OK POST flashcards

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

Standard vs. guideline

A standard is a mandatory requirement usually written with 'shall'; a guideline is a recommendation written with 'should'. Confusing the two is a common exam distractor.

Residual risk

The risk that remains after controls have been applied. It is compared against the organization's risk acceptance criteria to decide whether further action is required.

ALARP principle

As low as reasonably practicable: risk must be reduced until further reduction would cost grossly disproportionate effort or expense relative to the benefit gained.

Near miss

An unplanned event that did not cause injury or damage but had the potential to do so. It is recorded and investigated because it reveals control weaknesses.

Hierarchy of controls

Ranking of controls from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Higher levels are preferred.

Permit-to-work

A formal authorization for high-risk work that defines scope, location, time, hazards, and controls. It must be closed out and signed off when the task ends.

Lockout/tagout

An energy-isolation procedure in which each worker applies a personal lock and tag, verifies zero energy, and holds the only key to their lock.

Management of change

A process that assesses the risk of proposed changes to equipment, materials, procedures, or personnel before implementation, and updates documentation accordingly.

Job safety analysis

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

Root cause

The underlying reason an incident occurred, as opposed to the immediate cause. Investigation methods such as the 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams help identify it.

Corrective action

An action taken to eliminate the cause of a nonconformity or incident. It requires an owner and due date, and its effectiveness is verified after implementation.

Shift handover

The transfer of information between shifts covering ongoing work status, open permits, isolations, and abnormal conditions. It should be documented and acknowledged.

Bump test

A functional check that exposes a gas detector to a known concentration of test gas to confirm sensors and alarms respond. It is performed before each use.

Safety data sheet

A 16-section document providing hazard, handling, and emergency information for a chemical. Section 2 covers hazard identification; Section 4 covers first aid.

Confined space testing

Atmospheric testing for oxygen, flammable gas, and toxic gas before entry and continuously during occupancy. Results are recorded and compared to entry limits.

Fire extinguisher classes

A: ordinary combustibles; B: flammable liquids; C: electrical; D: combustible metals; K: cooking oils. Using the wrong class can worsen the fire.

Risk matrix

A tool that plots likelihood against severity to produce a risk rating. The rating determines the approval level and whether further controls are required.

Leading indicator

A safety performance measure that predicts future outcomes, such as near-miss reports, training completion, or audit findings. It is proactive rather than reactive.

Lagging indicator

A safety performance measure that reflects past outcomes, such as injury rates or lost-time incidents. It confirms results but does not predict them.

PDCA cycle

Plan, Do, Check, Act: the continuous improvement cycle used in safety management systems. Each stage feeds the next and drives management review.

Audit vs. inspection

An audit checks conformity to a standard or management system; an inspection checks physical conditions and behaviors at a point in time. Both generate findings.

Emergency response plan

A documented plan covering evacuation, shelter-in-place, medical response, and communication with external agencies. It is tested through drills and updated with lessons learned.

General duty clause

A legal obligation on employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm, even where no specific standard applies.

Recordable incident

An injury, illness, or event that meets the regulator's criteria for recording, such as medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or restricted work.

Right to refuse

A worker's right to refuse work they reasonably believe is unsafe, subject to the jurisdiction's specific procedure. The refusal must be reported and investigated.

Regulatory inspection

An unannounced or scheduled visit by a regulator. The employer must provide access to records, permits, and personnel for interviews and correct cited deficiencies.

Training record retention

The period for which proof of training must be kept, as specified by regulation. It is often longer than the worker's tenure and is checked during audits.

Contractor site rules

Contractors on a host site must follow the host employer's site rules in addition to their own employer's obligations. Both employers share responsibility for safety.

Scaled score

A score reported on a common scale rather than as a raw percentage, used to account for minor differences in difficulty between exam forms. Passing is set on this scale.

Exam blueprint

The document that defines the content domains, their weighting, and the number of items per domain. It guides both exam construction and candidate study planning.

Test center identification

The government-issued photo ID presented at check-in. The name on the ID must match the registration exactly, or the candidate may be denied entry.

Retake policy

The rules governing how soon and how often a candidate may retake a failed exam, including waiting periods and fees. Policies change and must be verified.