This document defines various terms and definitions related to work health and safety (WHS). It covers a wide range of topics from A to Z, including accidents, bullying, confined spaces, dangerous goods, emergency planning, first aid, hazards, incidents, manual handling, noise, personal protective equipment, risk assessment, and workplace standards. The definitions provide information on potential health and safety issues and how to prevent or address them.

1. WH&S
Work Health & Safety
Terms &
Definitions

2. A
Accident
An unplanned, undesirable energy release that may result in injury to
people and/or damage to property.
Accident Investigation
The process of gathering and analysing information about an accident
for the purpose of identifying causes and making recommendations to
prevent re-occurrence.
Accident Prevention
The application of actions to reduce incidents or accident from
occurring.
Attitude
A person’s attitude towards safety can either be positive
(Helpful) or negative (Hindering).
Agreed Procedure
Is an outline of processes or steps to be used to resolve issues and is
agreed upon by the PCBU, HSR and workers.

3. Accountability
The obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its
activities, accept responsibility for them and to disclose the results in
a transparent manner.
Agenda
A plan or list of items to be considered at a meeting.
Authorised Officer
A person from a union given legal power to enter a workplace on
health and safety issues.
Asthma
Is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease that can cause the lining of
the airways to swell and seriously affect airflow throughout the lungs.
Serious Asthma attacks can be fatal.
A

4. Bullying
Is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker
or group of workers that victimises, humiliates, undermines,
threatens or creates a risk to health and safety.
Biological Hazards
A rarely visible hazard that can consist of bacteria, viruses, fungi,
moulds and parasites.
Breaks
A short pause from work used to allow a worker the chance to rest
and recover muscles. Frequent short pauses are generally
preferable to infrequent longer pauses.
B

5. Chief Warden
The person responsible for the overall co-ordination of emergency
actions.
Contaminant
An unwanted substance that is likely to harm the quality of the working
environment.
Confined Space
Is an area which is not designed for continuous human occupancy
and has limited openings for entry, exiting or ventilation.
Combustible Substance
A substance capable of catching fire and burning.
Corrosive
A substance that will burn the skin or eyes on contact.
C

6. Discrimination
Is treating a worker less favourably because of age, disability, family
responsibilities, gender, sexual preference or race.
Due Diligence
Defined as the need to take reasonable steps to acquire knowledge
of health and safety matters, understand risks, monitor and respond
to incidents, hazards and risks and ensure legal compliance.
Duty of Care
Is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they
adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts
that could foreseeably harm others.
Duty to Consult
A PCBU has a duty to consult with it’s workers that are directly
affected by health and safety matter, gaining their input into
reducing injuries.
D

7. Dangerous Incidents
An incident in the workplace that exposes the worker to a serious
risk to their health and safety.
Dangerous Goods
Are substances that can be corrosive, flammable, explosive,
spontaneously combustible or toxic and can be deadly or cause
serious injury to people, property or environment.
Dust
Fine particles of a solid that can remain suspended in the air and
can cause respiratory problems, especially to people with
Asthma.
D

8. Emergency Planning Committee (EPC)
Identifies types of emergencies & hazards likely to occur in order to
establish emergency plans & procedures. They also nominate the
personnel for the Emergency Control Organisation.
Emergency Control Organisation (ECO)
Their structure will depend on the type of workplace but their primary
role is to ensure that life safety takes precedence over asset
protection.
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
A facility from which the control of emergency operations and co-
ordination of resources is effected.
Environment
The surrounding conditions, influence and forces to which a worker is
exposed to in the workplace.
E

9. Evacuation
The removal of all personnel from a building or area in the case of an
emergency.
Emergency Warning & Intercommunication System (EWIS)
Is a system, usually found in large workplaces, that provides an early
warning of an emergency. It alerts the occupants and co-ordinates
emergency systems.
E-crime
Refers to crime committed against individuals or groups that involves
a computer & a network. This includes fraud & scams, hacking &
intrusion, and distribution of malice software.
Elimination
Redesigning the job or equipment used to remove the risk.
E

10. Emergency
An event that will produce or exacerbate injury to people and/or
damage to property unless immediate intervention occurs.
Error
An inappropriate or missing action by a person, or failure by
equipment.
Exposure
Quality of an environmental agent impinging on a person.
Essential Services
Are services that are required to provide and maintain a safe
work environment for workers. These include air conditioning, early
and emergency warning systems, exit doors and signs,
emergency lighting, smoke alarms and fire extinguishes.
E

11. Ergonomics
Is the science of designing, developing and adapting or building
equipment that meets the needs of the human body. It is an
important element in an office workplace.
E

12. Faults
Defects within a system that affects its performance and may result
in an incident.
Fraud
Is the misrepresentation of fact in a way that is intended to cause
loss. This can include bank fraud, identity theft, extortion, and theft of
classified information.
Fatigue
Is a state of tiredness that can affect a worker’s performance or
health and safety and requires rest or sleep in order to recover.
Fatality
Death resulting from an accident.
First Aid
The immediate care given to a person who is injured or suddenly
become ill.
F

13. Glare
Is a lighting problem mostly associated with computer screens
and can cause eye strain and headaches.
Grounding
Electrical connection of one or more conductive objects to the
earth to prevent risk of shock or electrocution.
Gas
A formless substance that expands to occupy the space of its
container.
G

14. Hazard
Is defined as any unsafe condition or unsafe act which can result in
property damage, injury, or death.
Hazard Identification
A range of processes used to identify all situations or events that can
result in injury, illness or death.
Hazardous Substance
Products, such as cleaning solvents, that can cause injury, illness or
death.
Health & Safety Representative (HSR)
A person that represents the health and safety interests of a
workgroup, and monitors health and safety measures in the
workplace.
Health
Means physical and psychological well being of a person.
H

15. Harmonise
The Commonwealth and each state and territory government have
agreed to harmonise their work health and safety laws, including
regulations and codes of practise, so they are similar in each
jurisdiction.
Harassment Contact Officer (HCO)
Are employees trained to provide other employees with information
and impartial support regarding issues of discrimination, harassment
and bullying, as well as provide clarification about policies and
procedures.
Harassment
Is repetitive behaviour that is found threatening, disturbing offensive to
other people.
Health and Safety Committee (HSC)
Represents a workgroup and reviews measures taken to ensure health
and safety and invetigates risks so that they can advise and make
recommendations to management.
H

16. Heat exhaustion
Overheating of the body that can happen when the body losses
to much fluid, especially through excessive sweating.
H

17. Isolation
Enclosing or isolating the hazard from workers to eliminate or reduce
the likelihood of harm, injury or illness.
Injury
Immediate damage to the body caused by exposure to a hazard.
Incident
Is an unplanned or undesired event that could have resulted in
harm.
Incident Investigation
Is intended to identify all the possible root causes of an incident.
Inspector
Is appointed by Workcover to ensure health and safety is observed.
I

18. Intimidation
Is threatening behaviour that causes a person to fear injury or
harm and is usually used against a person to get them to do
something they don’t want to do.
Ingestion
The swallowing of a substance.
Inhalation
The breathing of a airborne contaminant.
Irritant
A substance that can inflame or irritate the eyes, skin or respiratory
system.
I

19. Likelihood
Used as a general description of probability or frequency.
Liquid
A formless fluid, usually wet substance.
Localised
Restricted to one spot or area.
L

20. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Is a document that contains important information to allow
workers to safely manage the risk from exposure to a hazardous
chemical, substance or dangerous goods.
Manual Handling
Means the use of force by a worker to lift, push, pull, carry, or
otherwise restrain an object.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)
Is a collective term for a range of conditions characterised by
discomfort or pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues that
may or may not have any visible symptoms. The onset of MSD is
commonly gradual especially in office environments.
Mitigation
Actions or measures taken to decrease or eliminate the impact of
an incident on the workers and the environment before it occurs.
M

21. Maintenance Records
A detailed document that contains all failures, faults and
maintenance or repair activities related to equipment in the
workplace.
M

22. Noise
Is an underestimated hazard of the workplace where exposure to
high or constant noise from either internal or external sources that
can result in hearing loss.
Notifiable Incident
Means a serious injury, illness, or death of a person or a dangerous
incident.
National codes of practise
Practical guides for businesses and workers that contain specific
advice for how compliance can be achieved in particular work
activities and areas.
N

23. Occupational Violence
Is any incident in which a worker is physically attacked or threatened
in the workplace. This can include statements or behaviours that
makes a worker believe they are in danger of being physically
attacked.
Ozone
Is a gas produced, in small amounts, by electrostatic photocopiers
and in sufficient amounts can cause illness to workers. It is best to store
photocopiers in a well ventilated area and have it fitted with a filter.
Organisation
Group of people and facilities with an arrangement of responsibilities,
authorities and relationships.
Officer
An officer may be a person who makes or participates in making
decisions that affects a substantial part of a corporation.
O

24. Occupational safety
Accident prevention through work systems aimed at minimising
the risk of injury.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Prevention of disease and injury caused by workplace influences.
OHS Management
The design, implementation and maintenance of work activities to
minimise, as far as is reasonably practicable, the occurrence of
injury and disease.
O

25. Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU)
Replaces the word employer.
Prevention
Regulatory and/or physical measures employed to ensure harm is
prevented or reduced.
Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN)
A notice that is issued to a person requiring them to address a health
and safety concern in the workplace.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Equipment worn by workers to reduce risk from occupational safety
and health hazards.
Plan
A formal record of agreed emergency management roles,
responsibilities, strategies, and arrangements.
P

26. Policy
Is a line of actions adopted from legislation to guide and
determine present and future decisions.
Procedure
A sequence on actions or processes that need to be undertaken
to produce the desired result or outcome.
P

27. Risk
Is the likelihood of harm, illness or damage occurring with the
exposure to a hazard and also the consequences or seriousness of
the harm, illness or damage.
Risk Assessment
Is a process used to determine and implement appropriate
measures to control risk.
Risk Management
The identification and assessment of the risks which an organisation
is exposed and the selection of the most effective way to protect
assets and minimise potential losses.
Radiation
Energy transmitted by waves through space mostly present around
electrical equipment.
R

28. Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM)
Is a risk priority rating tool that allows the worker to prioritise the
identified hazard to ensure that hazards with the high potential of
creating an incident are eliminated or controlled first.
Reasonable Care
Taking care of one’s own health and safety without adverse
affect to others and complying with instructions, policies and or
procedures.
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the PCBU to ensure they provide a safe
workplace for workers. It is the worker’s responsibility that they
conduct their work in a safe manner.
R

29. Restricted access
Imposed conditions on access to an area or building and, in
regards to computers, data.
Regulations
Are the rules, procedures, guidelines and codes of practice
written by Worksafe Australia.
R

30. Safety
Freedom from the danger of injury.
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
A document that lists the types of high-risk construction work
being done, what the health and safety hazards and risks arising
from that work are, and then describes how the risks will be
controlled and the risk control measures will be put in place.
Stress
He reaction that people have when trying to cope with excessive
demands or pressures connected to their job.
Sprains & Strains
A common occurring injury to workers caused through the use of
manual handling.
Substitution
Replacing materials, equipment or processes with less hazardous
ones.
S

31. Shift – work
Is working a shift at anytime with the 24 hours of the day. It is a
significant cause of fatigue in workers at it disrupts the body clock.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Is a situation where a portion of workers complain of symptoms of
discomfort such as headaches, eye or throat irritation, fatigue and
nausea while at work but disappear when they leave the building.
These instances are usually rare and often have psychosocial factors
but can also be caused by poor air quality.
Serious injury or illness
An injury or illness of a person that requires immediate treatment.
Substance
Means any natural or artificial substance, whether in the form of a
solid, liquid, gas or vapour.
S

32. Safety Focus Group
They ensure the well being of workers through maintaining and
continually improving safe work procedures. As well as promote a
culture of safe working practises and attitudes amongst workers
while working towards having an incident free workplace.
Surge Protection
A surge protector is a device used to protect electrical devices
from voltage spikes.
Safe Operating Procedure
Is a step-by-step description of the safest way to carry out a task.
S

33. The Act
Refers to the Work Health & Safety Act 2012.
Thermal Comfort
This can be influenced by clothing, type of work being done,
temperature, humidity and air flow.
Toxic
Harmful or poisonous.
Tag Testing
The process of testing electrical equipment and appliances to
ensure they are safe to use in the workplace.
Trip Switch
An electric switch arranged to interrupt a circuit suddenly and
disconnect power from a running machine so that it is quickly
stopped.
T

34. Trouble Shooting
Tracing and correcting faults in mechanical or electrical systems.
Training
Instruction on haw to do a job safely.
T

35. Unsafe Acts
Actions that will potentially lead to injury, death or property
damage.
Unsafe Conditions
A Hazardous physical condition or circumstance which can cause
the occurrence of an incident.
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
An electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to
electrical equipment when the normal power supply is
interrupted.
Union
Is an employee organisation that is registered under the fair work
act 2009.
U

36. Visual Fatigue
Tiredness in the eye muscles due to eye strain or constant focus on
close work.
Volunteer
A person who is acting on a voluntary basis.
Ventilation
The supplying a removing of air, at the same time, to an enclosed
machine room or building.
V

37. Worker
Is a person who carries out work in any capacity for a business or
undertaking (PCBU). This can include employees, contractors,
volunteers, apprentices, outworkers, trainees and work experience
people.
Workgroup
A group of workers who share similar WHS concerns.
Workplace
A place, whether or not in a building or structure, where
employees or self-employed people work.
Warden
A person who assists with evacuation control during a workplace
emergency.
W

38. Workplace Standards Tasmania (WST)
A resource depository raising awareness of the need to value safe
workplaces and take responsibility for safe and healthy work
practises.
Warning
A statement or event that indicates a possible or impending
danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation.
Work Health and Safety (WHS)
Prevention of disease and injury caused by workplace influences,
replacing the acronym ‘OHS’
W