This list is not inclusive or extensive. You may be aware of other acronyms or organizations. We have mentioned these organizations as a means of providing a potentially useful referral. You should contact the organization(s) directly for more information about their services. Please note that mention of these organizations does not represent a recommendation or endorsement by CCOHS of these organizations over others of which you may be aware.
AA – Atomic Absorption [Absorption of electromagnetic radiation at discrete wavelengths by atoms]
AAHP – American Academy of Health Physics
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
ACGIH – American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
ACOEM – American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
ACS – American Chemical Society
ACSA – Alberta Construction Safety Association
AED – Automated External Defibrillator
AEUSP – Association of Electrical Utilities Safety Professionals
AHFP – Associate Human Factors Professional (US)
AIChE – American Institute of Chemical Engineers
AIH – Academy of Industrial Hygiene
AIHA – American Industrial Hygiene Association
AIHce – American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition
AIIS – Association des Infirmières en Info-Santé (Quebec)
AIOAD – An Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (Quebec)
ALARA – As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALRB – Alberta Labour Relations Board
AMSSTQ – Association des médecins spécialistes en santé communautaire du Québec
ANSI – American National Standards Institute
AOHC – American Occupational Health Conference
AOHNA – Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association
AOHS – An Act respecting Occupational Health and Safety (Quebec)
APF – Assigned Protection Factor (for respirators)
APSAM – 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 »
APST – Association des professionnels en santé du travail (Quebec)
AQHSST – Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail (Quebec)
ASFETM – Association sectorielle Fabrication d'équipement de transport et de machine (Quebec)
ASHCAT – Association of Safety & Health Consultants and Trainers Inc.
ASHRAE – American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASP – Association sectorielles paritaires
ASPHME – The former Association sectorielle paritaire du secteur de la fabrication de produits en métal, la fabrication de produits électriques et des industries de l'habillement [Now part of MultiPrévention]
ASSE – American Society of Safety Engineers
ASSIFQ / ASSPPQ – Associations de santé et sécurité des pâtes et papiers et des industries de la forêt du Québec
ASSTSAS – Association pour la santé et la sécurité du travail, secteur affaires sociales (Quebec)
ASTE – The former Association sectorielle paritaire, secteur du transport et de l'entreposage [Now part of ViaPrévention]
ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials
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
BCACS – BC Association for Crane Safety
BCCSA – BC Construction Safety Alliance
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
BCSP – Board of Certified Safety Professionals (USA)
BEI – Biological Exposure Index
BLS – Bureau of Labor Statistics (USA)
BNQ – Bureau de normalisation du Québec
BOHS – British Occupational Hygiene Society (UK)
BS – British Standard
BSC – British Safety Council
BSI – British Standards Institute
BTU – British Thermal Unit [A traditional unit of measure for heat]
CAALL – Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation
CADTH – Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
CAFC – Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
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 – The former Canadian Chemical Producers Association [Now CIAC]
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
CEPA – Canadian Environmental Protection Act
CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [Also known as Superfund] (USA)
CESQG – Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
CET – Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer [A credential issued by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards] (USA)
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)
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
CHSO – Construction Health and Safety Officer
CHST – Construction Health and Safety Technician (USA)
CIAC – Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
CIH – Certified Industrial Hygienist
CIHI – Canadian Institute for Health Information
CINBIOSE – Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Quebec)
CIS – International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre; also known as International Occupational Safety and Health Knowledge Network
CIWA – Canadian Injured Workers Alliance
CLC – Canada Labour Code
CLP – The former Commission des lésions professionnelles [Now part of TAT] (Quebec)
CMOH – Chief Medical Officer of Health (Ontario)
CNESST – Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (Quebec)
CNS – Central Nervous System
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
COHS - Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
COR – Certificate of Recognition
COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (UK)
COSS – Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (US)
CPE – Certified Professional Ergonomist (US)
CPR – The former Controlled Products Regulations (Canada) [Now see Hazardous Product Regulations]
CPSC – Consumer Products Safety Commission (USA)
CPSC – The former Canadian Petroleum Safety Council [now part of ENFORM]
CPSSTQ – Centre patronal de santé et sécurité du travail du Québec
CPWR – Center to Protect Workers' Rights / The Center for Construction Research and Training (USA)
CRBOH – Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists
CRE-MSD – Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (Ontario)
CRPA – Canadian Radiation Protection Association
CRSP – Canadian Registered Safety Professional
CRT – The former Commission des relations du travail (Quebec) [Now part of TAT]
CSA – Canadian Standards Association [former name of organization - now CSA Group]
CSABC – Construction Safety Association of British Columbia [Now part of the BCCSA]
CSAM – Construction Safety Association of Manitoba
CSAO – Construction Safety Association of Ontario [Now part of the IHSA]
CSASI – Canadian Society of Air Safety Investigators
CSB – U.S. Chemical Safety Board
CSC – Canada Safety Council
CSHM – Certified Safety and Health Managers (USA)
CSO – Construction Safety Officer
CSP – Certified Safety Professional
CSS – Construction Safety Specialist (BC)
CSSE – Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
CSST – The former Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail [Now part of the CNESST] (Quebec)
CTD – Cumulative Trauma Disorder
CSS – Construction Safety Specialist (BC)
CTS – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CWA – Clean Water Act (USA)
dB – Decibels [Unit to measure sound intensity of noise]
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.]
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)
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
ELF – Extremely Low Frequency
EMF – Electric and Magnetic Fields
ENFORM – The Safety Association for Canada’s Upstream Oil and Gas Industry
EOC – Emergency Operations Centre
EPA – Environmental Protection Agency (USA)
EPCRA – Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act Title III of SARA (USA)
ERG – Emergency Response Guide [Used in the US Department of Transportation Requirements]
ERP – Emergency Response Plan
ERPG – Emergency Response Planning Guideline
ESAO – The former Education Safety Association of Ontario [Now part of the PSHSA]
ESDC – Employment and Social Development Canada
ESL – End of Service Life (an indicator attached to a respirator cartridge)
EU – European Union
EUROTOX – Association of European Toxicologist and Societies of Toxicology
EUSA – The former Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (Ontario) [Now part of the IHSA]
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)
FID – Flame Ionization Detector
FM – Factory Mutual
FMEA – Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
FMECA – Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis
FSA– The former Farm Safety Association [Now part of the WSPS]
FSANL – Forestry Safety Association of Newfoundland
FSSNS – Forest Safety Society of Nova Scotia
FTA – Fault Tree Analysis
FWCS – Federal Workers' Compensation Service
GHS – Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
GC – Gas Chromatography
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 Waste Operations and Emergency Response [A term derived from US EPA Regulations]
HCS – Hazard Communication Standard Policy (USA)
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)
HHS – Department of Health and Human Services (USA)
HMIRC – Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission
HMTA – Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (USA)
HPA – Hazardous Products Act
HPD – Hearing Protective Device
HPLC – High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HPR – Hazardous Products Regulations
HRSDC – The former Human Resources and Skills Development Canada [Now Employment and Social Development Canada]
HSCSA – Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta
HSDB – Hazardous Substances Data Bank
HSE – Health and Safety Executive (UK)
HSI – Health & Safety Institute
HSO – Health & Safety Officer
HVAC – Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
IAPA – The former Industrial Accident Prevention Association of Ontario [Now part of the WSPS]
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
IHSA – Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (Ontario)
ILO – International Labor Organization
INRS – National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Disease (France)
IOHA – International Occupational Hygiene Association
IOM – Institute for Occupational Medicine (UK)
IOSH – Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (UK)
IPCS – International Programme on Chemical Safety
IRS – Internal Responsibility System
IRSST – Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (Quebec)
ISEA – International Safety Equipment Association
ISHM – Institute for Health and Safety Management (USA)
ISO – International Organization for Standardization
ISR – Injury Severity Rate
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
LASER – Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation
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.]
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEL – Lower Explosive Limit
LEV – Local Exhaust Ventilation
LOAEL – Lowest Observed Adverse–effect Level
LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LSO – Laser Safety Officer
LTD – Long–term disability
MAMI – Mining Association of Manitoba Inc
MASHA – The former Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (Ontario) [Now part of the WSN]
MHSA – The former Municipal Health and Safety Association (Ontario) [Now part of the PSHSA]
MHSA – Manufacturers' Health & Safety Association (Alberta)
MOE – Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)
MOL – Ministry of Labour (Ontario)
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 – North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
NBFSA – New Brunswick Forest Safety Association
NCEOE – National Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures
ND – Non Detectable
NDSL – Non-Domestic Substances List
NDT – Non Destructive Testing
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
NOAEL – No Observed Adverse Effect Level
NORA – National Occupational Research Agenda (USA)
NORM – Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
NSC – National Safety Council (USA)
NSCSA – Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association
NSNY – Northern Safety Network Yukon
NTP – National Toxicology Program (USA)
NWISP – National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program
OA – Occupational Asthma
OAFC – Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
OBA – Octave Band Analyzer
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 and Environmental Medical Association of Canada
OFAAA – Occupational First Aid Attendants Association of British Columbia
OFSWA – The former Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association [Now part of the WSN]
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
OOHNA – Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association
OSACH – The former Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare [Now part of the PSHSA]
OSH – Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)
OSL – Ontario Safety League
OSSA – The former Ontario Service Safety Alliance (Ontario) [Now part of the WSPS]
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
PHSA – Provincial Health Services Authority (BC)
PID – Photo Ionization Detector
PIR – Partners in Injury Reduction (Alberta)
PMRA – Pest Management Regulatory Agency
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
PPHSA – The former Pulp & Paper Health and Safety Association (Ontario) [Now part of the WSN]
ppm – Parts Per Million
PSC – Petroleum Safety Conference
PSHSA – Public Services Health and Safety Association (Ontario)
PTS – Permanent Threshold Shift
QA/QC – Quality Assurance / Quality Control
QLFT – Qualitative Fit Test (for respirators)
QNFT – Quantitative Fit Test (for respirators)
QRS – Quantitative Risk Assessment
REACH – Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (EU)
REL – Recommended Exposure Limit
RMI – Repetitive Motion Injury [See also WMSDS]
ROH – Registered Occupational Hygienist
ROHS – Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (Quebec)
ROHT – Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist
ROPS – Rollover Protection Structures
RoSPA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (UK)
RRQWE – Regulation respecting the quality of the work environment (Quebec)
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
RTECS – Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
RTK – Right to Know [Droit à l'information]
RTW – Return to Work [Retour au travail]
RUSA – Rural Utilities and Safety Association (Alberta)
SAR – Supplied Air Respirator
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
SECOR – Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (Alberta)
SHAPE – The former Safety & Health in Arts Production & Entertainment (BC) [Now part of Actsafe]
SHARP – Safety and Health Achievement Program (USA)
SLM – Sound Level Meter
SMS – Safety Management System
SSC – Saskatchewan Safety Council
SSM – Safety Services Manitoba
SSNB – Safety Services New Brunswick
SSNL – Safety Services Newfoundland and Labrador
STD – Short–term Disability
STEL – Short-term Exposure Limit
SWA – Safe Work Associations (in Ontario)
TAT – Tribunal administratif du travail (Quebec)
TB – Tuberculosis
TDG – Transportation of Dangerous Goods
TENORM – Technically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
THSAO – The former Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario [Now part of the IHSA]
TLV – Threshold Limit Value
TOXEN – Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology – UQAM (Quebec)
TQM – Total Quality Management
TSB – Transportation Safety Board of Canada
TSCA – Toxic Substances Control Act (USA)
TSSA – Technical Standards & Safety Authority (Ontario)
TTS – Temporary Threshold Shift
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)
WBGT – Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
WCAT – Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal
WCB – Workers Compensation Board (in general)
WCB Alberta – Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta
WCB–BC – The former Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia [now WorkSafe BC]
WHMIS – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHO – World Health Organization
WHSC – Workers' Health and Safety Centre (Ontario)
WHSCC New Brunswick – The Former Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission [Now WorkSafeNB]
WHSCC Newfoundland and Labrador – Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission [Also known as Workplace NL]
WMSDS – Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders
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 (N-S)
WSN – Workplace Safety North (Ontario)
WSO – World Safety Organization
WSPS – Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (Ontario)
YCSA – Yukon Construction Safety Association
YWAP – Young Worker Awareness Program
YWCHSB – Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board
Add a badge to your website or intranet so your workers can quickly find answers to their health and safety questions.
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, CCOHS does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current. CCOHS is not liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information.
