NEBOSH IGC key terms

Any source, situation or act with the potential to cause harm to people, property or the environment. It exists independently of whether anyone is actually exposed to it.

The combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of the harm that could result, usually expressed qualitatively or as a numerical score.

A structured process of identifying hazards, deciding who might be harmed and how, evaluating the adequacy of existing controls, and recording the need for further action.

The ranked order in which control measures should be selected: eliminate the hazard, substitute it, use engineering controls, then administrative controls, with personal protective equipment last.

A legal test requiring an employer to weigh the risk against the cost, time and effort of reducing it, so that grossly disproportionate measures are not demanded.

A stricter duty than reasonably practicable: the risk must be reduced unless the sacrifice involved is grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained, so cost rarely justifies inaction.

As low as reasonably practicable: the principle that residual risk should be driven down until further reduction would cost grossly disproportionately more than the safety benefit achieved.

The level of risk that remains once the existing control measures have been applied, and which must itself be evaluated and judged acceptable before work proceeds.

The systematic process of finding and recording all hazards associated with an activity, using methods such as inspection, task analysis, incident data and consultation with workers.

A grid that combines likelihood and severity ratings to give a risk score, helping assessors prioritise which hazards need action first and which are broadly acceptable.

A written statement of the organisation's commitment to health and safety, setting out who is responsible for what and how the commitment will be delivered in practice.

The coordinated set of arrangements, procedures, responsibilities and resources an organisation uses to plan, deliver, monitor and improve health and safety performance.

A four-stage improvement cycle: set policy and objectives, implement arrangements, monitor and measure performance, then review and correct, feeding lessons into the next cycle.

The shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours of an organisation's members towards risk and safety, which shape how they act when nobody is watching.

Someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge of the work to identify hazards and control risks, and who is given the authority and resources to act.

The most effective control: removing the hazard entirely, for example by redesigning a process or stopping an activity, so that no exposure can occur.

Replacing a hazardous substance, process or item of equipment with a less hazardous alternative, while ensuring the replacement does not introduce new hazards.

Physical measures built into plant, equipment or the workplace, such as guarding, ventilation or interlocks, that reduce exposure without relying on worker behaviour.

Equipment worn or held by a worker, such as helmets, gloves or respirators, to protect against a specific risk; it is the last resort and only protects the wearer.

Standardised visual symbols and colours used to warn of hazards, indicate prohibitions, mandate behaviour or mark escape routes and first-aid facilities.

A formal written authorisation for high-risk work, specifying the precautions to be taken, the period of validity and who may carry out and supervise the task.

A procedure for isolating energy sources and fitting locks and warning tags so equipment cannot be re-energised while maintenance or cleaning is in progress.

Physically disconnecting or securing machinery, energy supplies or process lines so that hazardous energy or substances cannot reach people during work.

Pre-planned arrangements covering detection, alarm, evacuation, shutdown and rescue, together with the drills and resources needed to make them work.

An unplanned event that causes or contributes to injury, ill health or damage. Reporting and investigating accidents helps prevent recurrence.

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

A structured examination of an event to establish its immediate and root causes, so that corrective and preventive actions can be identified and implemented.

The underlying management or organisational failure, such as poor training, design or supervision, that allowed an incident's immediate causes to occur.

Collecting and reviewing information on health and safety activity and outcomes, using both proactive indicators such as inspections and reactive indicators such as incidents.

A measurable value chosen to show how effectively an organisation is achieving its health and safety objectives, tracked over time and compared with targets.

A systematic, independent and documented check of whether the management system and its arrangements meet planned criteria and are effectively implemented.

A process of identifying the knowledge and skills workers need to do their jobs safely, so training can be targeted at the gaps found.

An approach that observes workplace behaviour, gives feedback and reinforces safe acts, aiming to change habits rather than relying on rules alone.

Any transporting or supporting of a load by human effort, including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying, which must be assessed to prevent musculoskeletal injury.

Fitting the task, equipment and environment to the capabilities of the worker, reducing strain, fatigue and repetitive injury through good design.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, which require employers to assess, prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances and monitor workers' health where needed.

A maximum permitted concentration of a hazardous substance in workplace air, usually averaged over a reference period, used to judge whether controls are adequate.

An enclosed or partly enclosed space where serious injury can arise from hazardous atmosphere, engulfment or drowning, making entry subject to strict controls.

A structured evaluation of fire hazards, people at risk and existing precautions, used to decide what detection, escape and suppression measures are needed.