the Safe Pass card when onsite.

Safety Statement

A Safety Statement is a detailed document outlining how your organisation will manage the health, safety and welfare of its employees. A Safety Statement is based on a completed Risk Assessment. Every organisation, from a company to a sole trader is required by law to have one and keep it up to date.

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T

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U

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V

VDU

Visual Display Unit, or computer screen. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers are required to assess the risk of VDUs and minimise their impact on employees.

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W

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X

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Y

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Z

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