STS flashcards
STS · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Risk score
- A numerical rating calculated as likelihood multiplied by severity; higher products indicate hazards that should be prioritized for control.
- Hierarchy of controls
- A ranked list of control strategies from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
- Job hazard analysis
- A structured method that breaks a task into steps, identifies hazards at each step, and specifies controls before work begins.
- Exposure limit comparison
- Measured worker exposure divided by the applicable occupational exposure limit; a ratio above one indicates exposure exceeds the limit.
- Lockout tagout verification
- A procedure that isolates all energy sources, applies locks and tags, and confirms a zero-energy state before maintenance or repair.
- Confined space oxygen range
- Atmospheric oxygen concentration commonly acceptable for entry is 19.5 to 23.5 percent; readings outside this range require ventilation and reassessment.
- PDCA safety cycle
- Plan-Do-Check-Act is a continual improvement cycle used in safety management systems to establish, implement, evaluate, and improve processes.
- Leading indicator
- A proactive measure such as inspections completed, near misses reported, or training finished that predicts future safety performance rather than recording past harm.
- Lagging indicator
- A reactive measure such as injury rates, lost-time cases, or incident counts that reflects safety performance after harmful events have occurred.
- Stop-work authority
- A documented supervisory practice allowing workers or supervisors to halt tasks when they perceive imminent danger or unacceptable risk.
- Management review
- A scheduled evaluation in which top management assesses safety management system performance, adequacy, and alignment with objectives and decides on improvements.
- General Duty Clause
- Occupational Safety and Health Act Section 5(a)(1) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
- OSHA 300 log timing
- Recordable injuries and illnesses must be entered on the OSHA 300 Log within seven calendar days after the employer learns of the event.
- Fatality reporting deadline
- An employer must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within eight hours after learning of it.
- Hospitalization reporting deadline
- In-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported to OSHA within twenty-four hours after the employer learns of it.
- Consensus standard enforceability
- A consensus standard such as ANSI, NFPA, or ASSP guidance is not directly enforceable unless adopted by a regulatory agency or incorporated into a contract.
- Root cause analysis
- A structured process that identifies underlying system conditions and causal factors, not merely the immediate act or condition, so corrective actions prevent recurrence.
- Five Whys method
- An iterative questioning technique that repeatedly asks why a problem occurred until the underlying process or system cause is identified.
- Incident scene preservation
- Protecting the location and condition of equipment, materials, and evidence until facts are documented so investigation data are not lost or altered.
- Corrective action hierarchy
- Corrective actions are ranked by durability; engineering and elimination controls are preferred over administrative measures or discipline alone.
- Near miss definition
- An unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so under slightly different circumstances.
- Training needs assessment
- A systematic review of task requirements, worker knowledge, and performance gaps used to decide who needs what training and at what depth.
- Measurable learning objective
- A training goal stating observable behavior, conditions, and a standard so achievement can be assessed objectively after instruction.
- Toolbox talk
- A short, focused safety discussion held before or during work to address task-specific hazards, controls, and worker questions.
- Adult learning principle
- Adults learn best when content is relevant, problem-centered, uses prior experience, and allows practice with timely feedback.
- Safety committee participation
- Worker involvement in hazard review, incident analysis, and program evaluation that gives employees a direct voice in safety decisions.
- Emergency action plan
- A written plan covering reporting, evacuation or shelter, accounting for people, rescue duties, shutdown procedures, and communication during emergencies.
- PASS extinguisher use
- Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep the nozzle across the fire area.
- Shelter-in-place
- A response that keeps occupants inside a building and closes ventilation to protect them from an outdoor hazard such as a chemical release.
- Emergency drill evaluation
- A post-drill review that measures notification, evacuation time, accounting accuracy, and corrective actions needed to improve the emergency plan.
- Assembly area headcount
- A designated safe location where workers report after evacuation so responsible persons can account for all personnel.
- Spill response sequence
- Isolate the area, notify appropriate responders, contain the material if trained and safe, and clean up according to the substance's hazards.