Glossary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Breach |
An infringement of a law or regulation. |
Code of practice |
Technical document providing practical guidance on ways to achieve compliance with legislation. |
Compliance |
Meeting the performance requirements set down in a formal document, such as a regulation, policy or procedure. |
Contamination |
Any polluting substance that may cause harm to the health of a person or animal, or cause environmental damage. |
Duty of care |
Legal principle that requires each person or organisation to take care so that they do not cause harm to other people. |
Emergency |
Event that would result in injury or damage unless immediate action is taken. |
Emergency control organisation (ECO) |
The person or group who controls the organisation's emergency response procedures. |
Emergency response procedures |
A documented set of actions and procedures to respond to emergencies. |
Emergency response team (ERT) |
Specialist personnel trained to respond to specific emergency incidents |
Hazard |
Anything that has the potential to harm the health or safety of a person. |
Hazard identification |
Process used to identify situations where people may be exposed to injury or illness. |
Hazardous substance |
Substance listed by WorkCover as being a potential risk to safety or health. |
Job safety analysis (JSA) |
Statement which describes how work is to be carried out, and the control measures required to minimise the risk of injury or illness. |
Regulation |
Legislation passed by parliament to provide more details on how to implement the requirements of an Act. |
Risk |
Chance of a hazard actually causing an injury or disease. |
Risk assessment: |
The process used to evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm that might arise from a hazard. |
Risk control hierarchy: |
Control measures used to minimise risk, in decreasing order of effectiveness |