OSHA 500 key terms

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards and provides compliance assistance and training.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires employers to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, even when no specific standard applies.

The section of the Code of Federal Regulations containing OSHA's construction standards. It covers construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating, and demolition work, including the Focus Four hazards.

An OSHA representative who inspects workplaces, interviews employees, reviews records, and documents apparent violations. The employer has the right to accompany the officer during the walkaround.

A written notice from OSHA alleging a violation of a standard or the General Duty Clause. It states proposed penalties, abatement dates, and the employer's right to contest.

A violation the employer commits intentionally or knowingly, or with plain indifference to employee safety. It carries the highest penalty category under OSHA enforcement.

An OSHA-approved program run by a state that covers workplaces within its borders. It must be at least as effective as the federal program and enforces state-adopted standards.

Protections letting workers file complaints, participate in inspections, request hazard corrections, and review records without retaliation. Section 11(c) prohibits firing or discriminating against workers for exercising these rights.

A worker who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions and who has authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Systems and practices that prevent workers from falling from elevations or arrest a fall. Examples include guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, and controlled access zones.

Injury caused by a falling, flying, swinging, or rolling object, or by contact with a vehicle or equipment. Controls include hard hats, barricades, traffic control plans, and securing loads.

Injury when a body part is pinched, crushed, or squeezed between objects or pulled into machinery. Guards, lockout/tagout, and trench protective systems help prevent these incidents.

A fatal electrical injury caused by contact with energized equipment, overhead lines, or faulty wiring. Prevention includes de-energizing, grounding, GFCIs, and maintaining safe clearances.

A method such as sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box used to protect workers from cave-ins. A competent person must inspect excavations and select the system.

A ground-fault circuit interrupter is a device that senses current leaking to ground and quickly shuts off power. On construction sites it protects workers using 120-volt receptacles.

Lockout/tagout is a procedure for isolating and locking energy sources before equipment is serviced. It prevents unexpected startup or release of stored energy that could injure workers.

The employer's review of the workplace to identify hazards that require personal protective equipment and to select appropriate PPE. A written certification of the assessment is required.

A ranking of hazard controls by effectiveness: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. PPE is considered the last line of defense.

A procedure that checks whether a tight-fitting respirator seals to the user's face. It must be done before first use and at least annually, using qualitative or quantitative methods.

Head protection worn where falling objects, electrical shock, or bump hazards exist. It must meet ANSI Z89.1, and its class indicates the level of electrical protection.

Clothing made with fluorescent and reflective materials that makes workers easier to see. It is commonly required for traffic control, night work, and equipment operation areas.

OSHA requires employers to pay for most personal protective equipment needed to comply with standards. Everyday clothing and non-specialty safety shoes are common exceptions.

A personal fall arrest system includes a full-body harness, connecting means, and anchorage. It stops a fall after it occurs, so a prompt rescue plan and swing-fall limits are essential.

Respirable dust produced by cutting, grinding, or drilling concrete, stone, and masonry. It can cause silicosis and lung cancer, so OSHA requires exposure controls and, in some cases, respiratory protection.

A fibrous mineral found in many older building materials. Inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, so disturbance work requires exposure controls and protective equipment.

A toxic metal found in paint, pipes, and batteries. Construction tasks that disturb lead-containing materials can cause nerve, kidney, and blood damage, requiring exposure monitoring and controls.

Permanent hearing damage caused by repeated exposure to high noise levels. It is preventable through engineering controls, hearing protection, and audiometric testing.

The permissible exposure limit is the maximum legal airborne concentration of a hazardous substance, usually averaged over an eight-hour work shift. OSHA enforces PELs through standards and monitoring.

A safety data sheet is a 16-section document from a chemical manufacturer describing hazards, safe handling, first aid, and spill response. Employers must keep it accessible to workers.

Illness caused by working in hot conditions, ranging from heat cramps and exhaustion to heat stroke. Prevention includes water, rest, shade, and gradual acclimatization.

A proactive set of policies and practices to prevent worker injuries and illness. Core elements include management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, hazard control, training, and program evaluation.

A job hazard analysis breaks a task into steps to identify hazards and controls before work begins. It is often used in pre-job planning and safety training.

Top management's visible commitment to safety, including setting goals, providing resources, and holding managers accountable. It is the foundation of an effective safety and health program.

Involving employees in identifying hazards, developing safety procedures, and serving on safety committees. Participation helps ensure controls fit real work conditions.

The Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses records each recordable case, including the worker's name, job, injury type, and days away or restricted. It must be kept for five years.

A work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or a significant diagnosis. These cases must be entered on the OSHA 300 Log.

Employers must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within eight hours. Inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.

An annual summary of recordable injuries and illnesses, including total hours worked and average injury rates. It must be posted from February 1 to April 30 and signed by a company executive.

The days away, restricted, or transferred rate is the number of serious recordable cases per 100 full-time workers. It helps compare safety performance over time or across similar operations.

Injuries treated only with first aid, such as bandaging, cold packs, or tetanus shots, are not recordable. Medical treatment beyond first aid generally makes a case recordable.