AA - Atomic Absorption (Absorption of electromagnetic radiation at discrete wavelengths by atoms)

AADAC - Alberta Alcohol and Drug Addictions Commission

AAIH - American Academy of Industrial Hygiene

AAOHN - American Association of Occupational Health Nurses

AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

ABIH - American Board of Industrial Hygiene

ABSA - Alberta Boilers Safety Association

ABSA - American Biological Safety Association

ACE - Association of Canadian Ergonomists

ACEOM - American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ACIIST - Association canadienne des infirmières et infirmiers en santé du travail

ACMTE - Association canadienne de la médecine du travail et de l'environnement

ACS - American Chemical Society

ACSA - Alberta Construction Safety Association

AED - Automated External Defibrillator

AEP - Associate Ergonomics Professional (US)

AEUSP - Association of Electrical Utilities Safety Professionals

AHFP - Associate Human Factors Professional (US)

AHP - American Academy of Health Physics

AHRE - Alberta Human Resources and Employment

AIChE - American Institute of Chemical Engineers

AIHA - American Industrial Hygiene Association

AIHce - American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.

AIISTQ - Association des infirmières et infirmiers en santé du travail du Québec

ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable

ALRB - Alberta Labour Relations Board

AMTQ - L'association des médecins du travail du Québec.

ANSI - American National Standards Institute

AOHC - American Occupational Health Conference

AOHNA - Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association

APSAM - l'Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail, secteur affaires municipales

APSM - Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur minier

APSSAP - Association Paritaire pour la Santé et la sécurité du travail, Secteur Administration Provinciale

AQHSST - l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail (Quebec)

ASFETM - Association sectorielle Fabrication d'équipement de transport et de machine

ASHCAT - Association of Safety & Health Consultants and Trainers Inc.

ASHI - American Safety & Health Institute

ASHRAE - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASP - Association sectorielles paritaires

ASPME - Association sectorielle paritaire du secteur de la fabrication de produits en métal et de produits électrique

ASSE - American Society of Safety Engineers

ASSIFQ - Association de santé et sécurité des industries de la forêt du Québec inc

ASSPPQ - Association de santé et sécurité des pâtes et papiers du Québec inc

ASSTSAS - Association pour la santé et la sécurité du travail secteur affaires sociales (Quebec)

ASTE - Association sectorielle paritaire Transport et entreposage

ASTE - Association Sectorielle Transport Entreposage

ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry an agency of the Public Health Service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

AVC - Assurance of Voluntary Compliance

AWCBC - Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada

AWHC - Alberta Workers' Health Centre

AWHS - Alberta Workplace Health and Safety

BCACS - BC Association for Crane Safety

BCFSC - British Columbia Forest Safety Council

BCMSA - British Columbia Municipal Safety Association

BCPE - Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (US)

BCRSP - Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals

BCSA - British Columbia Safety Authority

BCSC - British Columbia Safety Council

BEI - Biological exposure index

BLS - Bureau of Labor Statistics (USA)

BNQ - Bureau de normalisation du Québec

BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society (UK)

BPT - Best Practicable Control Technology

BS - British standard

BSC - Biological Safety Cabinet

BSC - British Safety Council

BCSP - Board of Certified Safety Professionals (USA)

BSI - British Standards Institute

BTU - British Thermal Unit, a tradition unit of measure for heat

CAA - Clean Air Act, US legislation regarding air pollution

CAALL-OSH - Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation - Occupational Safety and Health Sub-Committee

CAFC - Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

CAIR - Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule (under TSCA) (USA)

CAISP - Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program

CAMH - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Ontario)

CANUTEC - Canadian Transport Emergency Centre

CAP - College of American Pathologists

CARSP - Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals

CARWH - Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health

CAS - Chemical Abstracts Service (USA)

CASA - Canadian Agricultural Safety Association

CBOM - Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine

CCOH - Canadian Council of Occupational Hygiene

CCOHS - Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

CCPA - Canadian Chemical Producers Association

CCPS - Center for Chemical Process Safety (USA)

CCSA - Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)

CESARS - Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval System

CEC - Canadian Electrical Code

CEEL - Community Emergency Exposure Level

CEPA - Canadian Environmental Protection Act

CEPP - Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program

CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund (USA)

CESQG - Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator

CET - Certified Environmental Trainer, a credential issued by the National Environmental training Association

CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons

CFIA - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

CFIB - Canadian Federation of Independent Business

CFM - Cubic feet per minute, a unit of measure of air flow which is used in evaluating ventilation systems

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations (USA)

CGA - Compressed Gas Association (USA)

CGSB - Canadian General Standards Board

CHEMTREC - Chemical Transportation Emergency Center - provides hazard information warnings and guidance in emergency (and ONLY emergency) situations.

CHFP - Certified Human Factors Professional (US)

CHMM - Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (USA)

CHN - Canadian Health Network

CHO - Chemical Hygiene Officer

CHP - Chemical Hygiene Plan Required by OSHA (USA)

CHP - Certified Health Physicist

CHRIS - Chemical Hazards Response Information System

CHSC - Certified Health and Safety Consultant

CHSEP - Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Processes

CHSI - Centre for Health and Safety Innovation (Quebec)

CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician (USA)

CIH - Certified Industrial Hygienist

CIHI - Canadian Institute for Health Information

CIIT - Chemical Industry Institute of Technology

CINBIOSE - Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la biologie, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Quebec)

CIRTOX - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en toxicologie (Quebec)

CIS - International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre

CIWA - Canadian Injured Workers Alliance

CLC - Canada Labour Code

CLMI - Comprehensive Loss Management Inc. (USA)

CLSC - Centré local de services communautaires (Quebec)

CMOH - Chief Medical Officer of Health (Ontario)

CNSC - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

CO - Carbon monoxide

COAA - Construction Owners Association of Alberta

COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand - oxygen demand if a water sample is chemically oxidized.

COHN(C) - Certified Occupational Health Nurse (Canada)

COHNA - Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association

COHSC - Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Consortium

COR - Certificate of Recognition

COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (UK)

CPE - Certified Professional Ergonomist (US)

CPR - Controlled Products Regulations (Canada)

CPSC - Consumer Products Safety Commission (USA)

CPSC - Canadian Petroleum Safety Council

CPSSTQ - Centre patronal de santé et sécurité du travail du Québec

CPWR - Center to Protect Workers' Rights (USA)

CRBOH - Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists

CREFOPI - Disability Prevention Research and Training Centre (Quebec)

CRPA - Canadian Radiation Protection Association

CRSP - Canadian Registered Safety Professional

CRT - Commission des relations du travail (Quebec)

CSA - Canadian Standards Association

CSA - Campus Safety Association (North America)

CSABC - Construction Safety Association of British Columbia

CSAM - Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

CSAO - Construction Safety Association of Ontario

CSASI - Canadian Society of Air Safety Investigators

CSB - Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (USA)

CSC - Canada Safety Council

CSHM - Certified Safety and Health Managers (USA)

CSO - Construction Safety Officer

CSP - Certified Safety Professional

CSS - Comités du santé et sécurité (Quebec)

CSS - Certified Safety Specialist

CSSE - Canadian Society of Safety Engineering

CSST - Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (Quebec)

CTD - Cumulative Trauma Disorder

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CWA - Clean Water Act (USA)

dB - Decibels (unit to measure sound intensity of noise)

DCL - Director of Chemistry Laboratories

DEP - Diethyl phthalate

DFM - Dust, fume, and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts, fumes or mists, and is used in the NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification

DHHS - Department of Health and Human Services, (USA)

DHMM - Director of Hazardous Materials Management

DIERS - Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems - a consortium of companies under the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

DIPPR - Design Institute of Physical Property Data - a consortium of companies under the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

DM - Dust and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts and mists, and is used in the NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification

DOHS - Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

DOL - Department of Labor (USA)

DOP - Dioctyl phthalate

DOT - Department of Transportation (USA)

DSL - Domestic Substances List

EAC - Employers' Advocacy Council (Ontario)

EAP - Employee Assistance Program

EC - Commission of the European Union

ECETOC - European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals

EHCs - Environmental Health Criteria Monographs

EHS - Environment, Health and Safety; or Environmental Health and Safety

EOC - Emergency Operations Centre

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (USA)

EPCRA - Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act Title III of SARA, [a US law]

ERG - Emergency Response Guide - used in the US Department of Transportation requirements.

ERP - Emergency Response Plan

ERPG - Emergency Response Planning Guideline

ESAO - Education Safety Association of Ontario

EU - European Union

EUROTOX - Association of European Toxicologist and Societies of Toxicology

EUSA - Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (Ontario)

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FARSHA - Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association (BC)

FDA - Food and Drug Administration (USA)

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency (USA)

FISA - Forestry Industry Safety Association

FM - Factory Mutual

FMEA - Failure Mode and Effect Analysis

FMECA - Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis

FPAPA - Forest Products Accident Prevention Association (previous name for OFSWA)

FSA or FSAI - Farm Safety Association Inc. (Ontario)

FTA - Fault Tree Analysis

FWCS - Federal Workers' Compensation Service

GHS - Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

GC - Gas Chromatography

GRASP - Group de recherche sur les aspects sociaux de la santé et de la prévention (Quebec)

HAZMAT - Hazardous Material

HAZOP - Hazard and Operability (Study), a structured means of evaluating a complex process to find problems associated with operability or safety of the process

HAZWOPER - Hazardous Waster Operations and Emergency Response, a term derived from US EPA regulations

HCS - Hazard Communication Standard Policy (USA).

HCSA - Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta

HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (At least 99.97% efficient in the filtration of air borne particles 0.3 microns in diameter or greater)

HFES - Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (USA)

HMIRC - Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission

HMTA - Hazardous Materials Transportation Act

HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography

HRSDC - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank

HSE - Health and Safety Executive (UK)

HSO - Health & Safety Officer

HSPP - Health and Safety Partnership Program (USA)

HVAC - Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

IAPA - Industrial Accident Prevention Association of Ontario

IAQ - Indoor air quality

IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer

IAVGO - Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario

ICOH - International Commission on Occupational Health

ICSC - International Chemical Safety Cards

IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health

IH - Industrial Hygiene or Hygienist

IHIT - Industrial Hygienist in Training

ILO - International Labor Organization

INRS - National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Disease (France)

IOHA - International Occupational Hygiene Association

IOHS - International Occupational Hygiene Society

IOM - Institute for Occupational Medicine (UK)

IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a UK based professional association.

IPCS - International Programme on Chemical Safety

IRP - Industry Recommended Practices

IRS - Internal responsibility system

IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (Quebec)

ISEA - International Safety Equipment Association

ISHM - Insitiute for Health and Safety Management (USA)

ISO - International Organization for Standardization

ISR - Injury Severity Rate

ISSA - International Social Security Association

IWAM - Injured Workers' Association of Manitoba

IWH - Institute for Work & Health (Ontario)

JHA - Job Hazard Analysis

JHSC - Joint Health and Safety Committee

JOHSC - Joint occupational health and safety committee

JSA - Job safety Analysis

LATMP - La Loi sur les accidents du travail et les maladies professionnelles (Quebec)

LC50 or LC50 - Lethal Concentration (The concentration in air which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs)

LD50 or LD50 - Lethal Dose (The experimental dose which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs.)

LEL - Lower Explosive Limit

LICC - Labour Issues Coordinating Committee (Ontario)

LOAEL - Lowest -observed-adverse-effect level

LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LSO - Laser Safety Officer

LSST - Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (Quebec)

LTD - Long-term disability

MAPAM - Mines Accident Prevention Association of Manitoba

MAPAO - Mines Accident Prevention Association of Ontario

MASHA - Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (Ontario)

MHSA - Municipal Health and Safety Association (Ontario)

MHSA - Manufacturers' Health & Safety Association (Alberta)

MOE - Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)

MOL - Ministry of Labour (Ontario)

MSC - Manitoba Safety Council

MSD - Musculoskeletal Disorders

MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet

MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration (USA)

MSI - Musculoskeletal Injuries

NAALC - North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation

NAOSH - Week North American Occupational Safety and Health Week

NBSC - New Brunswick Safety Council

NCEOE - National Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures

NDSL - Non-Domestic Substances List

NEER - New Experimental Experience Rating Program (ON)

NFC - National Fire Code

NFPA - National Fire Protection Association (USA)

NIDMAR - National Institute of Disability Management and Research

NIH - National Institutes of Health (USA)

NIHL - Noise Induced Hearing Loss

NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (USA)

NJC - National Joint Council

NLCSA - Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association

NLSC - Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council

NOAEL - No-observed-adverse-effect level

NORA - National Occupational Research Agenda (USA)

NSC - National Safety Council (USA)

NSCSA - Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association

NSEL - Nova Scotia Environment and Labour

NTP - National Toxicology Program (USA)

NWISP - National Work Injury Statistics Program

OA - Occupational Asthma

OAFC - Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

OEA - Office of the Employer Adviser (Ontario) (and in general)

OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OEHF - Occupational & Environmental Health Foundation (USA)

OEL - Occupational exposure limit

OEMAC - Occupational & Environmental Medical Association of Canada

OFAAA - Occupational First Aid Attendants Association of British Columbia

OFIPA - Ontario Industrial Fire Protection Association

OFSWA - Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association

OH - Occupational Hygiene or Hygienist

OHAO - Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario

OHCOW - Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers

OHRC - Ontario Human Rights Commission

OHS - Occupational health and safety

OHST - Occupational Health and Safety Technologist

OHSAH - Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia

OHSMS - Occupational Health and Safety Management System

OIFPA - Ontario Industrial Fire Protection Association

ONRSA - Ontario Natural Resources Safety Association (defunct)

OOHNA - Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association

OPPMSA - Ontario Pulp and Paper Makers Safety Association

OSACH - Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare Formerly the Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario (HCHSA)

OSH - Occupational safety and health

OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration (USA)

OSL - Ontario Safety League

OSSA - Ontario Service Safety Alliance (Ontario)

OSSA - Oil Sands Safety Association (Alberta)

OWA - Office of the Worker Advisor

PAPR - Powered air-purifying respirator

PCB - Polychlorinated biphenyls

PDA - Physical Demands Analysis

PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit, the maximum occupational exposure permitted under the OSHA regulations (USA).

PHA - Process Hazards Analysis

PIR - Partners in Injury Reduction (Alberta)

PIASS - Petroleum Industry's Annual Safety Seminar

PITS - Petroleum Industry Training Service

PIMs - Poison Information Monographs

PMRA - Pest Management Regulatory Agency

PPE - Personal protective equipment

PPHSA - Pulp & Paper Health and Safety Association (Ontario)

ppm - Parts Per Million

PSHSR - Pre-start Health and Safety Review

QA/QC - Quality Assurance / Quality Control

QEI - qualité d'environnement intérieur

QRS - Quantitative Risk Assessment

REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals

REL - Recommended exposure limit

RIPP - Regulatory Information on Pesticide Products

RMI - Repetitive Motion Injury (see also WMSDS)

ROH - Registered Occupational Hygienist

ROHT - Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist

ROPS - Rollover Protection Structures

RoSPA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (UK)

RQMT - Règlement sur la qualitié du milieu du travail (Québec)

RRSSTQ - Réseau de recherche en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec

RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury

RSIC - Radiation Safety Institute of Canada

RSO - Radiation Safety Officer

RSST - Règlement sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (Québec)

RTECS - Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances

RTK - Right to Know

RTW - Return to Work

RUSA - Rural Utilities and Safety Association (Alberta)

SARA - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (USA)

SAFER - Safety Advisory Foundation for Education and Research (BC)

SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

SCC - Safety Codes Council (Alberta)

SCC - Standards Council of Canada

SCF - Safe Communities Foundation

SCIP - Safe Communities Incentive Program (Ontario)

SECOR - Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (Alberta)

SHAPE - Safety & Health in Arts Production & Entertainment (BC)

SHARP - Safety and Health Achievement Program (USA)

SIMDUT - Système d'information sur les matières dangereuses utilisées au travail

SMS - Safety Management System

SSC - Saskatchewan Safety Council

SST - santé et sécurité du travail (Québec)

STD - Short-term disability

STEL - Short term exposure limit

SWA - Safe Work Associations (in Ontario)

TB - Tuberculosis

TDG - Transportation of Dangerous Goods

THSAO - Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario

TLV - Threshold limit value

TQM - Total Quality Management

TSB - Transportation Safety Board of Canada

TSCA - Toxic Substances Control Act (USA)

TSSA - Technical Standards & Safety Authority (Ontario)

TWA - Time-weighted average

ULC - Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada

UV - Ultraviolet radiation

VDT - Video Display Terminal, sometimes called Video Display Unit (VDU)

VPP - Voluntary Protection Program (USA)

WCAT - Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal

WCB - Workers Compensation Board (in general)

WCB Alberta - Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta

WCB-BC - Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia

WHMIS - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

WHO - World Health Organization

WHSC - Workers' Health and Safety Centre (Ontario)

WHSCC New Brunswick - Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission

WHSCC Newfoundland and Labrador - Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission

WMSDS - Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders

WorkSafeBC - Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia

WSIA - Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (Ontario)

WSIAT - Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (Ontario)

WSIB - Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

WSIS - Workplace Safety and Insurance System

WSO - World Safety Organization

YCSA - Yukon Construction Safety Association

YWAP - Young Worker Awareness Program

YWCHSB - Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board

Document last updated on November 23, 2006

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