A
AA - Atomic Absorption (Absorption of electromagnetic radiation at discrete wavelengths by atoms)
AADAC - Alberta Alcohol and Drug Addictions Commission
AAIH - American Academy of Industrial Hygiene
AAOHN - American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
ABIH - American Board of Industrial Hygiene
ABSA - Alberta Boilers Safety Association
ABSA - American Biological Safety Association
ACE - Association of Canadian Ergonomists
ACEOM - American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
ACIIST - Association canadienne des infirmières et infirmiers en santé du travail
ACMTE - Association canadienne de la médecine du travail et de l’environnement
ACS - American Chemical Society
ACSA - Alberta Construction Safety Association
AED - Automated External Defibrillator
AEP - Associate Ergonomics Professional (US)
AEUSP - Association of Electrical Utilities Safety Professionals
AHFP - Associate Human Factors Professional (US)
AHP - American Academy of Health Physics
AHRE - Alberta Human Resources and Employment
AIChE - American Institute of Chemical Engineers
AIHA - American Industrial Hygiene Association
AIHce - American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.
AIISTQ - Association des infirmières et infirmiers en santé du travail du Québec
ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALRB - Alberta Labour Relations Board
AMTQ - L'association des médecins du travail du Québec
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
AOHC - American Occupational Health Conference
AOHNA - Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association
APSAM - l'Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail, secteur affaires municipales
APSM - Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur minier
APSSAP - Association Paritaire pour la Santé et la sécurité du travail, Secteur Administration Provinciale
AQHSST - l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail (Québec)
ASFETM - Association sectorielle Fabrication d'équipement de transport et de machine
ASHCAT - Association of Safety & Health Consultants and Trainers Inc.
ASHI - American Safety & Health Institute
ASHRAE - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASP - Association sectorielles paritaires
ASPME - Association sectorielle paritaire du secteur de la fabrication de produits en métal et de produits électrique
ASSE - American Society of Safety Engineers
ASSIFQ - Association de santé et sécurité des industries de la forêt du Québec inc
ASSPPQ - Association de santé et sécurité des pâtes et papiers du Québec inc
ASSTSAS - Association pour la santé et la sécurité du travail secteur affaires sociales (Québec)
ASTE - Association sectorielle paritaire Transport et entreposage
ASTE - Association Sectorielle Transport Entreposage
ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry an agency of the Public Health Service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AVC - Assurance of Voluntary Compliance
AWCBC - Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada
AWHC - Alberta Workers' Health Centre
AWHS - Alberta Workplace Health and Safety
B
BCACS - BC Association for Crane Safety (BC)
BCFSC - British Columbia Forest Safety Council
BCMSA - British Columbia Municipal Safety Association
BCPE - Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (US)
BCRSP - Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
BCSA - British Columbia Safety Authority
BCSC - British Columbia Safety Council
BEI - Biological exposure index
BLS - Bureau of Labor Statistics (USA)
BNQ - Bureau de normalisation du Québec
BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society (UK)
BPT - Best Practicable Control Technology
BS - British standard
BSC - Biological Safety Cabinet
BSC - British Safety Council
BCSP - Board of Certified Safety Professionals (USA)
BSI - British Standards Institute
BTU - British Thermal Unit, a tradition unit of measure for heat
C
CAA - Clean Air Act, US legislation regarding air pollution
CAALL-OSH - Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation - Occupational Safety and Health Sub-Committee
CAFC - Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
CAIR - Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule (under TSCA) (USA)
CAISP - Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program
CAMH - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Ontario)
CANUTEC - Canadian Transport Emergency Centre
CAP - College of American Pathologists
CARSP - Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals
CARWH - Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health
CAS - Chemical Abstracts Service (USA)
CASA - Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
CBOM - Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine
CCOH - Canadian Council of Occupational Hygiene
CCOHS - Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
CCPA - Canadian Chemical Producers Association
CCPS - Center for Chemical Process Safety (USA)
CCSA - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)
CEASARS - Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval System
CEC - Canadian Electrical Code
CEEL - Community Emergency Exposure Level
CEPA - Canadian Environmental Protection Act
CEPP - Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program
CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund (USA)
CESQG - Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
CET - Certified Environmental Trainer, a credential issued by the National Environmental training Association
CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons
CFIA - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
CFIB - Canadian Federation of Independent Business
CFM - Cubic feet per minute, a unit of measure of air flow which is used in evaluating ventilation systems
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations (USA)
CGA - Compressed Gas Association (USA)
CGSB - Canadian General Standards Board
CHEMTREC - Chemical Transportation Emergency Center - provides hazard information warnings and guidance in emergency (and ONLY emergency) situations.
CHFP - Certified Human Factors Professional (US)
CHMM - Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (USA)
CHN - Canadian Health Network
CHO - Chemical Hygiene Officer
CHP - Chemical Hygiene Plan Required by OSHA (USA)
CHP - Certified Health Physicist
CHRIS - Chemical Hazards Response Information System
CHSC - Certified Health and Safety Consultant
CHSEP - Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Processes
CHSI - Centre for Health & Safety Innovation (Quebec)
CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician (USA)
CIH - Certified Industrial Hygienist
CIHI - Canadian Institute for Health Information
CIIT - Chemical Industry Institute of Technology
CINBIOSE - Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la biologie, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Quebec)
CIRTOX - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en toxicologie (Quebec)
CIS - International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre
CIWA - Canadian Injured Workers Alliance
CLC - Canada Labour Code
CLMI - Comprehensive Loss Management Inc. (USA)
CLSC - Centré local de services communautaires (Québec)
CMOH - Chief Medical Officer of Health (Ontario)
CNSC - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CO - Carbon monoxide
COAA - Construction Owners Association of Alberta
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand - oxygen demand if a water sample is chemically oxidized.
COHN(C) - Certified Occupational Health Nurse (Canada)
COHNA - Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association
COHSC - Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Consortium
COR - Certificate of Recognition
COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (UK)
CPE - Certified Professional Ergonomist (US)
CPR - Controlled Products Regulations (Canada)
CPSC - Consumer Products Safety Commission (USA)
CPSC - Canadian Petroleum Safety Council
CPSSTQ - Centre patronal de santé et sécurité du travail du Québec
CPWR - Center to Protect Workers' Rights (USA)
CRBOH - Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists
CREFOPI - Disability Prevention Research and Training Centre (Quebec)
CRPA - Canadian Radiation Protection Association
CRSP - Canadian Registered Safety Professional
CRT - Commission des relations du travail (Quebec)
CSA - Canadian Standards Association
CSA - Campus Safety Association (North America)
CSABC - Construction Safety Association of British Columbia
CSAM - Construction Safety Association of Manitoba
CSAO - Construction Safety Association of Ontario
CSASI - Canadian Society of Air Safety Investigators
CSB - Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (USA)
CSC - Canada Safety Council
CSHM - Certified Safety and Health Managers (USA)
CSO - Construction Safety Officer
CSP - Certified Safety Professional
CSS - Comités du santé et sécurité (Québec)
CSS - Certified Safety Specialist
CSSE - Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
CSST - Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (Québec)
CTD - Cumulative Trauma Disorder
CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CWA - Clean Water Act (USA)
D
dB - Decibels (unit to measure sound intensity of noise)
DCL - Director of Chemistry Laboratories
DEP - Diethyl phthalate
DFM - Dust, fume, and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts, fumes or mists, and is used in the NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification
DHHS - Department of Health and Human Services, (USA)
DHMM - Director of Hazardous Materials Management
DIERS - Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems - a consortium of companies under the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
DIPPR - Design Institute of Physical Property Data - a consortium of companies under the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
DM - Dust and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts and mists, and is used in the NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification
DOHS - Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
DOL - Department of Labor (USA)
DOP - Dioctyl phthalate
DOT - Department of Transportation (USA)
DSL - Domestic Substances List
E
EAC - Employers' Advocacy Council (Ontario)
EAP - Employee Assistance Program
EC - Commission of the European Union
ECETOC - European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals
EHCs - Environmental Health Criteria Monographs
EHS - Environment, Health and Safety; or Environmental Health and Safety
EOC - Emergency Operations Centre
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (USA)
EPCRA - Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act Title III of SARA, [a US law]
ERG - Emergency Response Guide - used in the US Department of Transportation requirements.
ERP - Emergency Response Plan
ERPG - Emergency Response Planning Guideline
ESAO - Education Safety Association of Ontario
EU - European Union
EUROTOX - Association of European Toxicologist and Societies of Toxicology
EUSA - Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (Ontario)
F
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FARSHA - Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association (BC)
FDA - Food and Drug Administration (USA)
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency (USA)
FISA - Forestry Industry Safety Association
FM - Factory Mutual
FMEA - Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
FMECA - Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis
FPAPA - Forest Products Accident Prevention Association (previous name for OFSWA)
FSA or FSAI - Farm Safety Association Inc. (Ontario)
FTA - Fault Tree Analysis
FWCS - Federal Workers' Compensation Service
G
GHS - Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
GC - Gas Chromatography
GRASP - Group de recherche sur les aspects sociaux de la santé et de la prévention (Québec)
H
HAZMAT - Hazardous Material
HAZOP - Hazard and Operability (Study), a structured means of evaluating a complex process to find problems associated with operability or safety of the process
HAZWOPER - Hazardous Waster Operations and Emergency Response, a term derived from US EPA regulations
HCS - Hazard Communication Standard Policy (USA).
HCSA - Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta
HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (At least 99.97% efficient in the filtration of air borne particles 0.3 microns in diameter or greater)
HFES - Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (USA)
HMIRC - Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission
HMTA - Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HRSDC - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank
HSE - Health and Safety Executive (UK)
HSO - Health & Safety Officer
HSPP - Health and Safety Partnership Program (USA)
HVAC - Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
I
IAPA - Industrial Accident Prevention Association of Ontario
IAQ - Indoor air quality
IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer
IAVGO - Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario
ICOH - International Commission on Occupational Health
ICSC - International Chemical Safety Cards
IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
IH - Industrial Hygiene or Hygienist
IHIT - Industrial Hygienist in Training
ILO - International Labor Organization
INRS - National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Disease (France)
IOHA - International Occupational Hygiene Association
IOHS - International Occupational Hygiene Society
IOM - Institute for Occupational Medicine (UK)
IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a UK based professional association.
IPCS - International Programme on Chemical Safety
IRP - Industry Recommended Practices
IRS - Internal responsibility system
IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (Québec)
ISEA - International Safety Equipment Association
ISHM - Insitiute for Health and Safety Management (USA)
ISO - International Organization for Standardization
ISR - Injury Severity Rate
ISSA - International Social Security Association
IWAM - Injured Workers' Association of Manitoba
IWH - Institute for Work & Health (Ontario)
J
JHA - Job Hazard Analysis
JHSC - Joint Health and Safety Committee
JOHSC - Joint occupational health and safety committee
JSA - Job safety Analysis
K
L
LATMP - La Loi sur les accidents du travail et les maladies professionnelles (Québec)
LC50 or LC50 - Lethal Concentration (The concentration in air which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs)
LD50 or LD50 - Lethal Dose (The experimental dose which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs.)
LEL - Lower Explosive Limit
LICC - Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (Ontario)
LOAEL - Lowest -observed-adverse-effect level
LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LSO - Laser Safety Officer
LSST - Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (Québec)
LTD - Long-term disability
M
MAPAM - Mines Accident Prevention Association of Manitoba
MAPAO - Mines Accident Prevention Association of Ontario
MASHA - Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (Ontario)
MHSA - Municipal Health and Safety Association (Ontario)
MHSA - Manufacturers' Health & Safety Association (Alberta)
MOE - Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)
MOL - Ministry of Labour (Ontario)
MSC - Manitoba Safety Council
MSD - Musculoskeletal Disorders
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet
MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration (USA)
MSI - Musculoskeletal Injuries
N
NAALC - North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation
NAOSH - Week North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
NBSC - New Brunswick Safety Council
NCEOE - National Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures
NDSL - Non-Domestic Substances List
NEER - New Experimental Experience Rating Program (ON)
NFC - National Fire Code
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association (USA)
NIDMAR - National Institute of Disability Management and Research
NIH - National Institutes of Health (USA)
NIHL - Noise Induced Hearing Loss
NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (USA)
NJC - National Joint Council
NLCSA - Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association
NLSC - Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council
NOAEL - No-observed-adverse-effect level
NORA - National Occupational Research Agenda (USA)
NSC - National Safety Council (USA)
NSCSA - Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association
NSEL - Nova Scotia Environment and Labour
NTP - National Toxicology Program (USA)
NWISP - National Work Injury Statistics Program
O
OA - Occupational Asthma
OAFC - Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
OEA - Office of the Employer Adviser (Ontario) (and in general)
OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OEHF - Occupational & Environmental Health Foundation (USA)
OEL - Occupational exposure limit
OEMAC - Occupational & Environmental Medical Association of Canada
OFAAA - Occupational First Aid Attendants Association of British Columbia
OFIPA - Ontario Industrial Fire Protection Association
OFSWA - Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association
OH - Occupational Hygiene or Hygienist
OHAO - Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario
OHCOW - Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
OHRC - Ontario Human Rights Commission
OHS - Occupational health and safety
OHST - Occupational Health and Safety Technologist
OHSAH - Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia
OHSMS - Occupational Health and Safety Management System
OIFPA - Ontario Industrial Fire Protection Association
ONRSA - Ontario Natural Resources Safety Association (defunct)
OOHNA - Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association
OPPMSA - Ontario Pulp and Paper Makers Safety Association
OSACH - Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare Formerly the Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario (HCHSA)
OSH - Occupational safety and health
OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration (USA)
OSL - Ontario Safety League
OSSA - Ontario Service Safety Alliance (Ontario)
OSSA - Oil Sands Safety Association (Alberta)
OWA - Office of the Worker Advisor
P
PAPR - Powered air-purifying respirator
PCB - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PDA - Physical Demands Analysis
PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit, the maximum occupational exposure permitted under the OSHA regulations (USA).
PHA - Process Hazards Analysis
PIR - Partners in Injury Reduction (Alberta)
PIASS - Petroleum Industry's Annual Safety Seminar
PITS - Petroleum Industry Training Service
PIMs - Poison Information Monographs
PMRA - Pest Management Regulatory Agency
PPE - Personal protective equipment
PPHSA - Pulp & Paper Health and Safety Association (Ontario)
ppm - Parts Per Million
PSHSR - Pre-start Health and Safety Review
Q
QA/QC - Quality Assurance / Quality Control
QEI - qualité d'environnement intérieur
QRS - Quantitative Risk Assessment
R
REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals
REL - Recommended exposure limit
RIPP - Regulatory Information on Pesticide Products
RMI - Repetitive Motion Injury
ROH - Registered Occupational Hygienist
ROHT - Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist
ROPS - Rollover Protection Structures
RoSPA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (UK)
RQMT - Règlement sur la qualitié du milieu du travail (Québec)
RRSSTQ - Réseau de recherche en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec
RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury
RSIC - Radiation Safety Institute of Canada
RSO - Radiation Safety Officer
RSST - Règlement sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (Québec)
RTECS - Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
RTK - Right to Know
RTW - Return to Work
RUSA - Rural Utilities and Safety Association (Alberta)
S
SARA - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (USA)
SAFER - Safety Advisory Foundation for Education and Research (BC)
SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCC - Safety Codes Council (Alberta)
SCC - Standards Council of Canada
SCF - Safe Communities Foundation
SCIP - Safe Communities Incentive Program (Ontario)
SECOR - Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (Alberta)
SHAPE - Safety & Health in Arts Production & Entertainment (BC)
SHARP - Safety and Health Achievement Program (USA)
SIMDUT - Système d'information sur les matières dangereuses utilisées au travail
SMS - Safety Management System
SSC - Saskatchewan Safety Council
SST - santé et sécurité du travail (Québec)
STD - Short-term disability
STEL - Short term exposure limit
SWA - Safe Work Associations (in Ontario)
T
TB - Tuberculosis
TDG - Transportation of Dangerous Goods
THSAO - Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario
TLV - Threshold limit value
TQM - Total Quality Management
TSB - Transportation Safety Board of Canada
TSCA - Toxic Substances Control Act (USA)
TSSA - Technical Standards & Safety Authority (Ontario)
TWA - Time-weighted average
U
ULC - Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada
UV - Ultraviolet radiation
V
VDT - Video Display Terminal, sometimes called Video Display Unit (VDU)
VPP - Voluntary Protection Program (USA)
W
WCAT - Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal
WCB - Workers Compensation Board (in general)
WCB Alberta - Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta
WCB-BC - Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia
WHMIS - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHO - World Health Organization
WHSC - Workers' Health and Safety Centre (Ontario)
WHSCC New Brunswick - Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission
WHSCC Newfoundland - Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission
WorkSafeBC - Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia
WSIA - Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (Ontario)
WSIAT - Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (Ontario)
WSIB - Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
WSIS - Workplace Safety and Insurance System
WSO - World Safety Organization
X
Y
YCSA - Yukon Construction Safety Association
YWAP - Young Worker Awareness Program
YWCHSB - Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board
Z