IHMM CSMP key terms

A ranked sequence for reducing risk: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Higher levels generally protect more people and depend less on individual behavior.

A structured method that breaks a task into sequential steps, identifies hazards at each step, and assigns controls. Often used to write safe work procedures and to train workers on high-risk tasks.

A formal process for reviewing and approving changes to equipment, processes, chemicals, or organization before implementation, so new hazards are identified and controls updated before startup.

A verification conducted before introducing hazardous chemicals or starting modified equipment, confirming construction matches design, procedures are in place, and training is complete.

A regulation-driven framework for highly hazardous chemical processes covering process hazard analysis, operating procedures, training, mechanical integrity, incident investigation, and emergency planning.

A systematic team study of a hazardous process to identify failure scenarios and consequences. Methods include HAZOP, what-if, checklist, and failure mode and effects analysis.

A team-based technique that applies guide words such as no, more, less, and reverse to process parameters at each node to find deviations from design intent and their consequences.

The overall process of hazard identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation to determine whether existing controls are adequate or additional action is needed.

A grid combining likelihood and severity categories to rank risks and prioritize controls. Its value depends on clearly defined category criteria and consistent application by trained assessors.

The risk remaining after controls have been applied. It must be compared against the organization's risk criteria and communicated to affected workers.

A principle requiring risk to be reduced as low as reasonably practicable, balancing the cost and difficulty of further controls against the risk reduction they would achieve.

The systematic process of recognizing sources of harm in tasks, equipment, chemicals, and conditions. It is the foundation of risk assessment and should involve workers who perform the work.

A physical change to equipment, processes, or the workplace that reduces exposure at the source, such as local exhaust ventilation, machine guarding, or noise enclosures.

A system that captures airborne contaminants at or near their source using a hood, ductwork, fan, and air cleaner. Effectiveness depends on capture velocity and regular inspection.

Personal protective equipment such as respirators, gloves, and eye protection worn by the worker. It is the last line of defense and requires hazard-based selection, fitting, training, and maintenance.

A qualitative or quantitative test verifying that a tight-fitting respirator seals to the wearer's face. Required before initial use, annually, and when facial changes may affect the seal.

The workplace level of respiratory protection a respirator class is expected to provide when used within a complete respiratory protection program. Used to select adequate protection.

The process of measuring or estimating worker exposure to chemical, physical, or biological agents, including identifying exposure groups, sampling strategy, and comparison with occupational limits.

A legally enforceable occupational exposure limit for airborne contaminants, typically expressed as an eight-hour time-weighted average, with some substances having ceiling or short-term limits.

An occupational exposure guideline published by a professional scientific body, reflecting levels believed to protect most workers. It is advisory rather than legally enforceable in most jurisdictions.

A standardized document providing hazard, composition, first aid, handling, storage, and control information for a chemical. Required to be accessible to workers who may be exposed.

A program requiring labels, safety data sheets, and worker training so employees understand the hazards of chemicals they handle and the precautions to take.

An international framework for classifying chemicals and communicating hazards through standardized pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and safety data sheet formats.

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to ignite momentarily when exposed to an ignition source, used to classify flammable liquids.

The concentration range of vapor in air between the lower and upper flammability limits within which ignition can occur. Concentrations outside this range will not burn.

Finely divided solid particles that can explode when dispersed in air and ignited. Control requires housekeeping, dust collection, ignition-source control, and hazard assessment.

Waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic, or that is specifically listed as hazardous. Requires identification, accumulation limits, labeling, and compliant disposal.

A tracking document accompanying hazardous waste shipments that records generator, transporter, and receiving facility, creating a chain of custody from origin to disposal.

A space large enough to enter, with limited entry or exit, and not designed for continuous occupancy. Permit-required spaces add hazards such as engulfment, hazardous atmosphere, or configuration.

Pre-entry and continuous measurement of oxygen, flammables, and toxic gases in a space before and during entry. Results determine ventilation needs and permit conditions.

A written program covering identification, entry permits, atmospheric testing, attendants, rescue arrangements, and training for spaces with hazardous conditions.

A procedure for isolating hazardous energy sources before maintenance or servicing, using locks, tags, and verification to prevent unexpected startup or release of stored energy.

A structured inquiry into what happened, why, and what should change, focusing on contributing factors and system weaknesses rather than assigning individual blame.

A method such as five-whys, fault tree, or cause-and-effect analysis used to trace an incident to underlying management-system failures that, if corrected, prevent recurrence.

An unplanned event that did not cause injury or damage but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses reveals hazards before harm occurs.

A documented change made to eliminate the cause of a detected problem and prevent recurrence, with an assigned owner, due date, and verification of effectiveness.

A proactive measure of preventive activity, such as training completion or inspection closure rates, that predicts future safety performance rather than reflecting past outcomes.

An integrated set of policies, responsibilities, procedures, and review processes that manage safety as an organizational function, with defined elements and continual improvement.

A systematic, independent review of safety programs and records against defined criteria, used to verify conformance and drive corrective action.

A written plan specifying evacuation routes, alarm systems, accountability procedures, and assigned roles so occupants respond correctly to fire, spill, or other emergencies.

A plan for handling incidents beyond routine first response, covering hazard analysis, response teams, communication, medical support, and coordination with outside agencies.

A standardized on-scene management structure using common terminology, defined roles, and span-of-control principles to coordinate multi-agency emergency response.

A planned exercise that tests emergency procedures, communication, and roles under simulated conditions, followed by an evaluation and corrective actions.

The state of meeting applicable legal requirements, maintained through identification of obligations, assignment of responsibility, monitoring, recordkeeping, and timely correction of deficiencies.