IOSH Working Safely flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hazard

Anything that has the potential to cause harm, such as a trailing cable, a chemical, an unguarded machine, or a wet floor. A hazard exists whether or not anyone is exposed to it.

Risk

The combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of the harm it could cause. Risk therefore depends on who is exposed and how.

Near miss

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

Reasonable care duty

The duty on every worker to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions, and to cooperate with the employer.

Risk assessment steps

Identify the hazards; decide who might be harmed and how; evaluate the risks and decide controls; record the significant findings; review and update the assessment when things change.

Written risk assessment threshold

Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their risk assessments in writing. Below five employees, recording is good practice rather than a legal requirement.

Safety policy parts

A safety policy has three parts: the statement of intent setting out aims, the organisation showing who is responsible, and the arrangements describing practical systems and procedures.

Hierarchy of control

The order for controlling risk: eliminate, reduce or substitute, isolate, control by engineering or administrative means, then protect the person with personal protective equipment as the last resort.

Acute versus chronic harm

Acute harm is immediate and short-term, such as a cut or burn. Chronic harm develops over time through repeated or prolonged exposure, such as hearing loss from noise.

Exposure routes

The ways a hazardous substance can enter the body: inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the skin, and injection through a break in the skin. Inhalation is the most common route.

Residual risk

The risk that remains after controls have been applied. It must be reduced to a tolerable level, and controls must be monitored to confirm they still work.

Vulnerable workers

Groups at higher risk who need specific consideration: young and inexperienced workers, new and expectant mothers, disabled workers, lone workers, and anyone new to a task.

Safety sign colours

Red means prohibition or fire equipment, yellow means warning, blue means mandatory action, and green means safe condition such as an escape route or first-aid point.

Risk rating formula

Risk rating equals likelihood multiplied by severity. A hazard that is both likely and severe ranks highest and needs controlling first.

Substitution

Replacing a hazardous substance, process, or piece of equipment with a less hazardous alternative. Substitution sits high in the hierarchy of control because it removes the hazard at source.

Slips and trips causes

The main causes are floor contamination such as water or oil, obstructions, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, and trailing cables. They are the most common cause of workplace injury.

Ladder rule

Ladders and stepladders are only for short-duration, low-risk work. Maintain three points of contact, keep the ladder at the correct angle, and secure it against slipping.

Manual handling

Moving or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. Injuries mostly affect the lower back, so assess the load, the individual, the task, and the environment before lifting.

Safety data sheet

A document supplied with a hazardous substance that describes its hazards, safe handling, first-aid measures, and disposal. It supports the risk assessment for that substance.

Electricity hazards

The main dangers from electricity are shock, burns, fire, and explosion. Controls include inspection of portable equipment, RCD protection, and keeping water away from electrical equipment.

Machine guarding

Guards prevent access to dangerous moving parts. Interlocked guards stop the machine when the guard is opened, so the machine cannot run while access is possible.

Noise control

Reducing noise at source comes first, then engineering and administrative controls. Hearing protection is a last resort and only works if it fits and is worn correctly.

Display screen equipment risks

Risks include musculoskeletal problems, eye strain, and fatigue. Controls include an adjustable chair and screen height, regular breaks, and eye tests for regular users.

Fire triangle

Fire needs fuel, oxygen, and a source of ignition. Removing any one of the three prevents or extinguishes fire, which is why fuel and ignition control matters.

Vehicle segregation

Keeping pedestrians and vehicles apart through separate routes, barriers, and marked walkways. It is a primary control against being struck by a moving vehicle.

Active monitoring

Proactive checking for hazards and failures before harm occurs, using inspections, audits, safety sampling, and near-miss reporting. It contrasts with reactive monitoring, which investigates harm after the event.

Accident ratio

The pattern showing many near misses precede each minor injury, and several minor injuries precede each serious injury. It makes near-miss reporting an early-warning system.

Root cause

The underlying reason an incident happened, such as a poor procedure or a lack of training. Investigation seeks root causes rather than blaming the individual involved.

Safety performance indicators

Measures such as accident and incident rates, near-miss reports, training completion, inspection scores, and corrective actions closed on time, used to judge safety performance.

Safety culture levels

Safety culture shows at three levels: what people say and believe, how they actually behave, and the physical systems and controls in place. All three must align.

Consultation with workers

A legal requirement where there are employees. Workers must be consulted on matters affecting their health and safety, and safety representatives may be appointed.

Permit to work

A formal authorisation for high-risk tasks such as hot work, confined-space entry, or work on live electrical systems. It records the precautions required before work starts.