Health and safety acronyms and abbreviations

A

AAIAC *

Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee

AALA

Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

AALS

Adventure Activities Licensing Committee

ABCA

Military standards body for US, UK, Canada and Australia

ABCB

Association of British Certification Bodies

ABCL

Automatic barrier crossing, locally monitored

ABE

Association of Building Engineers

ABM

Activity based management

ABNT

Associacao Brasileira de Normas Tecnicas (Brazil)

Advisory committee

Asbestos cement

ACA

Association of Consultant Architects

ACAI

Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate (see IAPI) now Environment Agency

ACAS

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

ACDP *

Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens

ACDS *

Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances

ACE

Association for Consultancy and Engineering

ACES

Amusement Catering Equipment Society

ACGM *

Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification

ACL

Approved Carriage List

ACM

Asbestos-containing material

ACOP

Approved Code of Practice

ACP

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

ACRE

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

ACTS *

Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances

AD *

Area Director now Operations Manager

ADI

Acceptable daily intake

ADN

European provisions concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways

ADR

Accord dangereux routier (European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road)

ADS *

Approved Dosimetry Service

AEAT

AEA Technology PLC

AENOR

Asociacion Espanola de Normalizacion y Certificacion

AFAIRP

As far as is reasonably practicable

AFCD

Automatic flue closing device

AFFF

Aqueous film forming foam

AFNOR

Association Francaise de Normalisation

AFP

Alphafetoprotein

AGR

Advanced gas-cooled reactor

AHB

Automatic half barrier

AHERA

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

Active ingredient

AIA

Asbestos International Association

AIAC *

Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee

AIB

Asbestos Insulation Board

AIC

Active instability control

AIDII

Associazone Italiana Degli Igienisti Industriali

AIDS

Acquired immunedeficiency syndrome

AIFTA

Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement

AIOSH

Associate of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

AIRMIC

Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce

AIST

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

AIT

Auto(geneous) ignition temperature

ALARA

As low as reasonably achievable

ALARP

As low as reasonably practicable

ALG

Association of London Government

ALI

Annual limit of intake

ALIBI

Assessment of LPG installations for Bleve incidents

ALPI *

Asbestos Licensing Principal Inspector

ALU

Asbestos Licensing Unit

AM *

Administration manager

AMAG

Agricultural Machinery Advisory Group

AMFO

Arbetsmiljofonden (Sweden)

AMPS

Association of Management and Professional Staff

ANC

Association of Noise Consultants

ANEC

Association Normalisation Europeenne pour les Consommateurs

ANFO

Ammonium nitrate/fuel oil

ANHMRC

Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

ANPAT

Association Nationale pour la Prevention des Accidents du Travail (Brussels)

ANPR

Automatic number plate recognition

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

AO *

Area office now Regional office

AOCL

Automatic open crossing, locally monitored

AOCR

Automatic open crossing, remotely monitored

AOCTs

Associated Overseas Countries and Territories

AOPD

Active opto-electronic protection device

APAU *

Accident Prevention Advisory Unit now Operations Unit

APB

Auditing Practices Board

APBL

Automatic power boom lowering (system)

APE

Aerosol photoemission

APE

Association of Planning Engineers

APELL

Awareness and preparedness for emergencies at local level

API

American Petroleum Institute

APOSC

Assessment principles for offshore safety cases

APPA

American Public Power Association

APS

Association of Planning Supervisors

Acoustic reflex

ARC

Accelerating rate calorimetry

ARC

Audit Registration Committee

ARCA

Asbestos Removal Contractors Association

AREC

Association of Research Ethics Committees

ARL

Department of Community Services and Health Australian Radiation Laboratory

ARPS

Association of Railway Preservation Societies

ARTPR

Approved Requirements for Transportable Pressure Receptacles

ASAC

Asian Standards Advisory Committee

ASB

Accounting Standards Board

ASFP

Association for Specialist Fire Protection

ASHRAE

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers

ASHW

Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956

ASI

Architect and Surveying Institute

ASLI

Automatic safe load indicator

ASLIC

Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations

ASME

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASNT

American Society for Nondestructive Testing

ASO

Assistant Scientific Officer

ASP

Accident sequence precursor

ASQ

American Society for Quality

ASS

National Board of Occupational Safety and Health (Sweden)

ASSE

American Society of Safety Engineers

ASTA

Association of Short-circuit Testing Authorities

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials

ATC

Automatic train control

ATEX

Atmosphere Explosiv (used in the context of two European Directives, 94/9/EC and 1999/92/EC)

ATO

Automatic train operation

ATP

Automatic train protection

ATR

Approved Tank Requirements

ATSDR

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

ATV

All-terrain vehicle

ATWS

Anticipated transient without scram

ATWT

Anticipated transient without trip

Accounting unit

AURPO

Association of University Radiation Protection Officers

AWE

Atomic Weapons Establishment

AWS

Automatic warning system

Acronym

Description

Breathing apparatus

Biological agent

BACS

Bankers automated clearing services

BACTA

British Amusement Catering Trades Association

BAFO

Best and final offer

BALPPA

British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions

BAM

Bundesanstalt fur Materialprufung

BAPE

Benign asbestos pleural effusion

BASEEFA *

British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (until July 2003)

BAT

Best available techniques

BAT

Biological Tolerance Value (Biologischer Arbeitsstoff-Toleranz-Wert)

BATNEEC

Best available techniques not entailing excessive cost

BAU

Bundesanstalt fur Arbeitsschutz und Unfallforschung

BCA

Building Control Authority

BCC

Biocides Consultative Committee

BCC

British Ceramic Confederation

BCECA

British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association

BCF

Bromochlorodifluoromethane

BCMC

British Cable Makers Confederation

BCME

Bis chloromethyl ether

BCRU

British Committee on Radiological Units

BEI

Biological exposure indices

BEL

Biological exposure limits

BEM

Business excellence model

BEBOH

British Examining Board in Occupational Hygiene

BERSA

British Elastic Rope Sports Association

BEU *

Business efficiency unit

BEUC

European Consumers' Bureau

BEWA

British Effluent And Water Association

BFI

Benefit Fraud Inspectorate

British Gas

BGH

Bundesgerichtshof (Germany)

BGS

British Geological Survey

BHSS

British Health and Safety Society

BIAT

British Institute of Architectural Technologists

BIMBO

Buy in management buy out

BIOH

British Institute of Occupational Hygiene

BIP

Business improvement programme

Bis CME

Bis chloromethyl ether

BLEVE

Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion

BLR

Blue light radiation

BMA

Bundesministerium fuer Arbeit und Sozialordnung (Germany)

BMHB

British Materials Handling Board

BMTA

British Measurement and Testing Association

BNS

Bureau de Normalisation de la Siderurgie (France)

BNTA

Bureau de Normalisation du Tube Acier (France)

BOHS

British Occupational Hygiene Society

BOO

Build own operate

BOP

Balance of plant

BPBIF

British Paper and Board Industry Federation

BPCA

British Pest Control Association

BPD

Biocidal Products Directive

BPEO

Best practicable environmental option

BPF

British Property Federation

BPM

Best practicable means

BRAC

Building Regulations Advisory Committee

BRE

Building Research Establishment

BREF

Best available techniques reference documents

BREL

British Rail Engineering Limited

BRIB

Better Regulation and International Branch

BRINDEX

Association of British Independent Oil Corporation Companies

BROA

British Rig Owners Association

BRTF

Better Regulation Task Force

BRU

Better Regulation Unit

BSA

Business Software Alliance

BSC

Balanced scorecard

BSD *

Business Services Division

BSE

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

BSI

British Standards Institution

BSO

Basic safety objective

BSOR

Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations

BSR

Board of Standards Review (ANSI)

BSS

Basic Safety Standards Directive

BSTSA

British Surface Treatment Suppliers Association

BTL

Better team leadership

BTM

Bromotrifluoromethane

BTP

British Transport Police

BTS

Bureau Technique Syndical Europ' en par la Sant' et la Securit' (Belgium)

BVS

Bergbau Versuchsstrecke (W Germany)

BWF

British Woodworking Federation

BWR

Boiling water reactor

Acronym

Description

C & I

Control and Instrumentation

Certifying authority

CA(BA)

Compressed air (breathing apparatus)

CAC

Codex Alimentarius Commission

CADD

Computer-aided design drafting

CAER

Community Awareness and Emergency Response (Chemical Manufacturers Association)

CAIRS

Canadian Institute for Radiation Safety

CAM

Computer aided manufacture

CAMEO

Computer-aided management of emergency operations

CAMR

Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research

CANDU

A Canadian developed reactor deriving its name from Canadian deuterium uranium

CANMET-DEMR

Canada Center for Mineral and Energy Technology - Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

CANUTEC

Canadian Transport Emergency Center

CAPM

Computer-aided production management

CAPS

Computer aided planning system

CARICOM

Caribbean Community and Common Market (formerly CARIFTA)

CARIFTA

See CARICOM

CAS

Chemical Abstracts Service

CASE

Council for Associated Stock Exchanges

CAT

Cable avoiding tool

CAWR

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations

CBI

Confederation of British Industry

CBN

Cubic boron nitride

CBNM

Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements

CBP

Construction best practice

CBT

Computer based training

Construction Confederation

CCA

Compliance cost assessment

CCAB

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies

CCC

Confederation of Construction Clients

CCCN

Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (EC)

CCD

Charge coupled device

CCE

Commission of the European Communities

CCE

Computer controlled equipment

CCF

Common cause failures (see PES)

CCF

Construction Clients Forum

CCHARR

Co-ordinating Committee on Health Aspects of Radiation

Research

CCIT

International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee

CCNSG

Client Contractor National Safety Group

CCOU

Construction Central Operations Unit

CCScheme

Considerate Constructor Scheme

CCTA

Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

Central Division (Hazardous Installations Directorate)

Consultation distance

Consultative document

CDA

Controlled droplet application

CDC

Centers for Disease Control (USA)

CDFR

Commercial demonstration fast reactor

CDG Rail

Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail Regulations

CDGCPL

Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations

CDM

Construction Design and Management

CDR

Communicable disease report (compiled by CDSC)

CD-ROM

Compact disc read only memory

CDSC

Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

CEA

Chemical Engineering Abstracts (Produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry)

CEA-CEN

Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique-Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires

CEB

Corporate Efficiency Board

CEC

Commission of the European Communities

CECA

Civil Engineering Contractors Association

CECC

CENELEC Electronic Components Committee

CEDEFOP

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

CEDHYS

Association des Directeurs des Systemes d'Information de l'Industrie Pharmaceutique

CEE

Communaute Economique Europeenne (French for EEC)

CEE

Communita Economica Europea (Italian for EEC)

CEE

International Commission on Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment

CEEC

Central and eastern European countries

CEEFA

Committee for Electrical Equipment for use in Flammable Atmospheres (committee representing BEAMA)

CEEMAC *

Certification of Electrical Equipment for Mining Advisory Council

CEEP

Centre Europeen de l'Entreprise Publique

CEF

Cluster enhanced filter

CEF

Comite Electrotechnique Francais

CEFIC

European Chemical Industry Council

CEFLC

European Council of Chemical Manufacturers Federation

CEHO

Chief Environmental Health Officer

CEI

Council of Engineering Institutions

CEMEC

European Centre for Disaster Management

CEN

Comite Europeen de Normalisation

CENCER

CEN's certification body

CENELEC

Comite Europeen de Normalisation Electrotechnique

CEOC

Colloque Europeen des Organismes de Controle

CEPS

Central Expertise Policy and Support

CEPT

Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et des Telecommunications

CER

Carriage of Explosives Regulations

CERCHAR

Centre d'Etudes et Recherches des Charbonnages de France

CERCLA

Comprehensive Environment Response Compensation and Liability Act (USA)

CERD

Comite Europeen de Recherche et Developpment

CERIAC *

Ceramics Industry Advisory Committee

CERTICO

Certification Committee of ISO

CESD

Communications Electronics Security Department

CESI

Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (Italy)

CET

Corrected effective temperature

CFD

Computational fluid dynamics

CFDRA

Campden Food and Drink Research Association

CFEs

Centres of financial expertise

CFF

Common funding formula (education)

CFRP

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic

CGPM

General Conference of Weights and Measures

CGTF

Central Government Task Force

CHANs *

Chemical Hazard Alert Notices

CHAS

Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme

CHCS

Chemical Hazards Communications Society

CHEMAG

Chemicals in Agriculture Advisory Group

CHEMFAX *

Computerised database with Chemicals NIG

CHEMSAFE

Chemical Industry Scheme for Assistance in Freight

CHEMTREC

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (USA)

CHID *

Chemicals and Hazardous Installations Division

CHIEF

Customs handling of import and export freight

CHIMP

Commission for Health Improvement

CHIP

Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations

CHP

Combined heat and power

CHSC

Corporate health and safety committee

CHSG

Construction Health and Safety Group

CHSW

Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations

Chief Inspector

CIAg *

Chief Inspector of Agriculture

CIB

Chartered Institute of Building

CIB

Construction Industry Board

CIBSE

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

CIC

CID

Occupational Medicine and Hygiene Laboratory

Chemical Industries Division

CIDI

Central Index of Dose Information

CIDST

Comite d'Information et de Documentation Scientifique et Technique

CIEC

Construction Industry Employers' Council

CIEH

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

CIM *

Chief Inspector's Memo

CIM

International Convention Concerning the Carriage of Goods by Rail

CIMAH

Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations

CIOB

Chartered Institute of Building

CIRC

Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer (France)

CIS

International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre

CISDOC

International Labour Organisation database available on OSHROM

CISPR

Comite International Special des Perturbations Radioelectriques

CITB

Construction Industry Training Board

CJD

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

CLA

CLASP

Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme

CLAW

Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980

CLEANAIR

Campaign for a Smoke-Free Environment

CLEAR

Campaign for Lead-Free Air

CLECAT

Comite de liaison Europeen des commissionnaires et auxiliaires de transports du marche commun

CLER

Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations

CLG

Constructors liaison group

CLP

Classification Packaging and Labelling

Case manager

Command (paper) 1987

CME

Chloromethyl ether

Cmnd

Command (paper) 1958 - 1986

CMO

Chief Medical Officer

Case note

CNC

Computer numerical control

CNRS

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris)

CNS

Comite de Normalisation de la Soudure (France)

Carbon monoxide

Clerical Officer (now Administrative Officer)

COAD

Chronic obstructive airways disease

COBRA

Cabinet Office Briefing Room A

(Code) IN

Inspection (code)

(Code) LCA

Legal Commentary - Acts (Code)

(Code) LCR

Legal Commentary - Regulations (Code)

(Code) LP

Legal Proceedings (Code)

(Code) LPS

Legal Proceedings - Scotland (Code)

(Code) OP

Office Procedures (Code)

(Code) OR

Organisation (Code)

CODEX

Codex Alimentarius Commission

COE

Council of Europe

COFFIN*

Construction and factory fatal information (database)

COFREND

Comite Francais des Essais Non Destructifs

COGEMA

Compagnie General des Matieres Nucleaires

COGENE

Committee on Genetic Experimentation

COI

Critical oxygen index

COIN

Corporate Operational Information

COIT

Central Office of Industrial Tribunals

COMAH

Control of Major Accident Hazards

COMARE

Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment

COMITEXTIL

Comite de Coordination des Industries Textiles de la CEE

COMMETT

EEC programme in Education and Training for Technology

CONCAWE

Oil Companies European Organization for Environment, Health and Safety (Belgium)

CONDAM

Construction Design and Management Regulations

ConDoc *

Consultative Document

CONIAC *

Construction Industry Advisory Committee

COP

Code of Practice

COPA

Control of Pollution Act

COPANT

Pan American Standards Commission

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPOLCO

Committee on Consumer Policy (ISO)

COPR

Control of Pesticides Regulations

COREPER

Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Communities

CORGI

Council for Registered Gas Installers

COSAS

Corporate Science and Analytical Services Division

COSHH

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

COSLA

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

COST

Cooperation Europeenne dans la Domaine de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique

COT

Committee on Toxicity in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment

COVENIN

Comision Venezolana de Norma Industriales (Venezuela)

Code of Practice

CPA

Construction Products Association

CPA

Crop Protection Association

CPC

Chemical protective clothing

CPIG

Crown Premises Inspection Group

CPL

Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPS

Crown Prosecution Service

CRA

Chemical Recovery Association

CRB

Criminal Records Bureau

CRE

Coal Research Establishment (part of BCC)

CREST

Comite de Recherche Scientifique et Technique (European Community)

CREIPI

Central Research Institute of Electric Power Institute (Japan)

CRMP

Corporate risk management plan

CSAT

Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal

CSBF

Civil Service Benevolent Fund

CSBTS

China State Bureau of Technical Supervision

CSC

Civil Service College

CSC

Civil Service Commission

CSC

(International) Convention for Safe Containers

CSCS

Construction Skills Certification Scheme

CSIS

Civil Service Insurance Society

CSNWC

Civil Service National Whitley Council

CSOHS

Civil Service Occupational Health Service

CSPA

Civil Service Pensioners Alliance

CSR

Comprehensive spending reviews

CSR

Corporate social responsibility

CSRF

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

CSSA

Computer Services and Software Association

CSTP

Committee on Scientific and Technological Policy (OECD)

CSTU

Control Systems Technology Committee

CTD

Cumulative trauma disorder

CTG

Corporate topic group

CTI

Castings Technology International

CTMU

Central Training Management Unit

CTPV

Coal tar pitch volatiles

CTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome

CTSA

Channel Tunnel Safety Authority

CUE

Common user estate

Calorific value

Check visit

CVCS

Chemical and volume control system

CVD

Cardiovascular disease

CVS

Chorionic villus sampling

CWR

Continuous welded rail

Consultation zone

Acronym

Description

Decibels

Dry bulb

dB(A)

Decibels on the A weighted scale

DBA

Design basis accident

DBFO

Design build finance operate

Direct chill (casting)

DCEHO

Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer

DCI *

Decided Cases Index

DCI *

Deputy Chief Inspector

DCIF *

Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories

DCIO

Deputy Chief Inspecting Officer (of Railways)

DCLG

Department for Communities and Local Government

DCM

Deputy Case Manager

DCMS

Department of Culture Media and Sport

DCOA

Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994

DCPD

Dicyclopentadiene

D/D

Division/Directorate

Divisional Director

DDG *

Deputy Director General

DDPH

Deputy Director of Public Health

Department of Employment now Department for Education and Employment

DEF STAN

Defence Standards

DEFRA

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DEHO

District Environmental Health Officer

DEHS

Director of Environmental Health Services

DEL

Departmental Expenditure Limit

DEMKO

Danmarks Elektriske Materielkontrol (Denmark)

DEMU

Diesel-electric multiple unit

DEn

Department of Energy wound up in 1992 now part of DTI

DERA

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

DEVCO

Development Committee (ISO)

DfES

Department for Education and Skills

DFM

Dust, fume and mist

DFRS

Defence Fire and Rescue Service

DFS

Defence Fire Service

DfT

Department for Transport

DG *

Director General

Directorate General (EC)

Department of Health

Duty holder

DIANE

Direct Information Access Network for Europe

DIAS *

Directorate of Information and Advisory Services. Health and Safety Executive

DIN

Deutsches Institut fur Normung (German Standards Institute)

DIP

Document image processing

DIS

Draft International Standard

DISP

Duty Holder Intervention Strategy Planning Board

Distance learning

DLR

Docklands Light Railway

DMB

Divisional Management Board

DMU

Diesel multiple unit

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNB

Departure from nucleate boiling

DNHPD

Department of National Health and Population Department (South Africa)

Dangerous occurrence

DoE

Department of the Environment now Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DOE

Department of Energy (United States)

DOL

Department of Labor (United States)

DOT

Department of Transport now part of Department Transport, Local Government and the Regions

DOT

Department of Transportation (United States)

Disabled person

DPE

Duty holder planning event

DRC

Disaster Research Centre (USA)

Danish Standards Association

DSAC

Design safety analysis and control

DSC

Design safety case

DSC

Differential scanning calorimetry

DSE

Display screen equipment

DSEAR

Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations

DSHA Regs

Dangerous Substances in Harbours and Harbour Areas Regulations

DSO

Direct service organisation

DSS

Department of Social Security

DST *

Directorate of Science and Technology

DTA

Differential thermal analysis

DTI

Department of Trade and Industry

DTLR

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

DTM

Desk top monitoring

DVD

Digital versatile disc

DVT

Driver van training

DWC

Department Whitley Council

DWL

Derived working levels

DWP

Department for Work and Pensions

Acronym

Description

Environment Agency

EA75

Explosives Act 1875

EA regs

Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations

EAC

European Agency for Cooperation (EC)

EAE

Evidence analysis and evaluation

EAEC

European Atomic Energy Community

EARA

European Asbestos Removal Association

EAS

Enterprise allowance scheme

EASE

Estimation and assessment of substance exposure

EASHW

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

EAU *

Economic Advisors' Unit (part of Policy Unit)

EAZ

Education action zone

EBW

Electron beam welding

European Commission

European Communities

ECA

Electrical Contractors Association

ECA

Economic Commission for Africa (UN)

ECA

European Chemicals Agency

ECAC

European Civil Aviation Conference

ECCS

Emergency core cooling system

ECDIN

Environmental Chemical Data Information Network (EC)

ECE

Economic Commission for Europe (UN)

ECETOC

European Chemical Industry Ecology and Toxicology Centre

ECG

European co-operation grouping

ECGD

Export Credits Guarantee Department

ECIA

Engineering Construction Industry Association

ECIS

European Communities Information Service

ECISS

European Committee for Iron and Steel Standardisation

ECITC

European Committee for I.T. Testing and Certification

ECL

Exposure control limit

ECMA

European Computer Manufacturers Association

ECOIN

European core inventory

ECS

Empty coaching stock

ECSU *

Electrical Certification Support Unit

Employment Department now Department for Education and Skills

EDG

Employment Department Group

EDI

Electronic data interchange

EDO

Estate duty office

EDTA

Ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid

EEB

European Environmental Bureau

EECMB *

Electrical Equipment Certification Management Board

EECS *

Electrical Equipment Certification Service

EEF

Engineering Employers Federation

EEG

Europese Economische Gemeenschap (Dutch for EEC)

EEI

Edison Electric Institute

EEL

Emergency exposure limit

EEMUA

Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association

EER

Emergency evacuation and rescue

EER

Evacuation, escape and rescue

EERA

Evacuation, escape and rescue assessment

EFL *

Explosion and Flame Laboratory, now part of HSL

EFTA

European Free Trade Association

EHO

Environmental health officer

EHSR

Essential health and safety requirement

EI *

(HM) Explosives Inspectorate

EIA

Environmental impact assessment

EIC

Energy Industries Council

EINECS

European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances

ELCB

Earth leakage circuit breaker

ELCI

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

ELF

Extra low frequency

ELINCS

European list of notified chemical substances

ELO *

Enforcement liaison officer

EM *

Explanatory memorandum

EMA *

Employment Medical Adviser

EMAS *

Employment Medical Advisory Service

EMR

Electromagnetic radiation

EMSU *

Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit

EMU

Electrical multiple unit

EMU

European Economic and Monetary Union

European Standard

ENA *

Employment Nursing Adviser

ENB

Explosives Notified Body

Ethylene oxide

Executive Officer

EOF

Europaeiske Okonomiske Faellesskab (Danish for EEC)

EOTC

European Organisation for Conformity Assessment

EPA

Environmental Protection Act

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency (USA)

EPI-DERM

Surveillance scheme for occupational skin disease

EPO

European Patent Organisation

EPOCH

European Programme on Climatology and Natural Hazards

EPS

Enforcement policy statement

EPS

European Pre-standard

ERB

Engineers Registration Board (CEI)

ERIC

Emergency response intervention card

ERL

Emergency reference level

Ergonomics Society

ESAC *

Education Services Advisory Committee

ESB *

Executive Support Branch now Senior Management Support Unit

ESC

Economic and Social Committee (EC)

ESD

Emergency shutdown device

ESF

European Social Fund

ESFR

Early suppression fast response

ESH

Electric surface heating

ESP

Electrostatic precipitator

ESPRIT

European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology

ESRA

European Safety and Reliability Association

ESReDA

European Safety Reliability and Data Association

ESTC

Explosives Storage and Transport Committee

ETS

Environmental tobacco smoke

ETS

European Telecommunications Standards

ETSI

European Telecommunications Standards Institute

ETVA

Elektrotechnische Versuchsanstalt (Austria)

European Union

EURADOS

European Radiation Dosimetry Group

EURATOM

European Atomic Energy Community

EUROCONTROL

European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

EUROCOOP

European Community of Consumers' Co-operatives

EUROMAP

European Plastics Machinery Suppliers' Association

EUROSH*NET

European Occupational Safety and Health Network

EUROSTATS

Series of statistics produced by the SOEC

EUROVENT

European Committee of Air Handling and Air Conditioning Equipment Manufacturers

EWC

European Works Councils

EWG

Europaeische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft

EXCO

Executive Committee (ISO)

EXP

Expanded polystyrene

EXTEST

International Study Group for the Standardisation of Methods of Testing Explosives

Enterprise zone

Acronym

Description

F & GPC

Finance and General Purposes Committee (sub-committee of NEC)

F&RA

Fire and Rescue Authority

FAC

Food and Agriculture Committee

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAST

Federation against Software Theft

FASTCo

Forestry and Arboriculture Safety and Training Council

FBG

Fluidised bed generator

FCG *

Field Consultant Group

FC(SP)R

Fire Certificate (Special Premises) Regulations 1976

FDA

Food and Drug Administration (USA)

FDA

Association of First Division Civil Servants

FDIS

Final Draft International Standard

FEPA

Food and Environment Protection Act

FER

Fundamental Expenditure Review

FFI

Flexible film isolator

FI *

(HM) Factory Inspectorate

FIAC *

Foundries Industry Advisory Committee

FIC *

Factory Inspectorate (Subject File) Circular

FIM *

Factory Inspectorate Minute

FIN *

Factory Inspectorate Note

FINU *

Finance Unit (part of Resources and Planning Directorate)

FIRA

Furniture Industry Research Association

FIRAC *

Factory Inspectorate Research Advisory Committee

FISM *

Factory Inspectorate Specialist Minute

FISP *

Financial Systems and Payments

Fit3

Fit for work, fit for life, fit for tomorrow

Flexileave

FLP

Flameproof

FLT

Fork lift truck

Factory Mutual (USA)

FMAS

Financial Management Accounting System

FMB

Federation of Master Builders

FMI

Financial Management Initiative

FMU *

Field Management Unit

FOCUS *

Field Operations Computer System

FOD *

Field Operations Directorate

FOD MB

FOD Management Board

FOILE

FOD's iInterventions with large employers

FOM *

Fortnightly Operational Minute (issued by FOD)

FOPS

Falling Object Protective Structure(s)

FOU

For Official Use

FP*

Field Professional

FPA71

Fire Precautions Act 1971

FPO

Fire Prevention Officer

FPSO

Floating production storage and off-loading unit

FPU *

Finance and Planning Unit

FP(W)R

Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997

FRAB

Financial Reporting and Advisory Board

FRS

Financial Reporting Standards

FRS

Fire Research Station (part of BRE)

FSA

Financial Services Authority

FSA

Foreign Service Allowances

FSA

Food Standards Agency

FSAC

Food Safety Advisory Centre

FSBP

Finger systolic blood pressure

FSO

Fire Safety Officer

FSO

Formal Second Opinion

FSR

Filter self-rescuer (mining)

FSSU *

Field Scientific Support Unit now Field Services Unit

FST

Finger skin temperature

FSU *

Field Services Unit

FSU

Floating storage unit

FSV

Free steered vehicle

FWH

Flexible working hours

FWR

Functional work recording system

Acronym

Description

GAAP

Generally Accepted Accounting Practice

GAD

Gas Appliances Directive

GAD

Government Actuaries Department

GAE

General Administrative Expenditure

GAMBICA

Association for the Instrumentation, Control and Automation Industry in the UK

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GDO

General Development Order

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GDPO

General Development Procedure Order

GFP

General fire precautions

GGF

Glass and Glazing Federation

GHGB

Good Health is Good Business

GHS

Globally Harmonised Systems

GIE

Groupement d'Interet Economique

GILSP

Good industrial large scale practice

GLA

Gangmaster Licensing Authority

GLA

Greater London Authority

GLC

Gas liquid chromatography

GLP

Good laboratory practice

GLSP

Good large scale practice

GLW

Gross laden weight

Genetically modified

Guidance Memoranda

GMAW

Gas metal arc welding

GMO

Genetically modified organism

Guidance Note

GN:CS

Guidance Note : Chemical Safety

GN:EH

Guidance Note : Environmental Health

GN:GS

Guidance Note : General Series

GN:MS

Guidance Note : Medical Series

GN:PM

Guidance Note : Plant and Machinery

GNVQ

General National Vocational Qualification

GOST USSR

State Committee for Standards

GPA

Agreement on Government Procurement

GRP

Glass reinforced plastic

GSI

Government Secure Intranet

GSMR

Gas Safety Management Regulations

GSTP

Generalised System of Tariff Preferences

Globe thermometer

GTA

Government Technical Adviser

GTAW

Gas tungsten arc welding

Acronym

Description

HACCP

Hazard analysis critical control point

HAI

Hospital acquired infections

HAM

Hand held monitor

HASAC

Health and Safety Advice Centre

HASAWA

* Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

HASCOG

Health and Safety Co-ordinating Group (IEHO)

HAV

Hand-arm vibration

HAV

Hepatitis A virus

HAZAN

Hazard analysis numerical methods

HAZCOM

Hazards Communication Standard

HAZOP

Hazard and Operability Study

HBIG

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin

HBV

Hepatitis B virus

Health Circular (DH)

Harmonization Document

* Health Directorate

Hodgkins disease

HECR

Highly exothermic chemical reactions

HEDSET

Harmonised electronic data set (European Communities)

HELA

* Health and Safety Executive/Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee

HEO

Higher Executive Officer

HEPA

High efficiency particulate air (refers to high efficiency air filters)

HEPOL

* Health and Safety Executive/Police force Enforcement Liaison Committee

HES

Home electronic systems

HFL

Highly flammable liquid

HGV

Heavy goods vehicle

HHE

Health Hazard Evaluation

HHS

Hypothenar hammer syndrome

HHSI

High-head safety Injection

Hazardous installation

HIA

Health Impact Assessment

HID

Hazardous Installations Directorate

HIPU

* Hazardous Installations Policy Unit, now part of CHID

HIV

Human Immunovirus/immunodeficiency virus

HMAI

* Her Majesty's Agricultural Inspectorate, now part of FOD

HMAC

Hazardous Materials Advisory Council (U.S.A.)

HMCG

Her Majesty's Coastguard

HMEI

* Her Majesty's Explosives Inspectorate

HMFI

* Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate

HMIM

* Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Mines

HMIP

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (part of Environment Agency)

HMIPI

Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland

HMNII

* Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

HMRI

* Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate

Health Notice (DH)

HNMR

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance

Home Office

HoOPs

Head of Operations

HOTL

Heads of Testing Laboratories Working Group of the EEC

HPD

* Health Policy Division now Health Directorate

HPD

Hearing protection devices

HPLC

High performance liquid chromatography

HPM

Hazardous production materials

HPTLC

High performance thin layer chromatography

HPV

High production volume

HRD

* Human Resource Development

HRM

* Human Resource Management

HRMB

* Human Resource Management Branch

HRR

Health Risk Review

HRSC

Human resources service centre

HRU

* Human Resources Unit

HSA

Hazardous Substances Authority

HSA

Health and Safety Adviser

HSA

Health and Safety Authority (Republic of Ireland)

HSAC

* Health Services Advisory Committee

HSAM

* Health and Safety Administrative Minute

HSAM(GAP)

* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (General Administrative Procedures)

HSAM(INF)

* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (Information)

HSAM(PM)

* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (Personnel Management)

HSAO

Health and Safety Awareness Officer

HSC

* Health and Safety Commission

HSCER

Health and Safety (Consultation with Employers) Regulations

HSE

* Health and Safety Executive

HS(EA) Regs

* The Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977

HSE(M)

* HSE Electrical Equipment Certification and Approvals Authority (Mining)

HSELINE

* HSE Information Services publicly available computerised database of bibliographic references on health and safety at work. Also available on OSHROM

HSEM

* Health and Safety Executive Minute

HSENI

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland

HSG

Health and Safety Guidance Booklet

HS(G)

* Health and Safety (Guidance) (Booklet)

HSK

Hauptabteilung fuer die Sicherheit der Kernanlagen Bundesamt fuer Energiewirtschaft (Switzerland)

HSL

* Health and Safety Laboratory

HSO

Higher Scientific Officer

HSPL

Health and Safety Policy Liaison (Department of Environment)

HS(R)

* Health and Safety (Regulations) (Booklet)

HST

High Speed Train

HSW Act

Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974

HSWA

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Hazard type

High tension (electrical)

HTLV(III)

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus

HTML

Hypertext mark up language

HTR

High temperature reactor

High voltage

HVAC

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning

HVCA

Heating and Ventilation Contractors Association

HWE

Healthy Worker Effect

HWI

Hazardous Waste Inspectorate (DoE)

Hertz

HzSC

Hazardous Substances Consent

Acronym

Description

IAC *

Industry Advisory Committee

IADC

International Association of Drilling Contractors

IAES

International Academy of Environmental Safety

IALI

International Association of Labour Inspection

IAM

Institute of Advanced Motorists

IARC

International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO)

IAS *

Information and Advisory Services

International Branch (part of Policy Unit)

IBN

Institut Belge de Normalisation (Belgium)

ICANN

International Cooperation for Assigned Names and Numbers

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organization

ICAP

International Code Assessment and Applications Programme

ICC

International Chamber of Commerce

ICE

Institute of Chartered Engineers

ICES

Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors

ICFMH

International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene

ICNIRP

International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection

ICOEH

International Commission for Occupational and Environmental Health

ICOH

International Commission on Occupational Health (Singapore)

ICOMH

International Committee on Occupational Mental Health

ICONE

Index Comparatif des Normes Europeenes (comparative index of European Standards)

ICPEMC

International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens

ICRP

International Commission on Radiological Protection

ICRU

International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements

ICS

International Classification for Standards

ICS

Investors Compensation Scheme

ICSCA

Industry Co-operation on Standards and Conformity Assessment

Infectious dose

Internal diameter

IDCAFS

Inter-departmental Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs

IDE

Institute of Demolition Engineers

IDEA

Improvement and Development Agency

IDLH

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

IEA

International Energy Agency (OECD)

IEB *

International and Environment Branch now International Section

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

IECC

Integrated Electronic Control Centre

IECEE

International Electrotechnical Commission's Certification Scheme

IEE

The Institution of Electrical Engineers

IEIC

Independent Engineering Insurers' Committee

IER

Institute of Employment Research now Institute of Employment Studies

IES

Institute for Employment Studies

IFAN

International Federation for the Application of Standards

Immunoglobulin

IG *

Industry Group

IGUS

International Group for Unstable Substances (OECD)

IHAC

Industrial Health Advisory Committee

IHSSF

International Healthcare Safety and Security Foundation

IIAC

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

IiP

Investors in People

IIRSM

International Institute of Risk and Safety Management

ILA

Individual learning account

ILAC

International Laboratory Accreditation Scheme

ILB

Industry Lead Body

ILE

Institution of Lighting Engineers

ILGRA

Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment

ILMS *

Integrated Library Management System

ILO

International Labour Organisation

ILO *

Information Liaison Officer

ILS

Industrial Law Society

ILT

Industrial Language Training

ILV

Indicative Limit Value (now known as IOELVs - Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values

ILW

Intermediate level waste

ILWS

Inductive loop warning system

IM *

Information Manager

IMDG

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code

IMECHE

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

IMO

International Maritime Organization (was IMCO)

IMS

Industrial methylated spirit

IMT

Inspection Management Team

IMU

Information Management Unit

IMW

Institute of Wastes Management (Northampton)

Improvement Notice

Issue Note

INCOTERMS

International rules for interpretation of terms frequently used in foreign trade contracts

INDG

Industry Guidance

IND(G)

Industry Guidance

INFCO

Standing Committee for the Study of Scientific and Technical Information on Standardization (ISO)

INFOTERRA

International Referral System for Sources of Environmental Information (UN)

INIEX

Institut National des Industries Extractives (Belgium)

INIS

International Nuclear Information Service (IAEA)

INM

Institute of Naval Medicine (Royal Navy)

INPACT

Institut pour l'Amelioration des Conditions de Travail (France)

INPO

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations

INRS

Institut National de Recherche et de Securite (France)

INSEAD

Institut Europeen d'Administration des Affaires

INSHT

Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (Spain)

INTERTANKO

International Association of Independent Tanker Owners

INTEREP *

HSE and Information Services' computerised database of bibliographic references to confidential and unpublished documents on health and safety at work. Restricted to HSE staff

INTEREX *

HSE Information Services computerised database of exchange agreements with organisations in the UK and abroad

Inspecting Officer (of Railways)

IOD

Institute of Directors

IOELV

Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Value

IOH

Institute of Occupational Health (University of Birmingham)

IOH

Institution of Occupational Hygienists

IOHA

International Occupational Hygiene Association

IOM

Institute of Occupational Medicine (Edinburgh)

IOMC

Interorganisation Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals

IOSH

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

Injured person

Institute of Physics

IPA

Isopropyl alcohol

IPC

Integrated pollution control

IPG *

Information Planning Group

IPLA

HM Inspectorate of Pollution/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee

IPMS

Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists

IPPC

Integrated pollution prevention and control

IPPR

Institute for Public Policy Research

IPR

Integrated pollution regulation

IPS

Integrated Protection System

IPT

Insurance Premium Tax

IQS

Institute of Quantity Surveyors

Infra red

Ionising radiation

IRAM

Instituto Argentino de Racionalizacion de Materiales (Argentina)

IRIS

Integrated Risk Information System (USA)

IRLR

Industrial Relations Law Report

IRM

Inspection repair and maintenance (Offshore)

IRM

Institute of Risk Management

IRO

Integrated Regional Offices

IRP

Institute of Radiation Protection

IRP

Intellectual Property Rights

IRPA

International Radiation Protection Association

IRPTC

International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (UN)

IRR

Ionising Radiations Regulations

IRRG

Ionising Radiations Research Group

IRRV

Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation

IR(SS) Regs

Ionising Radiations (Sealed Sources) Regulations

IR(URS) Regs

Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations

IS *

Information Services

IS *

Information Specialist

Intrinsic safety

Intrinsically safe

ISBN

International Standard Book Number(ing)

ISCA

International Standards Steering Committee for Consumer Affairs

ISEC

Information Strategy Executive Committee

ISGOTT

International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals

ISI

In-service inspection

ISIC

International standard industrial classification

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

ISP

International Standard Problem

ISRS

International Safety Rating System

ISSA

International Social Security Association

ISSG

Information Strategy Steering Group

ISTR

Institute of Safety in Technology and Research

ISVR

Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (Southampton)

Industrial Tribunal

Information technology

ITB

Industry Training Board

ITB

Insurance Technical Bureau

ITSA

Independent Tank Storage Association

ITSI

Information Technology Standards Institute

IUPAC

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

IWEM

Institution of Water and Environmental Management

IWM

Institute of Wastes Management

Inner zone

Acronym

Description

JAC

Joint Advisory Committee

JACR

Joint Advisory Committee Report

JDI

Joint Declaration of Intent

JDS

Joint Disciplinary Scheme

JEA

Japan Electric Association

JEC

Japanese Electrotechnical Committee

JFRO

Joint Fire Research Organisation

JIB

Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry

JIC

Joint Industrial Council

JIG

Job Interview Guarantee

JIS

Japanese Standard Association

JISC

Japanese Industrial Standards Committee

JISC

Joint Industry Safety Committee

JML

Japanese Ministry of Labour

JNC

Joint National Committee (IPMS, FDA, SCS)

JOCE

Journal Officiel des Communautes Europeennes

JRC

Joint Research Centre (EURATOM)

JSC

Joint Standing Committee

JSCR

Joint Standing Committee Report

JWG

Joint Working Group

JWP

Joint Working Party

Acronym

Description

KAN

Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung

KHF

Know How Fund

KIT

Keep in touch

KTA

Kerntecnischer Ausschuss

KWU

Kraftwerk Union

Acronym

Description

Local authority

LAA

Laboratory animal allergy

LAA

Local Authority Associations

LAAPS

Local Authority Accident Prevention and Safety Services

LAC

Local Authority Circular

LACOTS

Local Authority Committee on Trading Standards

LADD

Lifetime average daily dose

LASER

Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

LASP

Local Authorities Strategic Programme

LASS

Leisure Accident Surveillance System

LAU

Local Authority Unit

LAUTRO

Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Office

LBA

London Boroughs Association

LBCNC

Land Based Colleges National Consortium

LBRO

Local better regulation office

LC *

Licence condition

LCDP

Local career development panels

LCIE

Laboratoire Central des Industries Electriques (France)

LCLo

Lethal concentration low

LCRG

Local Career Review Group

LC5O

Lethal concentration 50

Land Division

LDA

Linear photodiode array

LDG

List of dangerous goods

LDLo

Lethal dose low

LD50

Lethal dose fifty

LEA

Local Enterprise Agency

LEL

Lower explosive limit

LEL

Lower exposure limit

LEQ

Equivalent continuous sound level

LEQ(8)hr

Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (normalised to 8 hours)

LEV

Local exhaust ventilation

LFDCA

London Fire and Civil Defence Authority

LFL

Lower flammability limit

LFS

Labour Force Survey

LGA

Local Government Association

LGSC

Landlord's gas safety certificate

LGTF

Local Government Task Force

LIF

Laser induced fluorescence

LIF

Lighting Industry Federation

LIFFE

London International Financial and Futures Exchange

LIMS

Laboratory Information Management Systems

LIS *

Library and Information Services, now Information Services

LITTS

Large Inventory Top Tier Site(s)

LLC *

Local Liaison Committee

LLMI

Local Labour Market Intelligence

LLP

Limited Liability Partnerships

LMFBR

Liquid metal fast breeder reactor

LMS

Labour Market System (employment data)

LNG

Liquefied natural gas

LOCA

Loss of coolant accident

LOCAE

List of Classified and Authorised Explosives

LOD

Limit of Detection

LOEL

Lowest Observed Effect Level

LOFT

Loss of Fluid Test Programme (OECD)

LOLER

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations

LOPP

Large Organisations Pilot Project

LOQ

Limit of Quantitation

LOX

Liquid oxygen

Liquefied petroleum

Low pressure

LPA

Local Planning Authority

LPC

Loss Prevention Council

LPG

Liquefied petroleum gas

LPGA

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association

LPGITA

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Technical Association

LREC

Local Research Ethics Committee

LRT

Light rapid transit

LRV

Light rail vehicle

LSEV

Laboratoire des Substances Explosives de Vemeuil

LSS

Load scaling sensitivity

LTA

Lost time accident

LTI

Lost time incident

LTSRs

Long Term Safety Reviews

LUL

London Underground Limited

Low voltage

Low volume

LVD

Low voltage directive

LWC

Local Whitley Committee

LWR

Light water reactor

LWRA

London Waste Regulation Authority

Acronym

Description

M & E

Mechanical and Electrical

MAC

Maximum Acceptable Concentration or Maximum Allowable Concentration

MACE

Multipurpose Automatic Control Equipment

MAFF *

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

MAFS

Management Arrangements Feasibility Study (in FOD)

MAG

Metal active gas

MAG

Metal arc gas

MAGNET

Minority Action Group Network

MAIB

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

MAK

Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentration(en) German

MAPP

Major Accident Prevention Policy

MAR

Management and Administration

MARCODE*

Database of Investigated Accidents (originally Marches Code)

MAS

(Civil Service) Medical Advisory Service, now Occupational Health and Safety Agency Ltd.

MaTSU

Marine Technology Support Unit

MAUK

Mining Association of the UK

MAWP

Maximum Allowable Working Pressure

Management Board

MbO

Management by Objective(s)

MbOCA

4,4'Methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline)

MCA

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

MCB

Manually controlled barrier (crossings)

MCCS

Microclimate cooling system

MCG

Major Contractors Group

MCI

Management Charter Initiative

MCS

Microclimate cooling system

MCS

Mining Certification Service (See HSE (M))

MDHS

Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances

MDI

Diphenylmethane diisocyanate

MDI

Methyl diphenylene diisocyanate

MDTSA

Methods for the Detection of Toxic Substances in Air

Myalgic encephalomyelitis

MECS *

Mining Equipment Certification Service (part of BASEEFA)

MEK

Methyl ethyl ketone

MEL *

Maximum Exposure Limit

MEPC

Marine Environment Protection Committee

MESG

Maximum experimental safe gap

MeV

Million electron volts or mega electron volts

MEWP

Mobile elevating work platform

MFCI

Molten Fuel Coolant Interaction

Major hazards

MHAU *

Major Hazards Assessment Unit

MHIDAS

Major Hazards Incident Data Service. Database available on OSHROM

MHLWP

Major Hazards Legislation Working Party

MHSP

Major hazards strategic programme

MHSWR

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

(HM) MI

Mines Inspectorate

Mandatory Investigation

Myocardial infarction

MIC

Methyl isocyanate

MIC

Minimum ignition current

MIC

Mining Industry Committee

MIDAS

Machine information display and automation system

MIE

Minimum ignition energy

MIG

Metal inert gas

MIGE

Missile impact and gaseous explosions

MIIB

Major incident investigation board

MINOS

Mine Operating System

MIPG

Major incident progress group

MIPS

Median Index of Public Sector Tender Prices

MIRWMS

Merseyside Ionising Radiation Warning and Monitoring System

MIS

Management Information Systems

MIS

Manufacturers, importers and suppliers

MISHAP

Model for the Estimation of Individual Societal Risk from the Hazards of Pipelines

MLH

Minimum List Heading (of the Standard Industrial Classification)

MMMA

Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association

MMMF

Man-made mineral fibre

MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (USA)

MND

Motorneuron(e) disease

MNE

Multinational enterprise

MOCA

4,4' Methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline)

MOD

Ministry of Defence

MOD(AD)

Ministry of Defence (Army Dept)

MOD(AFD)

Ministry of Defence (Air Force Dept)

MOD(N)

Ministry of Defence (Naval Dept)

MOD(PE)

Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive)

MOR

Mortality Odds Ratio

MOTO

Memorandum of Terms of Occupancy

MoU

Memorandum of Understanding

MPC

Maximum Permissible Concentrations

MPC

Monetary Policy Committee

MPE

Maximum Permissible Exposure

MPO

Management and Personnel Office

MQ *

Mines and Quarries

MQB *

Mining Qualifications Board

(HM) MQI *

(HM) Mines and Quarries Inspectorate now Mines Inspectorate

Mandatory Reporting

MRA

Mutual Recognition Agreement

MRDE

Mining Research and Development Establishment (now Coal Research Establishment)

MREC

Multicentre Research Ethics Committee

MRL

Maximum Residue Limit

Manuscript

Mass spectrometry

Member State (of European Union)

MSC

Maritime Safety Commission

MSD

Musculoskeletal disorder

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheet(s)

MSER

Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations

MSF

Manufacturing Science Finance Union

MSHC

Mines Safety and Health Commission (sometimes used instead of SHCMOEI)

MSIV

Main steam isolating valve

MSLB

Main steam line break

Management Trainee

MTD

Marine Technology Directorate

MTIRA

Machine Tool Industry Research Association (now AMTRI)

Multiple Unit (train)

MVA

Market value added

MVBR

Motor vehicle body repair

MVR

Motor vehicle repair

Microwave

MWF

Metalworking fluid(s)

MWL

Miniature warning light

Middle zone

Acronym

Description

NAAFI

Navy, Army, Air Force Institute

NAC

National Agricultural Centre

NACB

National Accreditation of Certification Bodies

NADOR

Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

NAFE

Non-advanced further education

NAFLIC

National Association for Leisure Industry Certification

NAIR

National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity

NAM

National Account Managers

NAO

National Audit Office

NAPP *

Non-Agricultural Pesticides Panel

NAPS

Nationwide Association of Preserving Specialists

NARM

Naturally occurring and accelerator produced radioactive material

NASC

National Association of Scaffolding Contractors

NATLAS

National Testing Laboratory Accreditation Scheme

NATM

New Austrian Tunnelling Method

NAWDC

National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors

NCB

National Coal Board, now British Coal Corporation

NCEC

National Chemical Emergency Centre

NCF

National Contractors Federation

NCIS

National Criminal Intelligence Service

NCSIIB

National Certification Scheme for Inservice Inspection Bodies

NCVQ

National Council for Vocational Qualifications

NDLB

National Dock Labour Board

NDPB

Non Departmental Public Body

NDT

Non-destructive testing

Nuclear Electric

NEA

Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD)

NEB

Nuclear Energy Board of Ireland, Dublin

NEBOSH

National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health

NEBR

Nuclear Emergency Briefing Room

NEBROSH

National Examination Board in Risk, Occupational Safety and Health

NEC

National Executive Committee

NEC

Net Explosives Content

NEC

Network Emergency Co-ordinator

NEDB

National Exposure Data Base

NEMKO

Norges Elektriske Materiellkontroll (Norway)

NEPLG

Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group

NESC

Network for Evaluating Steel Components

NES

Not Elsewhere Specified

NFB

National Federation of Builders

NFCI

National Federation of Clay Industries

NFDC

National Federation of Demolition Contractors

NFRC

National Federation of Roofing Contractors

NGL

Natural gas liquid(s)

NGO

Non-Governmental Organisation

NHBC

National House Building Council

Nominated Inspector

Northern Ireland

NIAOA

National Insurance Agency Against Occupational Accidents (Italy)

NICE

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

NIDA

National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA)

NIEHS

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

NIG *

National Interest Group

NIGM *

National Interest Group Minute

NIH

National Institutes of Health (USA)

NIHHS

Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations

NIHL

Noise induced hearing loss

(HM) NII *

(HM) Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (operational arm of the Nuclear Safety Directorate, Health and Safety Executive)

NIMEXE

Harmonised nomenclature for foreign trade statistics of the EEC

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (USA)

NIOSHTIC

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health database, available on OSHROM

NIR

Non-ionising radiation

NIR

Northern Ireland Railway

NIREX

Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)

NJUG

National Joint Utilities Group

NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance

NNC

National Nuclear Corporation

NNI

Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut (Netherlands)

NOAEL

No Observed Adverse Effect Level

NOES

National Occupational Exposure Survey (U.S.A.)

NONS

Notification of New Substances Regulations

NPF

Nominal protection factor

NPTC

National Proficiency Tests Council

NRA

National Rivers Authority

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USA)

NRG *

National Responsibility Group now National Interest Group

NRPB

National Radiological Protection Board

NRT

National Responsibility Team

NSCC

National Specialist Contractors Council

NSD *

Nuclear Safety Directorate, Health and Safety Executive

NSF

Norges Standardiseringsforbund (Norway)

NSRMU

Nuclear Safety Research Management Unit

NSRSG

Nuclear Safety Research Steering Group

NSSF

National Standardisation Strategic Framework

NSSS

Nuclear steam supply system

NTI

New Training Initiative

NTIS

National Technical Information Service (USA)

NTP

Normal temperature and pressure

NTP

National Toxicology Program (USA)

NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board (USA)

NUI

Normally Unattended Installation

NUREG

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission publication

NUSAC

Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee

NVLAP

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (US)

NVQ

National Vocational Qualification

Acronym

Description

OAC

Operational analysis and control model

OB *

Operations Branch. OSD

Obs

Obsolete/Obsolescent

OBST

Operational Business Systems Team

Open crossing

OC *

Operational Circular

OCB

Offshore Certification Bureau

OCD

Occupational cerviobrachial disorder

OCMI

Organisation cultural maturity index

OCR

Opportunity Cost Rent

OCR 1322 Scheme

Management of health and safety and welfare for small and medium sized businesses in the construction industry

OCT

Overseas Countries and Territories

Organisation(al) Development

ODA

Olympic Delivery Authority

OECD-IGUS

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - International Group of Experts on the Explosion Risks of Unstable Substances

OEL

Occupational exposure limit

OES *

Occupational exposure standard

OfGAS

Office of Gas Supply

OFGEM

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

OFTEL

Office of Telecommunications

OFWAT

Office of Water Services

Operations Group

OGC

Office of Government Commerce

OGD

Other Government Departments

OGU

Open Government Unit

Occupational health

OHAC *

Occupational Health Advisory Committee

OHASP

Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner

OHEU *

Occupational Health and Environment Unit

OHP

Overhead projector

OHS

(Civil Service) Occupational Health Service

OHSLB

Occupational Health and Safety Lead Body

OIAC *

Oil Industry Advisory Committee

OIE

Office International des Epizooties

OILM

International Organization of Legal Metrology

OIML

International Organization of Legal Metrology

OIM

Offshore Installations Manager

OITAF

International Organization for Transportation by Rope

Official Journal (of the European Communities)

OJEC

Official Journal of the European Communities

OLC

Occupation level crossing

OLC

Open level crossing

OLE

Object linking and embedding

Operations Manager

OM *

Operational Minute

OMCS

Office of the Minister for the Civil Service

OME

Ontario Ministry of Environment

OMF *

Operations Managers Forum

OMHL *

Occupational Medicine and Hygiene Laboratory

OMT

Operations management team

OOPEC

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

Occasional Paper

Organophosphate/Organophosphorus

OPA *

Output and Performance Analysis

OPIP

Operational Process Improvement Project

OPM

Output and Performance Measures

OPO

One Person Operated

OPSD

Operational Support and Policy Division

OPSS

Office of Public Service and Science

ORR

Office of the Rail Regulator

OSC

Off-Site Centre

OSC

Operational Safety Case

OSD *

Offshore Safety Division

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)

OSHCD

Occupational Safety and Health Compact Disc

OSHIG

Occupational Safety and Health Information Group

OSHLB

Occupational Safety and Health Lead Body

OSHRC

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (USA)

OSHROM

Occupational Safety and Health (Compact Disc) Read Only Memory. Contains NIOSHTIC, CISDOC, HSELINE, MHIDAS databases

OSIRIS

Optical scattering instantaneous respirable dust indication system

OSRP Act

Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963

OSRPA

Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act

OST

Office of Science and Technology

OSU PIGI

Operational Support Unit's Procedures, Instructions, Guidance, Information

OSZHD

Organisation for the Collaboration of Railways (E. Europe)

OTAR

Overseas Tariffs and Regulations

OTSB

Offshore Safety and Technology Board

OTSU

Open Tech Support Unit

Operations Unit

OVC

Occupational Violent Crime

Outer Zone

Acronym

Description

P & I

Piping and Instrumentation (diagram)

P & T

Professional and Technology Category

Pascal (S.I. unit of pressure)

Planning authority

Put away (on registered files)

PABIAC *

Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee

PACA

Preventing Accidents to Children in Agriculture

PADHI

Planning Advice for Developments near Hazardous Installations

PAG *

Programme Action Group (of Securing Health Together)

PAH

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PAIT

Post-Acceptance Inspection Topic

PANs

Personnel Advice Notes

PASC

Pacific Area Standards Congress

PAT

Proficiency Analytical Testing

PATRAM

Packaging and Transport of Radioactive Materials

PBB

Polybrominated biphenyl

PBN

Permanent Background Notices

PBZ

Personal breathing zone

Personal computer

P(C)A

Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928

PCA

Public Contractors Association

PCAH

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PCAW

Public Concern at Work

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyl

PCBP's

Polychlorinated biphenylenes

PCIAOH

Permanent Commission and International Association on Occupational Health

PCM

Phase contrast microscopy

PCM

Plutonium contaminated material

PCS

Public and Commercial Services Union

PCSPS

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme

PCSR

Pre-construction safety report

Pct

Polychlorinated Triphenyls

Promotion dossier

PDO

Personal Development Objectives

PDS

Professional Development Scheme

Photo-electric

PEC

Packaging of Explosives for Carriage Regulations

PEFD *

Planning Efficiency and Finance Division

PEGS

Pesticide Exposure Group of Sufferers

PEL

Permissible Exposure Limit (U.S. Dept. of Labour)

PER

Professional and Executive Recruitment

PERU

Pay and Employee Relations Unit

PES

Programmable electronic systems

PES

Public expenditure survey

Personal file

Procurator Fiscal

PFA

Pulverised fuel ash

PFD

Primary flash distillate

PFEER

Prevention of Fire Explosion and Emergency Response Regulations

PFP

Process fire precautions

PGI

Protected geographical indication

PGR

Road Transport (Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Packages etc) Regulations

Property holdings

Public Health

PHELA

Pesticides HSE/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee

PHO

Public Health Officer

PHIPCO

Public Health and Industrial Pesticides Council

PHSA

Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990

PI *

Principal Inspector

PIA

Professional Investment Authority

PIAC *

Printing Industry Advisory Committee

PIACT

International Programme for the Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (ILO)

PIAP

Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel

PICOP

Person in Charge of Possession (trains)

PICOW

Person in Charge of Works (Railways)

PID

Project iInitiation document

PIHS

Preliminary industrial hygiene survey

PII

Professional indemnity insurance

PILON

Payments in lieu of notice

Publication Information Notice

PIO

Principal Inspecting Officers (of Railways)

PIPI

Pipelines Inspectorate

PIRER

Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations

PISC

Programme for the Inspection of Steel Components

PIZ

Public Information Zone

PLACO

Planning Committee (ISO)

PLC

Public Level Crossing

PLC

Programmable logic circuits

PLC

Programmable logic controller

PLTB

Programmed learning text book

Permanent Manuals

PMA

Paintmakers Association (of Great Britain)

PMDA

Plastics Machinery Distributors' Association

PMF

Progressive massive fibrosis

PMR

Proportional mortality ratios

PMS

Paint mixing system(s)

Prohibition notice

Private Office

POCO

Post Operational Cleanout (Nuclear)

POHL

Principal Officer Health Liaison

POMSTER

Placing on the Market and Supervision of Transfers of Explosives Regulations

POOSH

Professional Organisations in Occupational Health and Safety

POPMAR

Policy, organising, planning and implementing, measuring, auditing and reviewing

POPUMET

Protection of Persons undergoing Medical Examinations or Treatment

PORV

Power-operated relief valve

POSH

Policies for Strategy on Health

POSR

Pre-operation Safety Review

PoW

Plan of Work

PP Regs

Power Presses Regulations

PPE

Personal protective equipment

PPEB

Policy Projects and Environment Branch, part of Policy Unit

PPHSLC

Plastics Processing Health and Safety Liaison Committee

ppm

Parts per million

PPM

Process and production method

PPMA

Petrol Pump Manufacturers Association

PPTO

Principal Professional and Technology Officer

Parliamentary Question

PR & D

Public Research and Development

PRA

Paint Research Association

PRA

Probabilistic risk analysis

PRA

Probabilistic risk assessment

PRAM

Pipeline risk assessment method

prEN

project EN

PRI

Plastics and Rubber Institute

PRINCE

Projects Via Controlled Environment

PRISM

Personnel Record Information Systems for Management

PRS *

Pesticides Registration Section

PRS

Property Repayment Scheme

PRU

Pay Research Unit

PRV

Pressure relief valve

Personal Secretary

PSA

Probabilistic safety analysis

PSA

Public Service Agreements

PSAR

Preliminary safety analsysis report

PSB

Professional Staffs Branch

PSC

Port State Control

PSDU *

Personnel Services Delivery Unit

PSGB

Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Psaf

Particle size distribution function

psi

Pounds per square inch

PSI

Principal Specialist Inspector

PSO

Principal Scientific Officer

PSO

Professional Standards Office

PSR

Pipelines Safety Regulations

PSPS

Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme

PSSR

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations

PST

Professional, Scientific and Technical

PSV

Planned Special Visit

PTB

Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt

PTF

Petroleum Training Federation

PTFE

Polytetrafluoroethylene

PTO

Professional and Technology Officer

PTOM

Pays et territoires d'outre-mer

PTW

Permit to work

PU *

Planning Unit, part of Resources and Planning Directorate

Policy Unit

Polyurethane

Public utility

PUF

Polyurethane foam

PURPOSES

Purchase Management System

PUSU *

Policy Unit Support unit

PUWER

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride

PWP

Personal Work Plan

PWR

Pressurised water reactor

PWTAG

Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group

Acronym

Description

Quality assurance

QAC

Quality Assurance Committee

QBD

Queen's Bench Division

Quality control

QMS

Quality management systems

QNFT

Quantitative fit testing

QNIG

Quarries National Interest Group

QPB

Quarterly Programme Board

QRA

Quantified risk assessment

QRG

Quarterly Return Group

QSEs

Qualified scientists and engineers

quod vide (which see)

Acronym

Description

Risk phrases (ie R40, R42) as defined by the Approved List of the CHIP Regulations

R2P2

Reducing Risks Protecting People

R & D

Research and Development

RAB

Resource Accounting and Budgeting

RAC

Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (USA)

RALG

Risk Assessment Liaison Group

RALUCO

Radioactive luminous compound

RAMG

Regulatory Assistance Management Group

RAMRail

The Packaging, Labelling and Carriage of Radioactive Material by Rail Regulations 1996

RAMRoad

The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Great Britain) Regulations 1996

RAPU *

Risk Assessment Policy Unit

RAS

Recruitment and Assessment Services (Civil Service)

RAS

Remote access service

RASH

Rapid screening of hazard

RASP *

Replacement Accounting System Project (New Accounting Computer System)

RATs

Remote access terminals

RAWS

Regional Administrative Works Study

RCD

Residual current device

RCEP

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

RCH

Railway Clearing House

RCO

Regulatory compliance officer

RCP

Reactor coolant pump

RCS

Reactor coolant system

RCS

Royal Society of Chemistry

Regional Director

RDMA

Regulatory decision making audit

RDP

Registered disabled person

REACH

Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals

REAT

Real ear attenuation at threshold

REC

Research Ethics Committee

REGS

Regulations

REHIS

Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland

REL

Recommended exposure limit

REM

Roentgen Equivalent-Man

REM

Rapid eye movement

REMA

Regional Employment Medical Adviser

REMCO

Committee on Reference Materials (ISO)

REPAC

Regional Protection Advisory Committee

REPPIR

Radiation (Emergency) Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations

RESHORB

Racial Equality, Health and Safety and Overseas Recruitment Branch (in ED) now Health and Safety Policy Liaison

Radio frequency

RFAC

Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee

RFD

Rail freight distribution

RFDC

Regional Flood Defence Committee

RFMS

Radio frequency magnetron sputtering

RHRS

Residual heat removal system

RHS *

Revitalising Health and Safety

RI *

Railway Inspectorate

RIA

Regulatory Impact Assessment

RIAC *

Railway Industry Advisory Committee

RIAS

Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

RIBA

Royal Institute of British Architects

RICE

Regular interlaboratory counting exchange

RICS

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

RID

Reglements Internationales Relatif au Transport des Marchandises Dangereuses par Chemin de Fer

RIDDOR

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

RIIS

Research Institute of Industrial Safety (Japan)

RIMNET

Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network

RIP

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

RIPA

Royal Institute of Public Administration

RIS

Resource Information System

RISKAT

Risk Assessment Tool

RLO

Research Liaison Officer

RLSD *

Research and Laboratory Services Division [see HSL]

RMTD

Radioactive Materials Transport Division of the Department of Transport

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

RNE

Reseau National D'Essais. (France)

RNES

Royal Naval Engineering Service

RNIP

Regulatory Nuclear Interface Protocol

RNSS

Royal Naval Scientific Service

Regional Office

ROAMEF

Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation and Feedback

ROGWU

Russian Oil, Gas and Construction Workers Union

ROIT

Regional Office of Industrial Tribunals

ROPS

Roll-over protection system

RoR

Review of Regulation

RoRo

Roll-on Roll-off vehicle ferry

ROSV

Remote operated solenoid valve

RPA

Radiation Protection Adviser

RPD *

Resources and Planning Directorate

RPD (FAS) *

Resources and Planning Division (Financial and Accounting Section)

RPE

Respiratory protective equipment

RPS

Reactor protection system

RPS *

Research Planning Section (of HSL)

RPSGB

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

RPV

Reactor pressure vessel

RSA60

Radioactive Substances Act 1960

RSC

Royal Society of Chemistry

RSH

Royal Society for the Promotion of Health

RSI

Repetitive strain injury

RSLs

Registered Social Landlords

RSM *

Regional Support Manager

RSPA

Research and Special Programs Administration (USA)

RSP

Relevant statutory provision

RSP

Registered safety practitioner

RSSG

Royal Society Study Group

RSU *

Research Strategy Unit

RTA

Road traffic accident

RTD

Research Technology and Development Projects

RTR

Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations

RUBIAC *

Rubber Industry Advisory Committee

RUBSSO

Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives

RWA

Regional Water Authority

RWMAC

Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

Acronym

Description

Section

S & C

Switches and crossings

S & T

Signal and telecommunications

S and LP

Safety and loss prevention

SABE

Strategic Advisory Body on Environment

SAC

Subject Advisory Committee

SACA

Systemic accident cause analysis

SAI

Safety appliance illustration

SAM

Senior Admin Manager

SAP

Safety assessment principles

SAP

Safety assurance principles

SAP

Social Action Programme

SARA

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (U.S.A.)

SASD

Strategy and Analytical Support Directorate

SBS

Sick building syndrome

SBTAF

Small Business Trade Association Forum

Safety case

Skillcentre

SCANS *

Selective Current Awareness Newsheets produced by HSE Information Services on a variety of topics

SCASUG

Safety Case Assessment System Users Group

SCBA

Self contained breathing apparatus

SCC

Safety Case Co-ordinator

SCC *

Situations Co-ordination Centre

SCC

Standards Council of Canada

SCDO

Safety Case Distribution Officer

SCE

Safety critical element

SCE

Sister chromatid exchanges

SCHAM

Safety Case Handling and Assessment Manual

SCHELA

Standards of Compliance sub-committee of HELA

SChIF *

Senior Chemical Inspector of Factories

SCISAS

Size classifying isokinetic sequential aerosol sampler

SCLE

Scottish Construction Licensing Executive

SCMST

Safety Case Management Support Team

SCOPE

Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (ICSU)

SCOS

Scottish Chamber of Safety

SCOSS

Standing Committee on Structural Safety

SCR

Safety Case Regulations

SCS

Safety Case (IT) Systems

SCS

Society of Civil Servants

SCSR

Self-contained self-rescuer (Mining)

SCU

Survey Control Unit (of the Central Statistical Office)

SDA

Service Delivery Agreement

SDD

Scottish Development Department

SDI *

Selective dissemination of information

SDIA

Soap and Detergent Industries Association

SDR

Special Drawing Rights

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

SECG

Specialist Engineering Contractors Group

SEI

Safety Environment Institute (U.S.A.)

SEL *

Safety Engineering Laboratory, now part of HSL

SELECT

Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland

SELV

Safety extra low voltage

SEM

Scanning electron microscopy

SEMA *

Senior Employment Medical Adviser

SEMKO

Svenska Electriska Materielkontrollanstalten (Sweden)

SENA *

Senior Employment Nursing Adviser

SEO

Senior Executive Officer

SEO

Special Exemption Order

SEPA

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

SEPD

Scottish Economic Planning Department

SERDS

Single ended ranging drum shearer

SES *

Safety and Enforcement Statistics

SET

Science Engineering and Technology

SEV

Schweizerischen Elektrotechnischen Vereins (Switzerland)

Subject File

SFA

Securities and Futures Authority

SFAIRP

So far as is reasonably practicable

SFS

Finnish Standards Association

SFS

Suomen Standardsoimisliitto (Finland)

Specialist Group

SGD *

Strategy and General Division now Policy Unit

SGGB

Showmen's Guild of Great Britain

SGHWR

Steam generating heavy water reactor

SGMSEC

Scientific Group on methodologies for the safety evaluation of chemicals (WHO/ICSU)

SH2 *

Securing Health Together

SHAD

Safety Health and Awareness Day

SHCMOEI

Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries

SHEG

Scottish Health Education Group

SHELA

Statistics sub-committee of HELA

SHIELD *

Safety and Health Information - Establishment Linked Data

SI *

Specialist inspector

Statutory Instrument

Systeme Internationale

SIB

Safety Information Bulletin (DH)

SIB

Securities and Investment Board (succeeded by FSA)

SIC

Standard Industrial Classification

SIC

Statement of Internal Control

SID

Specialised Industries Division

SIESO

Society of Industrial Emergency Services Officers

SIL

Safety integrity level

SIMVIDOSE

Simultaneous Video Dose

SIN

Substance Identification Number

SIP

Site Inspection Programme

SIPI

Scottish Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (see also HMIPIS)

SIR *

Specialist Inspection Report

SIRP

Society of Independent Roundabout Proprietors

SIS

Standarisering Kommissionen i Sverige (Sweden)

SIT

Spontaneous ignition temperature

SITC

Standard International Trade Classification

SITC(R)

Standard international trade classification (revised)

SIT(R2)

Standard international trade classification (2nd revision)

SITTS

Small Inventory Top Tier Site(s)

SIU *

Strategy and Information Unit

SLA

Service level agreement

SLIC

Senior Labour Inspectors Committee

SLIM

Simpler Legislation for Internal Markets

SLM

Short Life Memorandum

SLOD

Significant likelihood of death

SLOT

Specified level of toxicity

SM *

Sector Manager

SMART

Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound

SMDP

Senior Management Development Programme

SME

Small and medium-sized enterprises

SMIL

Statistics and market intelligence library (DTI)

SMP *

Safety Management Prospectus

SMR *

Senior Management Review

SMR

Standardised morbidity ratio

SMR

Standardised mortality ratio

SMR

Stress MSD and Return 2 Work

SMRAB *

Safety in Mines Research Advisory Board

SMRE *

Safety in Mines Research Establishment

SMS

Safety Management System

SMSR

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations

SMSU *

Senior Management Support Unit

SNHL

Sensory neural hearing loss

SNUPPS

Standardised nuclear unit power plant system

SNV

Association Suisse de Normalisation (Switzerland)

Scientific Officer

SO *

Solicitor's Office

SOC

Standing Orders Committee

SOEC

Statistical Office of the European Communities

SOER

Scottish Office Emergency Room

SOFA

Statement of Financial Activities (needed by Charities)

SOFHT

Society of Food Hygiene Technology

SOL *

Solicitor's Office

SOLAS

Safety of Life at Sea

SOPs

Standard Operating Procedures

SORP

Statement of Recommended Practice

SOUP

Software of uncertain pedigree

SPAD *

Signal passed at danger

SPAID

Society for the Prevention of Asbestosis and Industrial Diseases

SPATS

Senior Professional Administrative Training Scheme

SPC

Semi-Permanent Circulars

SPD *

Safety Policy Directorate

SPF

Science Policy Foundation

SPGU *

Strategy Policy and Guidance Unit

SQL

Structured query language

SRA

Strategic Rail Authority

SRD

Safety and Reliability Directorate (AEA Technology)

SRO

Statutory Regulation Order

SRSC

Safety Representatives and Safety Committees

SRI

Safety Related Instrumentation

SRP

Society for Radiological Protection

ss.

Sections

Staff Side

SSAP

Statement of Standard Accounting Practice

SSB *

Statistical Services Branch now Operations Unit

SSC

Scientific sub-committee (of ACP)

SSE

Safe Shutdown Earthquake

SSERC

Scottish Schools Science Equipment Research Centre

SSG

Scientific Staffs Group

SSI

Solid state interlocking

SSI *

Superintending Specialist Inspector

SSMSU

Strategy and Senior Management Services Unit

SSO

Senior Scientific Officer

STA

Skills Training Agency (Employment Department)

STABEX

Export earnings stabilisation scheme

STACO

Standing Committee for the Study of Principles of Standardization (ISO)

STAJ

Science and Technology Agency (Japan)

STATAS

Structured Audit Techniques for Assessment of Safety Management

STC

Scientific and Technical Committee (EC)

STEL

Short term exposure limit

STEP

Science and Technology for Employment Protection

StEP

Strategic enabling programmes

STP

Scientific and Technological Programme (EC)

STRC

Scientific and Technical Research Committee (EC)

STS

Soft tissue sarcoma

SVHC

Substances of very high concern

SWEF

Swedish Work Environment Fund (Sweden)

SWIFT

Structured What-If Technique

SWL

Safe working load

SWO

Staff Welfare Officer

SWORD

Surveillance of Work Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease

SWP

Safe working pressure

SYSPU

Systems Planning and Strategy Unit, part of Railway Inspectorate

Acronym

Description

tonne(s)

Toxic

Training Agency

Technical Adviser

Topic Assessor

TACADE

Teachers Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Drug Education

TAG

Technical Advisory Group

TAM

Topic Assessment Manager

TAR

Topic Assessment Record

TBT Agreement

Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

Tar Creosote

Track Circuit

TCDD

Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin

TCLo

Toxic Concentration Low

TCPA

Town and Country Planning Act 1971

TCPSA

Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972

TCSU

Technical Computing Services Unit

TDGSA

Transport of Dangerous Goods (Safety Advisers) Regulations

TDI

Toluene diisocyanate

TDLo

Toxic dose low

TDN

Technical Data Note now replaced by HSE Guidance Notes

TDU

Toxic dose unit

TEAM *

Technically evaluated advisory materials

TEAP

Transportation Emergency Assistance Plan (Canada)

TEC

Training and Enterprise Council (Training Agency)

TELARC

Testing Laboratory Registration Council of New Zealand

TEM

Transmission electron microscopy

TEXIAC *

Textiles Industry Advisory Committee

TFPI

Tripartite Forum on Health and Safety in the Pharmaceutical Industry

TGA

Thermogravimetric analysis

TGIC

Triglycidyl Isocyanurate

THELA

Training sub-committee of HELA

TGWU

Transport and General Workers Union

THORP

Thermal oxide reprocessing plant

THSD *

Technology and Health Services Division, now Directorate of Science and Technology

TIG

Tungsten Inert Gas

TIL *

Technical Information Leaflet

TIR

Transport International Routier

TLI *

Training Liaison Inspector

TLO *

Training Liaison Officer

TLV

Threshold limit value

Testing memorandum

TM *

Training Manager

TM *

Typing Manager

TMA

Trimellitic Anhydride

TML

Trans Manche Link

TMSG *

Technical, Medical and Science Group

TNO

Organisatie voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek

TNPG

The Nuclear Power Group

TOC

Train Operating Company

TOFD

Time-of-Flight-Diffraction (ultrasonic inspection)

TOPS

Total Operations Processing System - British Rail

TOR

Tolerability of Risk

TORCH

Transferring Ownership Responsibility and Commitment for Hazard Control

Temporary Promotion

TPC

Technical Progress Committee (EC)

TPED

Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive

TPR

Transportable Pressure Receptacles

Total Quality

TRC

Technology Reports Centre

TRC

Textile Research Council

TRC

The Radiochemical Centre Ltd.

TRNS *

Technical rules, new series (issued by EECS)

TSB

Technical Staffs Branch

TSCA

Toxic Substances Control Act (USA)

TSI

Technical Specifications for Interoperability

TSWG

Track Safety Working Group

TTO

Telecommunications Technical Officers

TU *

Technology Unit. OSD

Trade Union

TUC

Trades Union Congress

THORP

Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant

TUS

Trade Union Side

TUTB

European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (Belgium)

TVI

Tutored Video Instruction

Thames Water

TWA

Time-Weighted Average

TWI

Training Within Industry

Acronym

Description

Unit of Account

UBA

Umweltbundesamt (Germany)

UCATT

Union of Construction Allied Trade Technicians

UCO

Use Classes Order

UCSIP

Union des Chambres de l'Industrie du Petrole

UDC

Universal Decimal Classification

UDRP

Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy

UDS

Unscheduled DNA synthesis

UEL

Upper explosive limit

UEL

Upper exposure limit

UFL

Upper flammability limit

UHS

Ultimate heat sink

UILI

Union of International Independent Laboratories

UKAEA

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

UKAS

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

UKCS

United Kingdom Continental Shelf

UKHIS

United Kingdom Hazard Information System

UKIBEC

United Kingdom Insurance Brokers' European Committee

UKMIS

United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations

UKOOA

United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association

UKPIA

United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association

UKREP

United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the EC

Underwriters Laboratories (USA)

ULV

Ultra Low Volume

UNCETDG

United Nationals Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

UNCLOS

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea

UNCSTD

United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development

UNECE

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme

UNI

Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (Italy)

UNICE

Union des Industries de la Communaute Europeenne

UNIDO

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

UNIG

Utilities National Interest Group

UNM

Union de Normalisation de la Mecanique (France)

UNSCEAR

United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

URENCO

Dutch/German/UK organisation for uranium enrichment

USA

Universities Safety Association

USAS

United States of America Standards Institute

USNRC

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

UTE

Union Technique de l'Electricite (France)

Ultra Violet

UVCE

Unconfined vapour cloud explosion

UVV

Unfallverhutungsvorschrift (Germany)

UWC

User Worked Crossing

UWED

Use of Work Equipment Directive (EC)

Acronym

Description

V/A

Visual Aid

VCE

Vapour Cloud Explosion

VCM

Vinyl Chloride Monomer

VCW

Voluntary Cessation of Work

VDT

Visual Display Terminal

VDU

Visual Display Unit

VFM

Value for Money

VHF

Viral haemorrhagic Fever

VLCC

Very Large Crude Carrier

VMD

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

VNMS

Variable wall mining system

VOC

Volatile Organic Compounds

VPC

Veterinary Products Committee

VPN

Virtual private network

VSC

Voluntary Safety Cases

VWF

Vibration white finger

Acronym

Description

Water Authority

WAG

Welsh Assembly Government

WASP *

Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency

WATCH *

Working Group for the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals (ACTS)

Wet bulb

WBGT

Wet bulb globe temperature

WBV

Whole body vibration

WCDP

Widows', Children's and Dependents' Pension

WCL

World Confederation of Labour (Christian Democrat)

WCM

Weekly Circular Minute

WCO

Workplace Contact Officer

Work Experience

WEC

Work of Engineering Construction

WEG

Working Exposure Guidelines

Working group

WGIR

Working Group on Ionising Radiations

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

WHO

World Health Organization

WIAS

West Indies Associated States

WING

Work Injured Nurses Group

WINTECH

Welsh Innovation and Technology

WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organisation

WISH

Waste Industry Safety and Health (Forum)

WLM

Working Levels per Month

WMIA

Woodworking Machinery Importers' Association

WML

Wireless markup language

Welsh Office

Word Process(-ing/-or)

Working Party

WP.6

UN/ECE Working Party on Harmonization and Standardization Policies

WP.29

UN/ECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations

WPA

White Paper Account

WRA

Waste Regulation Authority

WRRS

Work-Related Road Safety

WRULD

Work related upper limb disorders

WSA

Workers' Safety Adviser

WSC *

Warhead Safety Committee

WSF

Wrong Side Failure (Railways)

WSL

Warren Spring Laboratory

WSO

World Safety Organisation (USA)

WTO

World Trade Organization

w/w

Weight for weight

WWM Regs

The Woodworking Machines Regulations

WWREA

Wire and Wire Rope Employers Association

WWT

Working Well Together

Acronym

Description

XBRL

Extensible Business Reporting Language

Irritant

XML

Extensible markup language

Harmful

XPS

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

XRD

X-ray diffraction

XRF

X-ray fluorescence

Acronym

Description

Young Person

YTS

Youth Training Scheme

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