CRSP key terms

Any source, situation, or act with the potential to cause harm, injury, ill health, or damage to property and the environment. It exists independently of whether anyone is currently exposed.

The combination of the likelihood that a hazardous event occurs and the severity of harm it would cause. Risk is assessed for a defined activity, population, and timeframe.

The systematic process of recognizing and documenting sources of potential harm before controls are selected. It draws on inspections, incident data, worker reports, task analysis, and legislation.

A structured evaluation that estimates likelihood and severity for identified hazards, then ranks them to prioritize controls. It considers exposure, existing controls, and the affected population.

A grid that combines likelihood and consequence ratings to produce a risk score or band. It supports consistent prioritization but depends on clearly defined rating criteria.

A ranked order of control measures, from elimination and substitution through engineering, administrative, and PPE. Higher-order controls are more reliable because they depend less on human behavior.

Removing a hazard entirely from the workplace or task, such as discontinuing a hazardous chemical or process. It is the most effective control because no residual exposure remains.

Replacing a hazardous material, equipment, or process with a less hazardous alternative. Effectiveness depends on verifying that the substitute does not introduce new risks.

A physical change to the workplace or equipment that reduces exposure at the source, such as ventilation, guarding, or noise enclosures. It generally does not rely on worker behavior.

A work practice, procedure, training, or scheduling change that reduces exposure, such as job rotation or permit systems. These controls depend on consistent human compliance to be effective.

Equipment worn or held by a worker to reduce exposure, such as gloves, respirators, or hearing protection. It is the last line of defense and requires fitting, training, and maintenance.

The level of risk remaining after controls have been implemented. It must be evaluated against acceptance criteria and communicated to affected workers.

A technique that breaks a task into sequential steps, identifies hazards at each step, and specifies controls. It is typically developed with the workers who perform the task.

A written, task-specific description of the safe method, required controls, and precautions for performing work. It must be accessible, current, and communicated to workers.

The selection, implementation, and monitoring of measures that reduce risk to an acceptable level. Control selection follows the hierarchy and is verified for effectiveness.

Meeting the duties and prohibitions imposed by occupational health and safety legislation, regulations, and applicable standards. It is a minimum obligation, not a substitute for risk reduction.

The ongoing, documented effort a duty holder makes to anticipate, prevent, and address hazards and legal breaches. Evidence includes policies, training records, inspections, and corrective actions.

The principle that everyone in a workplace shares responsibility for health and safety, with clear roles, authority, and accountability defined at each level of the organization.

A workplace committee with worker and employer representatives that monitors health and safety conditions, reviews incidents, and makes recommendations. Its composition and powers are set by legislation.

A worker selected to represent colleagues on health and safety matters where a full committee is not required. The role typically includes inspections, hazard reporting, and consultation with the employer.

A legislated worker right to decline work believed to present an undue hazard, following a defined process of reporting, investigation, and resolution. Retaliation for exercising it is prohibited.

A published technical or management specification developed by a recognized body. Adoption may be voluntary, incorporated by reference into regulation, or required by contract.

A structured set of policies, objectives, processes, and resources used to manage health and safety performance. Effective systems include planning, implementation, evaluation, and continual improvement.

A formal declaration by senior leadership of the organization's health and safety commitments, principles, and objectives. It authorizes the management system and is communicated to all workers.

A periodic, documented evaluation by top management of system performance, audit results, and changing circumstances. It produces decisions and resources for improvement.

An unwanted event that caused or could have caused injury, ill health, or damage. It includes near misses, which are investigated for lessons even when no harm occurred.

An event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so. Reporting and investigating near misses reveals failures before harm occurs.

A systematic process to gather evidence, establish the sequence of events, and determine contributing factors and causes. Its purpose is prevention, not assigning blame.

A method for identifying underlying system and management failures that allowed an incident, rather than stopping at the immediate act or condition. It supports durable corrective actions.

A condition, act, or decision that increased the likelihood or severity of an incident without being its sole cause. Incidents typically have several interacting contributing factors.

A change made to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity or incident and prevent recurrence. Its effectiveness should be verified and tracked to closure.

Documented procedures for responding to fires, spills, medical emergencies, and other incidents, including roles, alarms, evacuation, and communication. It is tested through drills and reviewed after exercises.

A planned simulation that tests emergency procedures, roles, and equipment under realistic conditions. Observations from the drill drive revisions to the emergency plan.

A documented notification of a hazard by a worker or observer that triggers review and action. An effective process confirms receipt and communicates the outcome to the reporter.

The measurement and evaluation of worker contact with a hazard, such as airborne contaminants, noise, or vibration, compared with recognized limits. Results inform control selection and medical surveillance.

A regulatory or advisory maximum concentration or level of a workplace agent considered acceptable for an exposure period. Limits vary by jurisdiction and are not a boundary between safe and unsafe.

Measurement of a worker's exposure using equipment worn in the breathing zone or at the body during a representative shift. It estimates individual dose more accurately than fixed-area sampling.

Ongoing, systematic monitoring of worker health through examinations, questionnaires, or biological tests related to workplace exposures. Findings are used to prevent further harm and evaluate controls.

A disease or disorder caused or aggravated by work conditions or exposures, often developing over time. Recognition depends on exposure history, medical evaluation, and sometimes reporting obligations.

The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that determine how seriously an organization treats health and safety. It is revealed by what leaders reinforce and what workers actually do.

Workers' shared perceptions of safety policies, practices, and priorities at a point in time. It is commonly measured through surveys and can shift faster than underlying culture.

Visible, consistent action by senior leaders that prioritizes health and safety, such as allocating resources, participating in inspections, and holding managers accountable. It shapes culture.

A process that observes work behaviors, provides feedback, and reinforces safe practices. It complements, but must not replace, engineering controls and system-level improvements.

A combination of knowledge, skills, and judgment required to perform a work role safely and effectively. Competency is verified through evidence, not assumed from job title.

A systematic determination of the knowledge and skills workers require for their tasks and the gaps that training must close. It considers legislation, hazard profiles, incident trends, and role changes.

The process of gathering evidence, such as observation, testing, or records, to confirm that a person can perform required tasks to a defined standard. Results guide training and authorization.

A structured approach defining what safety information is shared, with whom, through which channels, and how often. It supports consultation, hazard awareness, and consistent messaging.

An independent, systematic examination of the management system or workplace practices against defined criteria. Findings identify conformity, nonconformity, and opportunities for improvement.

A planned, routine examination of the workplace to identify hazards and verify controls and compliance. Observations are recorded, assigned for action, and tracked to completion.

A measurable metric chosen to track progress toward a safety objective. Effective indicators combine lagging outcomes with leading activities such as inspections and training completion.

A metric that measures outcomes after they occur, such as injury frequency or lost-time claims. It confirms results but provides little early warning of emerging risk.

A metric that measures preventive activities or conditions before harm occurs, such as hazard reports closed or training completed. It offers earlier signal of control effectiveness.

A failure to meet a specified requirement, whether legal, procedural, or from a management system standard. It is documented and addressed through correction and corrective action.

The recurring process of enhancing safety performance by setting objectives, evaluating results, and adjusting the system. It relies on data, review, and sustained leadership attention.