Glossary

"Make sure the new SWAG is reflected in your FTA in regard to GLP."

Right, I'll get on that right after I finish my BLT.

If you feel like you've exceeded the PEL for TLA's (three-letter acronyms), the Laboratory Safety Institute's quick reference glossary will hopefully save you from becoming DOA.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Letter A

AA Administering Agency
AA Atomic Absorption (commonly used to refer to the instrument called an atomic absorption spectrometer)
AAS Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
ABC's Airway, Breathing, Circulation; A reminder to first responders to "evaluate" victims before doing CPR
ABIH American Board of Industrial Hygiene (issues CIH industrial hygiene certification)
ABSA American Biological Safety Association, professional association
ACBM Asbestos Containing Building Material
ACCSH Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health
ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, professional association which establishes TLVs
ACHMM Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials. The membership body to which belong those who are CHMMs.
ACM Asbestos Containing Material
ACRSP Association of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
ACS American Chemical Society
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution
AE Atomic Emission see AES
AEL Acceptable Exposure Limit
AES Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry - Analysis by detection and quantitation of the characteristic electromagnetic emissions from atoms in a sample.
AFM Atomic Force Microscopy
AG Attorney General
AGA American Gas Association
AGST Above Ground Storage Tank
AHERA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (Title II of TSCA) US Federal legislation requiring all schools to determine the location and condition of asbestos containing material, and setting up procedures for issuing credentials to those who disturb asbestos for testing or removal.
AHM Acutely Hazardous Materials
AI Accident Investigator
AIChE American Institute of Chemical Engineers
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency  Syndrome
AIHA American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, VA. The broad professional association for Industrial Hygienists in the US and Canada, with local sections also in parts of Europe. This association is the largest professional Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Hygiene association in the world.
AIHCE American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition. Annual, week long, professional conference jointly sponsored by the AIHA and the ACGIH in the spring.
ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable, a philosophy applied to the control of exposure to ionizing radiation
ALCM Associate in Loss Control Management, a credential issued by the Insurance Institute of America, which is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA 19355-0770.
ALJ Administrative Law Judge
ALS Advanced Life Support
ANPR Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ANSI American National Standards Institute Publishes consensus standards on a wide variety of subjects, including safety equipment, procedures, etc.
AO Administrative Order
APA Administrative Procedure Act, 5 USC Section 551 et seq; Government Code Section 11340 et seq
APCD Air Pollution Control District (California)
APCO Air Pollution Control Officer, Health and Safety (H&S) Code Section 40750 et seq (California)
APF assigned protection factor, used in the context of respiratory protection
APHA American Public Health Association
API American Petroleum Institute
APIH Association of Professional Industrial Hygienists. Based in Tennessee, USA, this organization offers professional credentialing of industrial hygienists as RIH or RPIH under the Tennessee title protection law for industrial hygiene.
APPA Association of (College and University) Physical Plant Administrators, a US professional association which, among its other activities, monitors government legislative and regulatory actions which may impact the academic community.  (refers to itself now as The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers)
APR Air-Purifying Respirator
AQCR Air Quality Control Region
AQMD Air Quality Management District (California)
ARAR Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (CERCLA)
ARB Air Resources Board (Cal/EPA)
ARS Agricultural Research Service (of USDA)
ASA Accredited Safety Auditor, a credential issued by the International Loss Control Institute, which is located in Loganville, Georgia, USA.
ASAE American Society of Agricultural Engineers
ASHCAT Association of Safety & Health Consultants and Trainers Inc.
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air conditioning Engineers. Publishes a well regarded multivolume handbook which includes ventilation guidance, and standards on IAQ and other ventilation related issues.
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASP Associate Safety Professional, designation given to one who has successfully completed the first half of the examination process for CSP.
ASPIS Abandoned Site Program Information System
ASQC American Society for Quality Control
ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers, the national professional society for Safety Engineers in the US. 1800 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018-2187 USA Voice Phone -             (708) 692-4121       Fax - (708) 296-3769
AST Aboveground Storage Tanks
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ATC Automatic Temperature Compensation
ATCM Air Toxics Control Measure
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
AWO Animal Welfare Officer
AWT Advanced Wastewater Treatment

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Letter B

BACT Best Available Control Technology, a term used in US environmental control regulations
BAT Best Available Technology
BATEA Best Available Technology Economically Achievable, terminology for sewage cleanup technology to be applied under Canadian Municipal-Industrial Strategy for Abatement, for cleanup of Great Lakes water sources.
BBP bloodborne pathogens - Most often used in the context of a discussion of HIV and/or Hepatitis.
BBS Behavior Based Safety
BCSP Board of Certified Safety Professionals The certifying organization that issues the ASP, CSP, and COHST credentials following review of experience and successful completion of written tests. In addition to an exam in the Comprehensive Practice of Safety, specialty exams are offered in Safety Management, Fire Protection, and Safety Engineering 208 Burwash, Savoy, IL 61874 USA,             (217) 359-9263
BCT Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology
BLEVE Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (or, for fun, Blast Levels Everything Very Effectively)
BLOSA Beam Line Operations and Safety Awareness
BLS Basic Life Support
BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency of the US government which gathers statistical information on accident rates, among other things.
BMP Best Management Practice
BNA Bureau of National Affairs, Inc
BOD Basic Oxygen Demand; also, Biological Oxygen Demand - the oxygen demand if a water sample is biologically oxidized
BOHS British Occupational Hygiene Society, the national professional society of Occupational Hygienists in the United Kingdom
BPT Best Practicable Control Technology Currently Available (CCAA)
BS British Standards
BSC Biological Safety Cabinet
BSI British Standards Institute
BTU British Thermal Unit, a traditional unit of measure for heat

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Letter C

CAA Clean Air Act, 42 USC Section 7401 et seq Federal); H&S Code Section 39000 et seq
CAIR Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule (under TSCA)
Cal/EPA California Environmental Protection Agency
Cal-OSHA California Division of Occupational Safety and Health
CalTrans California Department of Transportation
CAMU Corrective Action Management Units (RCRA)
CAO Corrective Action Order (RCRA)
CAP Capacity Assurance Plan (RCRA)
CAP College of American Pathologists
CAS Chemical Abstracts Service (number) CAS is a Columbus, Ohio Publisher of Chemical Abstracts and other publications and services
Caustic Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.
CAV Constant Air Volume - chemical hood motor pulls constant cfm (or attempts to)
CBI

CBR

Confidential Business Information

Chemical, biological or radiological hazard. Sometimes also referred to as NBC (Nuclear, biological or chemical hazard.

CCAA California Clean Air Act, H&S Code Section 39000 et seq
CCAHT Conseil Canadien d'Agrement des Hygienistes du Travail - see CRBOH
CCC Compromised Container Caps, cracked or otherwise damaged screw-on caps for chemical containers. [This acronym invented 24 Feb 1995 by Jerry Mason, Chemical Management Officer, Brigham Young University.]
CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, a Hamilton, Ontario, Canada based organization offering a well regarded collection of MSDS on CD-ROM, as well as other H&S related services. telephone:             905-572-2981       FAX: 905-572-2206 Customer Service e-mail address - custserv@ccohs.ca
CCP Cooperative Compliance Program
CCPS Center for Chemical Process Safety - An organization established by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) to focus on engineering practices to help prevent and mitigate catastrophic hazardous chemical accidents.
CCR California Code of Regulations
CD Civil Defense
CDC Center for Disease Control
CDC Centers for Disease Control - Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this is the organization within the US National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service which specializes in recognition, evaluation and control of communicable diseases. NIOSH is part of CDC.
CEEL Community Emergency Exposure Level A sort of PEL for a whole community; intended as a guideline for when evacuations are necessary in case of accidental releases
CEG Certified Engineering Geologist
CEM Continuous Emission Monitoring
CEPA Canadian Environmental Protection Act
CEPP Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program
CEPS Cluster Environmental Protection Specialist
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq; Title 14 CCR Section 15000 et seq
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund. US Federal legislation establishing a huge EPA project to clean up hazardous material dumps. Makes generators responsible for how waste is ultimately disposed of.
CERCLIS Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System
CESQG Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
CET Certified Environmental Trainer, a credential issued by the National Environmental training Association
CFC Chlorofluorocarbons, being phased out world wide because of their detrimental effect on the ozone layer.
CFM cubic feet per minute, a unit of measure of air flow which is used in evaluating ventilation systems
CFR Code of Federal Regulations, the official compendium of regulations issued by agencies of the US Federal Government. For example, 29CFR refers to the regulations isued by the Department of Labor, and 29CFR1910 refers to the General Industry regulations issued by OSHA, which is part of the department of Labor.
CGA Compressed Gas Association
CGL Comprehensive General Liability Insurance
CHEMTREC Chemical Transportation Emergency Center - provides hazard information warnings and guidance in emergency (and ONLY emergency) situations.
CHLOREP Chlorine Emergency Plan
CHMM Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, a credential awarded by IHMM
CHO Chemical Hygiene Officer The Administrator of a Chemical Hygiene Plan under OSHA regulations
CHP Certified Health Professional
CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan Required by OSHA, a statement of laboratory work practices written by each employer
CHP Certified Health Physicist - A person who deals on a professional level with radiation safety.
CHST Construction Safety and Health Technician
CI Criminal Investigator
CID Criminal Investigation Division
CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist On good days certification reflects education, training and experience in the art and science of the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards in the workplace and community. On bad days it means you have a new appreciation for the "or should have know" part of liability law. On other days it simply means education, 5 years of experience and passing two brain straining tests.
CIIT Chemical Industry Institute of Technology
Cl Chlorine
CLMI Comprehensive Loss Management Inc. of Minneapolis, Mn. 55447 A company that produced and sells a well publicized back injury prevention program.
CNG Compressed Natural Gas, aka Methane
CO Carbon monoxide
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand - oxygen demand if a water sample is chemically oxidized.
COLIWASA COmposite LIquid WAste SAmpler
COO Conduct of Operations
CP Command Post
CPC Chemical Protective Clothing
CPL Compliance Directive (OSHA enforcement instructions for inspectors)
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPSC Consumer Products Safety Commission, a US federal agency
CPWR Center to Protect Workers' Rights A US based advocacy group located at 111 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 509 Washington, D.C. 20001             202-962-8490       center@cpwr.com
CR Case Report Number
CRBOH Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists
CRSP Canadian Registered Safety Professional
CRWQCB California Regional Water Quality Control Board
CSA Canadian Standards Association, the national consensus standards association for Canada is roughly the Canadian equivalent of ANSI in the US. It is located at 178 Rexdale Boulevard, Rexdale (Toronto), Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3             (416) 747-4044
CSA Campus Safety Association, now known as CSHEMA, a North America based association of people involved in providing health and safety services to colleges and universities. This is a subsidiary organization of the National Safety Council and members of the NSC in the US, Canada, and Mexico can join at no additional fee.
CSFM California State Fire Marshall
CSHEMA Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association, affiliated with National Safety Council
CSHO Compliance Safety and Health Officer
CSM Certified Safety Manager
CSP Certified Safety Professional - the safety equivalent to a CIH. The initials CSP are also used by certified sales professionals, certified speaking professionals, and certified silly persons. The first two of these are for real, for the last I apologize to Monty Python. The Certified Safety Professional credential is issued by the BCSP (qv)
CSWMP County Solid Waste Management Plan (California)
CTD Cumulative Trauma Disorder
CUHWC College and University Hazardous Waste Conference
CWA Clean Water Act or FWPCA, 33 USC Section 1251 et seq;CA Water Code Section 13200 et seq (Porter-Cologne Act)

Letter D

dB Decibels
dBA decibels on the A scale, a unit of measure of sound intensity.
DCO Document Control Officer
DEP diethyl phthalate
DEQ Department of Environmental Quality (Oregon)
DFA Department of Food and Agriculture
DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Standards)
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 new NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification.
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services, a Cabinet level department of the US Federal Government; the department in which CDC, and therefore NIOSH, is located
DHMM Director of Hazardous Materials Management
DHS, DOHS Department of Health Services
DIERS Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems - a consortium of companies under the auspices of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that was formed to develop methods for the design of emergency relief systems to handle runaway chemical reactions
DIN Deutsches Institut fur Normung (German Standards Institute)
DIPPR Design Institute of Physical Property Data - a consortium of companies under the auspices of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that sponsors the compilation, measurement, and evaluation of physical property data for industrially important compounds
DIS Draft International Standards
DL Driver's License
DM dust and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts and mists, and is used in the new NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification.
DNFSB Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
DO Dissolved Oxygen
DOA Dead on Arrival
DOAS Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy
DOB Date of Birth
DOD Department of Defense (Federal)
DOE Department of Ecology (Washington State)
DOE Department of Energy (Federal)
DOI Department of the Interior (Federal)
DOJ Department of Justice (California or Federal)
DOL Department of Labor
DOP dioctyl phthalate.  The traditional test aerosol used for determining HEPA filter efficiency was an aerosolized form of warm DOP, selected because, when generated in the specified manner, the aerosol had a very narrow size distribution.
DOT Department of Transportation, A US Cabinet level department
DPR Department of Pesticide Regulation (Cal/EPA)
DRE Destruction/Removal Efficiency
DSS Department of Social Services
DTSC Department of Toxic Substances Control (Cal/EPA)
DUR Driving Under Revocation
DUS Driving Under Suspension
DV Domestic Violence
DVO Diffuse Viewing Only

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Letter E

EAP Employee Assistance Program
EAP Emergency Action Plan; or Employee Assistance Program - one which deals with employee substance abuse or other non-employment related problems affecting work performance and safety
EDP Electronic Data Processing
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EER Excess Emission Reports
EGA Enhanced Graphics Array
EHS Environment, Health and Safety; or Environmental Health and Safety
EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance
EIA Energy Information Administration
EIL Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance
EIR Environmental Impact Report (CEQA)
EIS Environmental Impact Statement (NEPA)
ELF-EMF Extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields, a controversial area regarding the possibility of inducing cancer in exposed people
ELLPAT Environmental Lead Laboratory Proficiency Analytical Testing
EM Emergency Management
EMA Emergency Management Agency
EMR Electro-Magnetic Radiation
EMS Emergency Medical Service
EN European Norms
EOC Emergency Operations Center - command post for large-scale campus and community emergencies/disasters
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
EP Extraction Procedure
EP TOX Extraction Procedure Toxicity Test (RCRA)
EPA Environmental Protection Agency An agency of the US Federal government which regulates chemical disposal, emissions to air,and water, and community pollution issues.
EPA # Generator # for RCRA manifesting (Federal)
EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act Title III of SARA, [a US law] requires facilities storing Reportable Quantities of hazardous materials to report to the LEPC
EPDM Ethylene-propylene terpolymer
EPR Ethylene Propylene
ER Emergency Room
ERA Environmental Risk Assessment (for EIL)
ERC Emissions Reduction Credit
ERG Emergency Response Guide A document providing guidance on emergency response in a transportation incident involving a particular chemical. The term is used in the context of US Department of Transportation requirements.
ERP Emergency Response Plan
ERPG Emergency Response Planning Guideline
ERRIS Emergency and Remedial Response Inventory System
ERT Emergency Response Team
ES&H Environment, Safety, and Health
ESA Endangered Species Act, 15 USC Section 1531 et seq
ESA Environmental Site Assessment
ESCBA Escape Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
ESD Electrostatic Dissipative
ESP Electrostatic Precipitators
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETOH Ethyl alcohol, ethanol

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Letter F

FAQ Frequently Asked Question(s)
FDA Food and Drug Administration (Federal)
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the US government.
FEP Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene
FI Field Interview
FID Flame Ionization Detector
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, US federal legislation controlling the indicated pesticides.
FIP Final Implementation Plan
FM Fire Marshal
FM Factory Mutual - a research organization created by a group of insurance companies and concentrating on protection of property. Very well known for its expertise on fire and its property protection standards.
FMCSR Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
FMEA Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
FMECA Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis
FOIA Freedom of Information Act (Federal)
FONSI Findings of No Significant Impact (NEPA)
FR Federal Register
FR Flame Resistant
FS Forest Service
FS Feasibility Study (CERCLA)
FSAR Final Safety Analysis Report
FST Field Sobriety Test
FTA Fault Tree Analysis
FTIR Fourier Transform Infrared
FTIR Fourier Transform InfraRed A chemical analytical method which takes the complete emission spectrum of a sample at once and uses computer software to sort out signals and identify the components of the sample.
FTU Fixed Treatment Unit
FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act, (CWA) 33 USC Section 12251 et seq

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Letter G

GACT Generally Available Control Technology
GAO General Accounting Office (Federal)
GC Gas Chromatography or Gas Chromatograph
GC/MS Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectometry
GERT General Employee Radiation Training
GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
GLC Gas/liquid chromatography, also called GC
GLC Ground Level Concentration
GLP Good Laboratory Practice
gpm Gallons per minute
GSA General Service Administration
GW Ground Water
GWPS Ground Water Protection Standard

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Letter H

H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
HAPs Hazardous Air Pollutants
HASP Health and Safety Plan (required by OSHA at hazardous waste cleanup sites)
HazCom Hazard Communication
HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
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 Emergency Response
HAZWOPER Hazardous Waster Operations and Emergency Response, a term derived from US EPA regulations.
HAZWOPER HAZardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, a term derived from OSHA regulation 1910.120
HBV Hepatitis B Virus
HCA Hazardous Communication Act
HCFCs Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
HCl Hydrogen Chloride
HCS Hazard Communication Standard Policy of communicating to employees the potential hazards of substances with which they work, and a specific standard issued in the US by OSHA.
HDPE High-Density Polyethylene
HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air filter At least 99.97% efficient in the filtration of airborne particles 0.3 microns in diameter or greater (the "or greater" is wrong)
HF Hydrogen Fluoride
Hg Mercury
HH&E Human Health and the Environment
HHW Household Hazardous Waste
HID High Intensity Discharge
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMBP Hazardous Materials Business Plans, H&S Code Section 25504 et seq
HMIG Hazardous Materials Identification Guide
HMIS Hazardous Materials Information System
HMRT Hazardous Materials Response Team
HMTA Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 USC Section 1801 et seq; 49 CFR
HMTC Hazardous Materials Technical Center (DOT)
HOC Halogenated Organic Compounds
HP Health Physist (radiation safety specialist)
HP Hewlett Packard
HP Highway Patrol
hp Horse power
HPD Hearing Protection Device
HPLC High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HR House Report (Federal bill originated in the House of Representatives)
HR hazard ratio A term used in the new (1996) NIOSH regulation on respirator certification
HRD Human Resource Division
HRS Hazard Ranking System
HS Hazardous Substance
HSA Hazardous Substance Account of the California Superfund, H&S Code Section 25300 et seq
HSCAP Hazardous Substance Cleanup Arbitration Panel, H&S Code Section 253561 et seq
HSO Health & Safety Officer
HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (1984 amendments to RCRA)
HVAC Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
HW Hazardous Waste
HWCL Hazardous Waste Control Law (California RCRA's counterpart H&S Code Section 25100 et seq)
HWIS Hazardous Waste Information System (DTSC)
HWMU Hazardous Waste Management Units (RCRA)
HWTC Hazardous Waste Treatment Council

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Letter I

IAFF International Association of Firefighters
IAQ Indoor Air Quality - a general term combining a multitude of issues related to complaints by the occupants of buildings about illnesses or discomfort resulting from being in the building. Typically, no single agent or easily recognized group of agents is present in excess of a PEL or TLV.
IARC Internation Agency for Research on Cancer, affiliated with WHO
IATA International Air Transport Association
IBR Incorporated By Reference
IC Incident Command
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ICC Interstate Commerce Commission, an agency of the US Governemt The ICC bar is a horizontal bar at the rear of moderate and large trucks required by ICC regulation and intended to prevent a following automobile from sliding under the truch in a collision.
ICP Incident Command Post
ICP Inductively Coupled Plasma, an analytical method based on atomic emission.
ICS Incident Command System Procedure for emergency management used by fire departments and other emergency response teams
ID Inside Diameter
IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. As defined by NIOSH This represents a mazimum concentration from which one could escape within 30 minutes without any escape-impairing symptoms or any irreversible health effects. Note that the NIOSH definition addresses airborne concentration only. It does not consider direct contact with liquids, etc
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IEUBK integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model (lead levels)
IH Industrial Hygiene (In Europe, this is usually called Occupational Hygiene)
IHIT Industrial Hygienist in Training, designation given to one who has completed the first half of the examination process for CIH. Valid for no more than 10 years.
IHMM Institute of Hazardous Materials Management. Responsible for Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) program and certification
IIPP Injury and Illness Prevention Program (required under California regulations)
ILCI International Loss Control Institute. Address is 4546 Atlanta Highway, P.O. Box 345, Loganville, Georgia 30249, USA
ILO International Labor Organization, international agency of the United Nations which addresses labor issues. Has an interest in occupational safety and health issues, and publishes useful reference materials.
IMO International Maritime Organization
IMS Ion Mobility Spectrometry
INUR Inventory Update Rule
IOHS International Occupational Hygiene Society, international organization of national occupational/industrial hygiene societies
IOSH Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a UK based professional association.
IP Industrial Plus
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control
IPS Iron Pipe Standard
IR Infrared light or infrared spectrophotometer (IR is lower energy than visible, also known as heat waves)
IS Interim Status (for a TSDF)
ISD Interim Status Document
ISEA Industrial Safety Equipment Association
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ISTAS Instituto Sindical de Trabajo Ambiente y Salud
IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
IWMB California Integrated Waste Management Board (Cal/EPA)

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Letter J

JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Accreditation by this body is necessary for US federal research grants, medicare reimbursement, etc.
JHA Job Hazard Analysis

Letter K

There are no definitions for the the letter K.

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Letter L

LAER Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
LANL Los Alamos National Laboratory
LAO Location Administrative Officer
LC-50 The concentration in air which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study.
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LD-50 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.
LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene
LDR Land Disposal Restrictions (RCRA)
LEA Local Enforcement Agency
LEC Local Emergency Coordinator
LED Light-Emitting Diode
LEL Lower Explosive Limit - The minimum percent by volume of a gas or vapor, which when mixed with air, will form a flammable mixture.
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee
LIH Licensed Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred under the Illinois (USA) licensing program for Industrial Hygiene.
LIMS Laboratory Information Management System
LLDPE Linear Low Density Polyethylene
LLRWPA Low Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, 42 USC Section 2021(b)
LOAEL lowest -observed-adverse-effect level
LOIS Loss of Interim Status (for TSDF)
LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas, aka Propane
lpm Liters per minute
LRAPA Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (Lane County, Oregon)
LRPO Location Radiation Protection Officer
LSO Laser Safety Officer - The person designated by a site where lasers are used, who has responsibility and authority to ensure the safe use of lasers.
LSI The Laboratory Safety Workshop
LUFT Leaking Underground Fuel Tank
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
LWDII Lost Workday Injury and Illness

Letter M

M Molarity (M) a unit of concentration equal to 1 mole of a substance in 1 L of solution.
MA Molecular Absorption, Absorption of radiation by molecules. Examples of analytical methods using this property include : UV/VIS, IR, FTIR
MACT Maximum Available Control Technology
MAWP Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
MCL Maximum Concentration Limits or Maximum Contaminant Levels (SDWA)
MCLGs Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (SDWA)
MCS Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
ME Molecular Emission, emission of electromagnetic radiation by a complete molecule. Often called Fluorescence or Phosphorescence.
MECO Modern Engineering Company
MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone
mg/m3 Milligrams per meter cubed
mil One mil equals 1/1000 of an inch
MIS Management Information Systems
MIS Master of Industrial Safety, the degree granted by the University of Minnesota (Duluth) to those who successfully complete the Master's program
ml milliliter, also mL
MMAD mass median aerodynamic diameter.
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
mppcf Million particles per cubic foot
MPRSA Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, 16 USC Section 1431 et seq
MRP Medical Removal Protection
MS Mass Spectroscopy Identifies compounds by breaking them up into all combinations of ions and measuring mass-to-charge ratios at detector
MSA Mine Safety Appliances
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet Provided by chemical manufacturers, required by OSHA to be available to workers
MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the US Department of Labor
MTB Materials Transportation bureau of the US Department of Transportation
MTD Maximum Tolerated Dose
MTU Mobile Treatment Unit
Mutagen an agent (as a chemical or various radiations) that tends to increase the frequency or extent of mutation (genetic damage) 
MUTCD Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices
MVA Motor Vehicle Accident
MWA Midwest Area (of USDA ARS)

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Letter N

Letter N

Submit Word 

NAA Non-Attainment Areas (CAA and California CAA)
NAA North Atlantic Area (used within USDA, ARS -United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service)
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAA)
NACHO National Association of Chemical Hygiene Officers
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NBAR Nonbinding Allocation of Responsibility
NBC Nuclear, biological and/or chemical hazard. Also sometimes referred to as CBR (Chemical, biological or radiological hazard)
NCIC National Crime Information Center
NCP National Contingency Plan (CERCLA)
NCRIC National Chemical Response and Information Center
NDPES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NEBOSH National Examining Board of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. In the UK, NEBOSH run a certificate and a diploma course. Anyone that attains the diploma can join the Institution as a full member
NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center (US EPA)
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturer's Association
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act, 42 USC Section 4321
NESHAPs National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (EPA, CAA)
NETA National Environmental Training Association, a US based organization which issues the CET credential.
NFC National Fire Code
NFPA National Fire Protection Association publishes useful hazard ratings on many chemicals. Not a regulatory
NFR National Fire Rating
NH3 Ammonia
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NiCad Nickel Cadmium (battery)
NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a component of the NIH
NIH National Institutes of Health - the primary health research umbrella organization of the US government, consisting of a number of specialized institutes, the CDC, and the National Library of Medicine
NIHL Noise Induced Hearing Loss
NIMBY Not In My Backyard Syndrome
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health An arm of the US Centers for Disease Control, it does research and suggests guidelines for exposure control, but is not a regulatory agency.
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology, a US federal agency in the Department of Commerce. NIST is the successor to the US National Bureau of Standards.
NMFC National Motor Freight Class
NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy used to identify structures of organic compounds by seeing how they react to magnetic fields of various frequencies
NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAEL no-observed-adverse-effect level
NOC Notice of Commencement
NOS Not Otherwise Specified, DOT terminology used in shipping names
NOV Notice and Violation
NOX Oxides of nitrogen. Also NOx. Term is used where the particular oxide is unimportant or where a mixture is being discussed.
NPA North Plains Area (used within USDA, ARS -United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service)
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (CWA)
NPL National Priority List (CERCLA)
NPR Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, one step in the formal process of issuing regulations by US Agencies.
NPT National Pipe Thread
NPTF National Pipe Thread Fine
NRC National Response Center (Federal)
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Federal Regulatory Agency which deals with radiation and radioactive materials.
NRCC National Registry of Clinical Chemists, administer CHO testing and certification
NREP National Registry of Environmental Professionals, Glenview, IL, (708) 724-6631
NRR Noise Reduction Rating, used as a laboratory based indicator of the relative effectiveness of hearing protectors.
NRTL Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
NSC National Safety Council, a US (Chicago) based safety organization dealing with industrial safety, school and college safety, transportation safety. The NSC has both organizational and individual membership and publishes a number of safety oriented pamphlets, journals, books, and data sheets. The image of a green cross on a shield together with the words "Green Cross for Safety" are trademarks controlled by NSC. Mailing address is: 1121 Spring Lake Dr.,Itasca, Illinois 60143, USA
NSF National Science Foundation
NSF National Sanitation Foundation
NSN New Substances Notification - required for new substances under CEPA, the Canadian equivalent of the US's PMN
NSPS New Source Performance Standards (CWA and CAA)
NSR New Source Review (California CAA)
NTIS National Technical Information Service
NTP Normal temperature and pressure
NTP National Toxicology Program, a program of the US government under NIEHS for the testing of chemical agents for long term toxic effects
NWPA Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 42 USC Section 10101 et seq

Submit Word 

 

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Letter O

O&M Operation and Maintenance
OAH Office of Administrative Hearings (California)
OAL Office of Administrative Law (California)
OAR Oregon Administrative Rules
OBES Office of Basic Energy Sciences (DOE)
OCMV Open Container In Morot Vehicle
OD Outside Diameter
ODP Open-Dripproof
OECM Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (US EPA)
OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (Cal/EPA)
OES Office of Emergency Services (California)
OHMP Occupational Health Maintenance Program
OLN Operator's License Number (driver's licence)
OMB Office of Management and Budget (Federal)
ONWI Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (Federal)
ORM Other Regulated Material (DOT terminology)
ORM Other Regulated Materials Terminology used in hazardous materials shipping documents.
OR-OSHA Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration
ORP Oxidation Reduction Potential
ORPS Occurrence Reporting and Processing System
ORR Operational Readiness Review
OSA Office of the State Architect (California)
OSC On Scene Coordinator
OSHA Occupational Safety & Health Administration, a part of the US Department of Labor, it regulates many job safety issues, including chemical handling and storage; also Occupational Safety & Health Act, the US Federal legislation which created OSHA (the Administration) and NIOSH.
OSHRC Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, provides the ultimate administrative review of challenges to OSHA citations. Its decisions may be appealed to the US Federal Court system.
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, an agency of the US EPA
OTA Office of Technology Assessment, a staff arm of the US Congress
OV/AG Organic Vapor/Acid Gas (somewhat misleading term referring to capabilities of certain air-purifying respirator cartridges)
OWG Operations Working Group

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Letter P

PA/SI Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation
PAH Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PAGE Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
PAM Performance Assessment Matrix
PAPR Powered Air-Purifying Respirator
Part A The overview portion of a TSDF HW permit application, under RCRA
Part B The detailed portion of a TSDF HW permit application, under RCRA
PBR Permit by Rule
PBT Portable Breathalyzer Test
PBT An additional meaning is "Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic" per US EPA
PCA Property Clearance Assessment
PCB Polychlorinated biphenyls (includes monochlorinated biphenyls, under US environmental regulations)
PCDF Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans
PCE Perchloroethylene
pCi/L pico Curies/Liter
PE Professional Engineer
PEA Preliminary Endangerment Assessment
PEL Permissible Exposure Limit, the maximum occupational exposure permitted under the OSHA regulations.
PETG Polyethylene Terephthalate G Copolyester
pH acidity/basicity   pH = -log[H] where [H] is hydrogen ion concentration.  A pH = 7 is neutral; pH > 10 is pretty alkaline; pH <3 is pretty acidic
PHA Preliminary Hazards Analysis
PHA Process Hazards Analysis - a general term describing the formal activity of reviewing, analyzing, and documenting the hazards likely to be associated with a particular industrial process. Often implies the use of a formal review method such as FTA, FMEA, HAZOP, etc.
PHS Particularly Hazardous Substance (as defined in 29 CFR 1910.1450)
PID Photo Ionization Detector
PIH Poison Inhalation Hazard
PL Public Law (Federal)
PM10 Particulate Matter less than 10 microns in diameter
PMN Pre-Manufacture Notification, required under TSCA.
POP Performance-Oriented Packaging
Potential Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
POTW Publicly Owned Treatment Works (waste water treatment)
POV Privately Owned Vehicle
PPA Performance Partnership Agreement
ppb Parts per billion
PPE Personal Protective Equipment Includes goggles, gloves, shoes, coveralls, respirators, hard hats, etc.
ppm Parts of contaminant Per Million parts of air or other fluid. Usually called simply "parts per million" - a unit of measure of the concentration of one material mixed or dissolved into another. This unit may be converted to milligrams per cubic meter.
PRCS Permit Required Confined Space
PRP Potentially Responsible Party (Superfunds)
PSA Preliminary Site Assessment
PSB Public Safety Building
PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration (CAA)
PSDI Presence Sensing Device Initiation
PSEL Plant Specific Emission Limit
psi Pounds per square inch
PSI Pollution Standards Index (Air)
psig Pounds per square inch gauge
PSM Process Safety Management
PVA Polyvinyl Alcohol
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

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Letter Q

QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control
QRA Quantitative Risk Assessment

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Letter R

R&D Research and Development
RAP Remedial Action Plan (Superfunds)
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - US Federal legislation which regulates materials and wastes currently being generated, treated, stored, disposed or distributed.
RD Reporting District
RD/RA Remedial Design/Remedial Action
REA Registered Environmental Assessor (California)
REE Research, Education, and Economics (agencies of USDA)
REHS Registered Environmental Health Specialist (California, formerly Registered Sanitarian)
REL recommended exposure limit; This abbreviation usually refers to a recommendation formally made by NIOSH and published in a Criteria Document for a particular agent or category of agents.
REM Registered Environmental Manager. This credential is administered through the National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP). To receive the REM designation, NREP requires you to submit copies of your college transcripts, listing of specialty training, two professional references and a description of your professional experience, and how it relates to environmental management. Then you can take a comprehensive test in environmental management
RFA RCRA Facilities Assessment
RFI Radio Frequency Interference
RG Registered Geologist
RI/FS Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
RIH Registered Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred by the State of Tennessee under its title protection legislation. (see APIH)
RMI Repetitive Motion Injury
RMP Risk Management Program The CAA requires major facilities to have a written program to prevent releases to the environment in case of an accident.
RMPP Risk Management and Prevention Plan, H&S Code Section 25531
RMS Root Mean Squared
ROD Record of Decision (CERCLA)
ROH Registered Occupational Hygienist
ROHT Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist
RP Reporting Party
RP Responsible Party (CERCLA), 42 USC Section 9607(a)
RPIH Registered Professional Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred by the State of Tennessee under its title protection legislation. (see APIH)
RQ Reportable Quantity (under DOT CERCLA and SARA Title III)
RQG Reduced Quantity Generator (100-1000 kg/mo)
RRPT Registered Radiation Protection Technologist, a designation used in the US by those active in radiation protection in the Nuclear Power generation industry
RSI Repetitive Strain Injury
RSO Radiological Safety Officer or Radiation Safety Officer The individual designated for a particular site, where radiation is in use, who has responsibility and authority to ensure safe and appropriate use of radiation and radiation sources
RSPA Research and Special Programs Administration
RTECS Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, a registry maintained and issued by NIOSH, listing all published studies in which a toxic effect was reported. Study quality is not reviewed, and studies reporting no toxic effects are not included in the registry.
RTK Right to Know -- May refer to an individual employee's right to know about the nature and hazards of agents used in the work place, and/or to the right of communities and their members to know about materials used and wastes generated by workplaces situated within or adjacent to the community.
RVP Reid Vapor Pressure
RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board (California)

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Letter S

S&EP Safety and Environmental Protection
SAA South Atlantic Area (used within USDA, ARS -United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service)
S.E.T.R.A.F. Safety of Enclosures for Toxics using Recirculating Air Filtration
SADT Self-Accelerating Decomposition Temperature
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
SAF Safety Approval Form
SAR Safety Analysis Report
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act - US federal Legislation which reauthorized the "Superfund", a fund intended to clean up existing hazardous waste sites. It also established a federal community Right to Know and tightened industrial reporting requirements.
SARA Title III Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-Know Section of SARA, aka EPCRA
SB Senate Bill (California)
SB 14 Hazardous Waste Source Reduction and Management Review Act, H&S Code Section 2524412 et seq Porter-Cologne Water Code Section 13200 et seq Water Act Proposition 65 Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, H&S Code Section 252495 et seq
SBR Styrene Butadiene Rubber
SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District (California)
SCBA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCT Spectrum Control Technology
SDS 1) sodium dodecyl sulfate
2) Safety Data Sheet, new standardized replacement for Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) under global harmonization.
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act (Federal), 42 USC Section 300 et seq
SEAPPM Safety and Environmental Administrative Policy and Procedures
SEC Securities Exchange Commission
SEI Safety Equipment Institute
SERC State Emergency Response Commission
SHEM Safety, Health, and Environmental Management
SHEP Safety, Health, and Environmental Program
SIC Standard Industrial Classification
SIP State Implementation Plan (CAA)
SITE Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation
SNUR Significant New Use Rule, a regulatory term appearing in TSCA related considerations.
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
SOB Souls on Board (aircraft)
SOP Standard Operating Procedures
SOT Society of Toxicology, a US-based, international professional society
SOx Oxides of sulfur. Used when the particular oxide is unimportant to the discussion, or when a mixture is being referred to.
SPCC Spill Prevention, Control (or Containment) and Countermeasures
SQG Small Quantity Generator (of waste), a status that relieves the generator of some EPA requirements
SR Senate Report (Federal bill originated in Senate)
SRP Scientific Review Panel (California)
SSE Stationary Source Enforcement
STCC Standard Transportation Commodity Code (used in rail shipment of hazardous materials)
STEL Short Term Exposure Limit (chemical exposure)
STLE Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers
STP Standard Temperature and Pressure
SUD Safe Use Determination
SWAG Scientific Wild-Ass Guess (no offense please; this is truly a commonly used acronym in many fields of study, meaning, presumably, an educated guess)
SWA Solid Waste Act (aka RCRA)
SWAT Solid Waste Assessment Test
SWDA Solid Waste Disposal Act (US legislation)
SWIS Solid Waste Information System
SWMP Stormwater Monitoring Program
SWMU Solid Waste Management Unit
SWPPP Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board (Cal/EPA)

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Letter T

TAC Toxic Air Contaminant, 42 USC Section 7412; H&S Code Section 39655; Food & Ag Code Section 14021
TB tuberculosis
TCDD Tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin, also called simply "dioxins" in the popular press.
TCE Trichloroethylene
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, a process specified by EPA for determining whether a material meets the definition of a toxic waste for regulatory purposes in the US.
TCPA Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (N.J.A.C. 7:31) This is legislation in the state of New Jersey which was a partial response to incidents such as that at Bophal, India and established requirements intended to reduce the liklihood of a catastrophic incident.
TDS Totally Dissolved Solid
TEEL Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit
TEFC Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled
TISE Take It Somewhere Else Syndrome
Title III (of SARA) Community Right-to-Know and Emergency Response Provisions (aka EPCRTKA)
TLV Threshold Limit Value, an exposure limit recommended by the ACGIH to which it is believed nearly all workers can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without ill effect.
TME Test Marketing Exemption
TOC Total Organic Carbon
TPCA Toxic Pits Cleanup Act, H&S Code Section 25208 et seq
TPO Temporary Protection Order
TPQ Threshold Planning Quantity (SARA Title III)
TQ Threshold Quantity Facilities releasing TQs or greater into the environment, whether intentionally as wastes or unintentionally in an accident, must report to the EPA
TQM Total Quality Management, the name of a management system or philosophy involving the use of employee participation, Quality Committees, formalized problem solving methods, and a focus on product quality and customer requirements.
TRI toxics release inventory, an inventory required under US environmental regulations.
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act (US legislation)
TSD Treater, Storer, Disposer H&S Code Section 251233
TSDF Treatment, Storage, Disposal Facility (hazardous waste)
TSI Transportation Safety Institute - US DOT Research and Special Programs Administration section offers classes in Oklahoma City, OK
TSR Technical Safety Requirement
TSS Total Suspended Solids
TTU Transportable Treatment Unit
TWA Time Weighted Average

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Letter U

UBC Uniform Building Code
UEL Upper Explosive Limit
UFC Uniform Fire Code
UGST Underground Storage Tank
UGT Underground Tank
UIC Underground Injection Control, H&S Code Section 2515910, SDWA, RCRA
UL Underwriter's Laboratories, one of a number of agencies that test and approve various products for safety and then permit the manufacturer to display their seal on the product as an indication of that testing.
ULC Underwriter's Laboratory of Canada
ULPA Ultra-Low Penetration Air (filtration)
UM Uniform Manifest
UN United Nations
US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
USC United States Code
USCG United States Coast Guard
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USDW Underground Source of Drinking Water (SDWA)
USFDA United States Food and Drug Administration
USM United States Marchal
USP United States Pharmacopoeia
UST Underground Storage Tank
UV Ultraviolet
UV Ultraviolet (EM radiation slightly higher in energy than visible)
UVCE Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion
UV-Vis UltraViolet-Visible Spectroscopy in the visible and higher energies of light.

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Letter V

VAV Variable Air Volume - hood motor speed varies or damper action provides for variable cfms pulled, depending usually on face opening size or sash height.
VDT Video Display Terminal
VEO Visible Emissions Observation
VHAP Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutant
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
VPP Voluntary Protection Program - An OSHA program which promotes excellence in workplace safety and health programs in exchange for limitations on scheduled inspections by OSHA.

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Letter W

WBGT Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
WDR Waste Discharge Requirements
WEEL Workplace Environmental Exposure Limit
WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System This is a program is legislated by the Canadian government, which requires, among other things, the creation and availability of material safety data sheets. However, in several of the Canadian Provinces, many functions associated with Federal OSHA in the US are controlled instead at a Provincial level
WHO World Health Organization
WPS Worker Protection Standard - pesticide safety - Part 170 of Subchapter E, Chapter I of Title 40 CFR) (PDF format from EPA)
WQA Water Quality Act of 1987 (Federal, FWPCA)
WSO World Safety Organization
WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant

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Letter X

There are no definitions for the letter X.

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Letter Y

There are no definitions for the letter Y.

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Letter Z

Z list The OSHA table of Permissible Exposure Limits, so named because the tables are identified as Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3, and because they are found in "Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances" of the OSHA regulations. This subpart contains 29 CFR 1910.1000 through 29 CFR 1910.1500.

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