NCCER CSSS key terms

A federal requirement that employers provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm, even when no specific standard applies. It is Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act.

An individual who, by training and experience, can identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings and who has authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. OSHA construction standards require competent persons for several high-risk activities.

A work-related injury or illness that must be entered on the OSHA 300 Log because it results in death, days away from work, restricted work, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis.

The set of federal OSHA regulations that govern construction work, covering topics such as fall protection, scaffolding, excavations, and electrical safety. Inspectors and supervisors use it to determine compliance on construction sites.

OSHA's enforcement approach that can hold more than one employer responsible for a hazard on a shared site, based on whether the employer created, exposed workers to, or had authority to correct the hazard.

A step-by-step review of a task that identifies hazards associated with each step and defines controls before work begins. It is often documented and reviewed with the crew during pre-task planning.

A ranked approach to reducing risk, from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Supervisors apply it when selecting controls for identified hazards.

A confined space that contains or could contain a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment, or other serious hazard, requiring entry permits, atmospheric testing, attendants, and rescue arrangements before entry.

A procedure for isolating energy sources and applying locks and tags so equipment cannot be started or released during maintenance, repair, or servicing. Only authorized employees apply locks under the employer's written program.

A method such as sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding used to prevent cave-ins and protect workers in excavations. The system must be selected by a competent person based on soil conditions and depth.

A condition where a worker could fall from an elevation or into an opening, typically addressed at heights of six feet or more in construction. Controls include guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems.

A danger of being hit by moving equipment, falling objects, or swinging loads. Controls include exclusion zones, hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and keeping workers out of the swing radius of cranes.

Breathing crystalline silica dust from cutting, grinding, or drilling concrete and stone, which can cause silicosis and lung cancer. Controls include wet methods, ventilation, and respiratory protection.

The buildup of body heat from high temperature, humidity, and physical work, which can progress from heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Controls include water, rest, shade, acclimatization, and monitoring.

A planned walkthrough of a work area to identify unsafe conditions and behaviors against a checklist or standard. Findings are documented and assigned to someone for correction by a target date.

A more formal, systematic review of safety programs, records, and practices against a standard or regulation, often conducted by someone outside the immediate work group. It evaluates management systems rather than only physical conditions.

The specific step taken to fix a hazard or program weakness found during an inspection, audit, or incident investigation, including who is responsible and when it must be completed.

An unplanned event that did not cause injury or damage but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses gives supervisors a chance to correct hazards before someone is hurt.

A structured process for gathering facts about an injury, illness, near miss, or property damage to determine what happened and why, so controls can prevent recurrence. It focuses on causes, not blame.

A method for tracing an incident beyond its immediate cause to the underlying management or system failures, such as inadequate training, poor planning, or missing procedures, that allowed the incident to occur.

A simple questioning technique that repeatedly asks why to move from a surface explanation of an incident toward its underlying cause. It works best when answers are based on evidence rather than assumptions.

A lagging metric calculated by multiplying the number of OSHA recordable cases by 200,000 and dividing by total hours worked. It allows comparison of injury experience across companies and time periods.

The rate of OSHA recordable cases that resulted in days away from work, restricted work, or job transfer, calculated per 200,000 hours worked. It is a lagging indicator of more serious injury outcomes.

A written plan describing how workers respond to fire, severe weather, medical emergencies, and other crises, including alarm signals, evacuation routes, accountability procedures, and assigned responsibilities. It must be reviewed with employees and practiced.

A designated safe assembly location where workers report after an evacuation so a headcount can be completed and missing persons identified. It should be far enough from the building and known to everyone.

The process of comparing the number of workers known to be on site or in a work area with the number assembled after an evacuation, to identify anyone unaccounted for.

A planned practice exercise that tests the emergency action plan, communication, evacuation routes, and responder roles. Drills reveal gaps and should be documented and followed by a critique.

A short, focused safety discussion held with a crew before or during the shift, usually covering a specific hazard, recent incident, or task plan. Attendance is documented and workers are encouraged to ask questions.

Initial training given to new or transferred workers covering site rules, hazards, emergency procedures, PPE requirements, and reporting expectations before they begin work. It is typically documented with a signed acknowledgment.

The OSHA-required program that ensures workers know the identities and hazards of chemicals they use, through labels, safety data sheets, and training. Under GHS, labels use standardized pictograms and hazard statements.

A documented review of workplace hazards to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary for each task, and to certify that the assessment was performed. It precedes selection and training on PPE use.

Equipment including an anchor, connector, and full-body harness that stops a fall and distributes forces on the body. It requires a qualified anchor point, inspection before use, and a rescue plan.

The use of respirators to protect workers from airborne contaminants when engineering and administrative controls cannot reduce exposure enough. It requires fit testing, medical evaluation, and training under a written program.

Garments in fluorescent colors with reflective bands that make workers more visible to equipment operators, especially in low light or near traffic. Class selection depends on the work environment and traffic speed.

The shared values, attitudes, and behaviors that determine how seriously an organization treats safety. It is shown by what leaders do, what workers feel comfortable reporting, and how hazards are actually corrected.

A proactive measure that predicts future safety performance, such as the number of inspections completed, hazards corrected, or toolbox talks held. It reflects prevention activity rather than injury outcomes.

A measure that reflects safety results after the fact, such as injury rates, lost-time cases, or workers' compensation costs. It is useful for tracking outcomes but does not show whether prevention efforts are working.

The explicit right given to any worker or supervisor to halt a task when they see an unsafe condition or behavior, without fear of retaliation. Leaders must visibly support its use.