{"id":95,"date":"2023-08-18T08:57:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T23:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd0jseasy.wpenginepowered.com\/uk\/whs-definitions\/"},"modified":"2024-07-14T15:02:06","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T05:32:06","slug":"whs-definitions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jseasy-safety-software.com\/uk\/whs-definitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Definitions List"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Definitions List<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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WHS Definitions and Explanations<\/h2>

These definitions may be used as a stand-alone quick reference on safety issues generally, but mainly relates to terms used within the safety\u00a0manual.<\/strong><\/p>

The following information has been sourced from a variety of legislations and\u00a0regulations –\u00a0see list<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Access way<\/h3>

See pathway.<\/p>

Accident<\/h3>

See incident<\/a>.<\/p>

Appendix<\/h3>

Cross-referenced material providing additional information, and considered part of the primary information on a subject.<\/p>

Attachment<\/h3>

See Appendix<\/strong>.<\/p>

Audit<\/h3>

See Safety Audit.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Checklist<\/h3>

The primary role of a checklist\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See more<\/a><\/p>

Common sense<\/h3>

Usually defined in such a way as to imply a sound and practical understanding, See\u00a0more<\/a><\/p>

Consultation<\/h3>

This is a statutory requirement of most WHS legislations around the world. The object is to gather information from all stakeholders in the organisation so as to allow effective participation in the establishment of meaningful health and safety policies and procedures.<\/p>

Contemporaneous Notes<\/h3>

These are usually made at the time of the incident being recorded, or as soon as possible thereafter. They contain factual observations, conversations \u2013 first person, though hearsay asides may also be recorded (hearsay should always be noted as \u2018hearsay\u2019), and sensual observations. Contemporaneous notes may be referred to should the memory become exhausted during court proceedings. (Court permission should be asked for as a courtesy in such a case).<\/p>

Control<\/h3>

Usually relates to the steps required to keep a hazard from causing injury, illness and\/or damage.\u00a0 See More<\/a><\/p>

Control-ability<\/h3>

Refer also to \u2018judgement\u2019, and \u2018practicability<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

Direct (Factual) Evidence<\/h3>

This is information presented from firsthand observation.<\/p>

Document<\/h3>

“A document is any form of data used in the system to provide information or control.” See more<\/a><\/p>

Due diligence<\/h3>

Usually relating to \u2018Officers\u2019 of the company. <\/strong>See more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Emergency<\/h3>

An emergency is an incident or a situation which endangers, or may endanger, the health, safety and welfare of persons in the workplace, and which requires urgent action to control. See More<\/a><\/p>

Equipment<\/h3>

Read the same as plant.<\/p>

Exhibit<\/h3>

This is a tangible object tendered as evidence in court proceedings.<\/p>

Foreseeability<\/h3>

“Armed with the artefacts of yesterday, today’s safety system faces an unknown future.” DR Wakefield\u00a0\u00a0 See more<\/a><\/p>

Form<\/h3>

A document that is designed for filling-out by a relevant party. For example, form “Office checklist” is for the use by an employee as he\/she carries out a hazard inspection.<\/p>

Gap analysis<\/h3>

Generally captured in the statement “what we say<\/em> we do vs.<\/em> what we actually<\/em> do”. Should be the same, but rarely is.<\/p>

Hazard<\/h3>

Object or situation with potential to cause injury, illness or damage. It is often useful to consider sources of energy, electrical, chemical, kinetic (movement), potential (static), and the movement of people. Standards Australia<\/em> defines a hazard thus:<\/p>

“HAZARD – a source or a situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, damage to the environment, or a combination of these.”<\/p>

Hearsay<\/h3>

This is information about an event that is presented by a person who did not actually witness events directly. Basically, it is a second-hand account of the facts as observed by someone else.<\/p>

Incident<\/h3>

A term that covers situations that lead, or are likely to lead, to injury, illness or damage. This includes situations where injury illness and\/or damage have occurred, as well as near-hit events, where no injury, illness or damage occurred.<\/p>

Incident investigation<\/h3>

The investigation of all circumstances \u00a0 See more<\/a><\/p>

Information<\/h3>

One of the four pillars of good WHS (as required by the WHS legislation \u2013 see also Instruction, Training and Supervision). Information can be considered as part of the \u2018documentation\u2019 requirements of the workplace. An example of \u2018information\u2019 would include a \u2018code of practice\u2019 for a particular hazard such as working in a noisy environment. <\/em>(Also refer to \u2018Document\u2019 and \u2018Form\u2019.)<\/p>

Instruction<\/h3>

Another of the four pillars of good WHS (as required by most WHS legislation \u2013 see also Information, Training and Supervision). Instruction will reference information and apply it to the task at hand. As with the other three pillars, it cannot be held in isolation, and may involve mentoring by a fellow worker or supervisor or trainer, etc., using the information at hand. For example, instruction in how use the information provided on a safety data sheet (SDS).<\/em><\/p>

Judgement<\/h3>

Refer also to \u2018practicability\u2019; \u2018reasonably practicable\u2019. In any WHS system – whether it is the business trying to establish a safe system of work, or the prosecution agency attempting to bring a charge, the judgement of the various factors involved in the system<\/em> is of key importance to the outcome. Considerations will be given to \u2018foreseeability\u2019, \u2018controlability\u2019 and \u2018practicability\u2019.<\/p>

Logic<\/h3>

See Common Sense<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Manual Handling<\/h3>

See also Occupational Overuse Syndrome.<\/strong> Manual handling is any activity where the use of force physically, by a person, is exerted to push, pull, lift, lower, extend, restrain, carry, move or hold an stationary or moving, or animate or inanimate object.<\/p>

Noise<\/h3>

Usually rated in decibels (dB), noise is the phenomena associated with sound pressure on the human ear drum.<\/p>

A noise level of 85 dB is the maximum 8 hour exposure limit for an unprotected ear. (IE the person exposed for this level of noise for 8 hours, should not be exposed to that level again for at least the next 16 hours. Sound pressure doubles for each 3 dB, therefore at 88 dB, the maximum exposure is 4 hours; at 91 dB the exposure is 2 hours, and so on. Examples of sound from activities include:<\/p>