A systematic combination of activities, procedures, and facilities designed to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

Over-heating of the body.

Heat exhaustion symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse. It’s one of three heat-related syndromes, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most severe.

Causes of heat exhaustion include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when combined with high humidity, and strenuous physical activity. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition.

A potentially deadly condition in which body’s ability to control its temperature and cool itself sufficiently breaks down as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures.

The most serious form of heat injury, heat stroke can occur if your body temperature rises to 104°F (40°C) or higher. Heat stroke requires emergency treatment.

Untreated heat stroke can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles and the damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing the risk of death.

A potentially fatal condition in which the body temperature drops below normal (37°C or 98.6°F). It most frequently develops from being exposed to very low temperatures, occurring when the body loses heat faster than it is able to produce it. Left untreated, hypothermia can eventually lead to complete failure of the heart and respiratory system, resulting in death.

A source of energy, such as heat, flame, sparks or static electricity, that is capable of causing a fuel mixture to burn.

Materials that could cause dangerous reactions if they come in direct contact with one another.

A science that deals with the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control over hazards in the workplace. These hazards may cause sickness, harm to employees health, discomfort and inefficient performance on the job.

Also known as Occupational Hygiene.

An airborne gas, vapour, fume, mist or dust that can have an adverse effect on a person’s health, cause intoxication or cause discomfort when breathed in.

A substance which, in sufficient quantities, can inflame or irritate the eyes, skin or respiratory system (lungs, etc.). Symptoms include pain, itchiness and/or redness.

A job safety analysis (JSA) is a procedure which helps integrate accepted safety and health principles and practices into a particular task or job operation.

In a JSA, each basic step of the job is broken down to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to do the job. Other terms used to describe similar procedures are job hazard analysis (JHA) and job hazard breakdown.

The time that passes between exposure to a harmful substance or agent and the first sign(s) of damage or illness.

A specific set of procedures for ensuring that a machine, once shut down for maintenance, repair or other reason, is secured against accidental start-up or movement of any of its parts for the length of the shutdown.

• Lockout: the isolation of energy from the system (a machine, equipment, or process) which physically locks the system in a safe mode. The energy-isolating device can be a manually operated disconnect switch, a circuit breaker, a line valve, or a block.
• Locking/Lockout Device: any device that has the ability to secure the energy-isolating device in a safe position.
• Tagout: a labeling process that is always used when lockout is required.

The process of tagging out a system involves attaching or using an information tag or indicator (usually a standardized label) that includes the following information:

• Why the lockout/tag out is required (repair, maintenance, etc.).
• Time of application of the lock/tag.
• The name of the authorized person who attached the tag and lock to the system.

The person who placed the lock and tag onto the system is the ONLY individual permitted to remove them.

A form that contains detailed information about the possible health and safety hazards of a product and how to safely store, use and handle the product.

Under the federal Hazardous Products Act, suppliers are required to provide an MSDS for all hazardous materials as a condition of sale.

WHMIS 2015 has aligned with the Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), which uses Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s). See also: WHMIS and GHS.

An agent that causes sudden and permanent changes in one or more hereditary features, generally by modifying one or more genes (changes to genetic material). The changes may or may not be passed on to offspring.

A science that deals with the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control over hazards in the workplace. These hazards may cause sickness, harm to employees health, discomfort and inefficient performance on the job.

Also known as Industrial Hygiene.

A condition that results from exposure in a workplace to a physical, chemical or biological agent to the extent that the normal physiological mechanisms are affected and the health of the worker is impaired.

Parts of gas or vapour per million parts of air by volume at room temperature. For example, 1 cubic centimetre of gas in 1 million cubic centimetres of air has a concentration of 1 PPM.

Any device worn by a worker to protect against hazards. Some examples are respirators, gloves, ear plugs, hard hats, safety goggles and safety shoes/boots.

A source of energy (for example, noise, radiation, vibration, heat) that affects the body, a part of the body, or any of its functions.

A system for preventing machinery and equipment failure through scheduled regular maintenance, knowledge of reliability of parts, maintenance of service records, scheduled replacement of parts and maintenance of inventories.

A step-by-step description of how to do a task, job or activity properly.

The capability of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction with the release of energy. Unwanted effects include pressure build-up, temperature increase, and formation of harmful by-products.

These effects may occur because of the reactivity of a substance to heat, an ignition source or direct contact with other chemicals in use or in storage.

A problem with the muscles, tendons or nerves that happens over time due to overuse. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis.

Also known as Cumulative Trauma Disorder.

Respiratory hazards can include airborne contaminants such as biological contaminants, dusts, mists, fumes, and gases, or oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Safety culture refers to the ways that safety is addressed in a workplace. It often reflects the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and values that employees at different levels share in relation to safety.

Safety Data Sheets are summary documents that provide information about the hazards of a product and advice about safety precautions. SDSs are usually written by the manufacturer or supplier of the product.

In some circumstances, an employer may be required to prepare an SDS (e.g., when the product is produced and used exclusively in that workplace).

SDSs provide more detailed hazard information about the product than the label.

See also: WHMIS, MSDS and GHS.

A substance that dissolves other substances. Many solvents are flammable.

Tag lines, which are usually made of nylon rope or other non-conductive material, are used to:

• help workers control the motion of a suspended load. To do so, they must be of sufficient length to allow control of the load and must be used in a manner that ensures the worker holding the line will not be struck by the load;
• allow workers to stand a safe distance away from the load; and,
• provide some protection from electrocution as nylon rope is a poor conductor of electricity.

An agent that causes birth defects by harming a developing fetus or embryo.

Also known as an embryotoxin.

An injury where a worker is compensated by a Board/Commission for a loss of wages following a work-related injury (or exposure to a noxious substance), or receives compensation for a permanent disability with or without any time lost in his or her employment (for example, if a worker is compensated for a loss of hearing resulting from excessive noise in the workplace).

Any substance that can cause acute or chronic effects to a person or is suspected to cause disease or injury under certain conditions.

The tendency or ability of a liquid to quickly vaporize into the air. Examples of volatile liquids include alcohol and gasoline. Liquids that are volatile must be carefully dispensed and stored. This includes paying special attention to temperature.

An information system implemented under the federal Hazardous Products Act and provincial occupational health and safety laws to ensure communication of information on hazardous materials.

The information delivery system under WHMIS requires:

1. Labels,
2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and
3. Worker education and training programs.

Canada has implemented WHMIS 2015, a national chemical classification and hazard communication standard for workplace chemicals that incorporates the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (or GHS) for workplace chemicals.

See also: MSDS, SDS and GHS.

A regular and careful check of a workplace or part of a workplace in order to identify health and safety hazards and to recommend corrective action.

Workplace factors that have the potential to cause injury or illness to employees include equipment, materials, processes or work activities, and the environment.

An unwanted material (for example, radioactive, biological or chemical) that is likely to harm the quality of the working environment. The most common workplace contaminants are chemicals that may be present in the form of dusts, fumes, gases or vapours. (See also food-borne contaminants).