Comprehensive Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Review

A vocabulary set covering key terms, concepts, and definitions from the provided Occupational Safety & Health lecture notes.

Occupational Safety

Rules and regulations designed to ensure employee health and safety at work.

Imminent Danger

A workplace event or condition with a reasonable chance of causing death or severe injury.

Workplace

Any location an employee must go for work that is under employer control, directly or indirectly.

Certified First-Aider

Person trained and certified in first aid by the Philippine Red Cross or another DOLE-approved organization.

Safety and Health Committee

Workplace body that oversees, examines, and addresses all employee health and safety aspects.

High-Risk Establishment

Work setting with moderate to high likelihood of accidents, illnesses, or significant safety exposures.

Low-Risk Establishment

Workplace with minimal exposure to health and safety risks unlikely to cause harm.

Safety Officer

Individual who monitors and inspects workplace health and safety issues.

Accident

Unplanned, unwanted event that may result in harm, loss, or death.

Accident Causation

Underlying reasons or factors that lead to an accident.

Heinrich Domino Model

Theory stating accidents result from a chain of events; removing the unsafe act/mechanical hazard prevents injury.

Unsafe / Unhealthy Acts

Worker behaviors that deviate from safety standards, raising the likelihood of incidents.

Unsafe / Unhealthy Conditions

Hazardous physical or chemical characteristics of materials, machines, or environments.

5S

Lean workplace method: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke.

Seiri (Sort)

Eliminate unnecessary items by separating needed from unneeded materials.

Seiton (Set in order)

Arrange and label remaining items for easy use and retrieval.

Seiso (Shine)

Clean the work area through systematic housekeeping.

Seiketsu (Standardize)

Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance; perform 3S daily.

Shitsuke (Sustain)

Make 5S a habit through discipline and continuous practice.

High-Risk Activity

Task that can seriously endanger health or safety if not done correctly.

High-Risk Industry

Industry where accidents, injuries, or environmental damage are frequent due to operational nature.

Hazard Identification

Process of determining potential hazards an organization could encounter.

Risk Assessment

Evaluating possible effects of each identified hazard.

Risk Mitigation

Steps taken to address a hazard’s root cause and track effectiveness.

Housekeeping (OSH)

Routine cleaning/maintenance that reduces injuries, flammables, and promotes health.

Material Handling and Storage

Movement, storage, and control of materials during manufacture, transport, use, and disposal.

Manual Handling

Using bodily force to lift, move, or support a load.

Mechanical Handling

Utilizing equipment to transport, load, or unload materials.

Ergonomic Hazard

Risk of muscle strain or injury from improper lifting or repetitive tasks.

Equipment Accident

Injury resulting from poorly maintained or improperly used machinery.

Falling Object Hazard

Risk arising when items drop due to improper stacking or storage.

Collapsing Rack Hazard

Injury risk from overloaded or poorly maintained storage racks.

Blocked Aisle / Exit

Obstructed pathway that poses safety risk during evacuation.

Chemical Hazard (Storage)

Risks of spills, leaks, or reactions from improper chemical storage.

Pest Infestation Risk

Contamination and health issues caused by poor maintenance attracting pests.

Electrical Hazard (Storage)

Fire or shock danger from storing materials near electrical panels or wiring.

Machine Safety

Policies and measures to reduce risks when operating workplace machinery.

Mechanical Hazard

Potential severe injury/fatality when machinery is improperly handled.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Median-nerve compression in wrist causing pain, numbness, tingling.

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Finger numbness, pain, and grip weakness from prolonged vibration exposure.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Barrier that reduces exposure to mechanical, electrical, chemical, or physical hazards.

Head Protection

Hard hats or bump caps guarding against impact or falling objects.

Eye & Face Protection

Safety goggles or face shields preventing debris or chemical splashes.

Hearing Protection

Earplugs or earmuffs that reduce noise exposure.

Respiratory Protection

Masks or respirators that filter harmful airborne contaminants.

Hand Protection

Gloves designed to guard against cuts, chemicals, or heat.

Body Protection

Coveralls, high-visibility clothing shielding torso from hazards.

Foot Protection

Safety shoes or steel-toe boots preventing foot injuries.

Fall Protection Equipment

Harnesses or lanyards designed to arrest falls from height.

Chemical Protective Gear

HAZMAT suits or aprons shielding against hazardous substances.

Hazard Analysis

Systematic evaluation of workplace hazards to prioritize controls.

Reactive Methodology

Identifies hazards by analyzing past incidents.

Proactive Methodology

Seeks hazards through audits before incidents occur.

Predictive Methodology

Uses data trends to foresee and prevent future hazards.

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

Procedure preventing accidental machine startup or energy release.

Lock (LOTO)

Device that physically prevents equipment energization.

Tag (LOTO)

Warning label advising workers not to use the machine.

Lock Hasp

Hardware allowing multiple locks on a single energy-isolating device.

Mechanical Energy

Energy in gears or moving parts that can crush or entangle.

Electrical Energy

Live current capable of causing shock, burns, or electrocution.

Pneumatic Energy

Compressed air/gas that may release sudden force.

Thermal Energy

Heat or extreme cold posing burn or frostbite hazards.

Hydraulic Energy

Pressurized fluid power that can move suddenly and trap workers.

Chemical Energy (LOTO)

Potentially explosive or reactive substances needing safe isolation.

Confined Space

Area with limited entry/exit not intended for continuous occupancy.

Authorized Entrant

Worker permitted to perform tasks inside a confined space.

Authorized Attendant

Person outside confined space who monitors entrant safety.

Oxygen Deficiency

Low oxygen level hazard common in confined spaces.

Toxic Gas Hazard

Presence of poisonous gases posing inhalation risk.

Engulfment Hazard

Risk of being trapped by loose materials like grain or sand.

Basic Electricity Safety

Guidelines to prevent injury from electrical hazards.

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

Fast-acting breaker that shuts power during a ground fault.

Fire Safety

Practices aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to uncontrolled fires.

Fire Hazard

Action, material, or condition with potential to start an uncontrolled fire.

Class A Fire

Blaze involving ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, cloth.

Class B Fire

Fire fueled by flammable liquids like grease, oil, paint.

Class C Fire

Fire involving live electrical equipment.

Class D Fire

Combustible metal fire, e.g., magnesium or aluminum.

Class K Fire

Fire from cooking oils or fats in commercial kitchens.

Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514)

Regulation implemented by BFP to prevent and suppress fires.

Guardrail System

Barrier preventing workers from falling at exposed edges.

Safety Net

Mesh system that catches or limits fall distance.

Personal Fall Arrest System

Equipment that stops a worker’s fall before ground impact.

Barricade

Temporary barrier controlling or restricting access to an area.

Soft Barricade

Flexible barrier like cones, tape, or mesh.

Solid Barricade

Rigid, semi-permanent barrier made of wood, metal, or concrete.

Scaffold

Temporary elevated platform supporting workers and materials.

Supported Scaffold

Platform held by load-bearing legs, poles, or frames.

Suspended Scaffold

Platform hung by ropes from overhead structure.

Rolling Scaffold

Supported scaffold mounted on wheels for mobility.

Cantilever Scaffold

Scaffold supported on one side for work along building edges.

Industrial Hygiene

Science of protecting and enhancing worker health through hazard control.

Environmental Hazard

Airborne contaminants like dust, fumes, vapors in the workplace.

Chemical Hazard (IH)

Risk from gases, liquids, dusts, mists, or fumes.

Physical Hazard

Heat, noise, radiation, or vibration threatening worker health.

Ergonomic Hazard (IH)

Work conditions causing musculoskeletal strain or discomfort.

Hierarchy of Controls

Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administrative, PPE (priority order).

Hazard Communication

System for classifying and conveying chemical hazards to employees.

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

International standard for chemical classification and labeling.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Document providing detailed information on chemical hazards and handling.