Glossary of Generic Engineering Concepts

analysis:
a detailed examination of something, together with thoughts and judgments about it

anthropometric data:
information resulting from scientific study of measurements of the human body

competent:

  • adequately qualified, suitably trained and sufficiently experienced to perform the work safely
  • familiar with the intent of the applicable legislation, knowledgeable of the potential risk or actual danger to health and safety and aware of the means to control or eliminate the hazards while performing the job

epidemiological analysis:
examination of studies of the incidence and distribution of diseases, and of their control and prevention

ergonomics task flow analysis:
examination of the different stages or procedures needed to perform/complete a work activity, especially as it affects efficiency, safety and ease of action

formalized process hazards analyses:
examinations of process operations and the environment to identify potential hazards and the conditions that can lead to them, so that the hazards can be eliminated or controlled

industry and consensus standards:
consensus standards are developed through the cooperation of all parties who have an interest in participating in the development and/or use of the standards; e.g., Industry Standard — consensus being among the companies within a given industry, typically developed by a trade association.

job-safety analysis:
a systematic examination of a task to identify all loss exposures (injury/damage to people, equipment, machinery, environment, process) associated with the task; a process where hazards associated with each step of each job are identified and control measures are put in place to minimize the risk to clients, staff, equipment and property
Check the online presentation on job safety analysis published by the Education Safety Association of Ontario.

liability:
what a person or company is legally responsible for; obligation that exposes person or company to risk

material process flow analysis:
considers the operations, transportations, inspections, delays, and storages required as material moves from receiving to shipping in a plant.

process:
orderly arrangement of inter-related tasks that act and interact to perform some function within a particular environment and within a particular time period

risk assessment:
a formalized basis for the objective evaluation of risk in a manner in which assumptions and uncertainties are clearly considered and presented; commonly involves multidisciplinary efforts among physical scientists, toxicologists, biologists, mathematical modelers, and information specialists

risk management:
the process of considering social, cultural, economic, and political concerns in the process of problem formulation and also monitoring the risk assessment throughout its various stages

safety performance:
a company’s safety recorded as evaluated according to certain standards, e.g., number of:

  • work injuries to company/contract employees
  • safety training hours received by company employees
  • worker hours from company/contracted employees
  • spills, accidents, etc.

safety standards:
levels or degrees of safety that are considered proper or acceptable