Occupational Health Glossary

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, a professional organization that publishes Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) as recommended occupational exposure guidelines.

An ACGIH-recommended reference value for evaluating biological monitoring results, representing the level of a determinant most likely observed in specimens from healthy workers exposed at the TLV.

A substance or agent capable of causing cancer. Occupational carcinogens include asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, and crystalline silica.

An enclosed area with limited entry and exit that is not designed for continuous worker occupancy and may contain atmospheric hazards such as toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, or explosive atmospheres.

The principle that the probability and severity of a health effect increase with the magnitude and duration of exposure to a hazardous agent.

Physical modifications to the workplace or equipment designed to eliminate or reduce worker exposure to hazards, such as ventilation systems, machine guards, and sound enclosures.

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in populations and the application of this study to control health problems.

The scientific discipline concerned with designing work systems to optimize human well-being and overall system performance by fitting tasks, tools, and environments to the worker.

The regulatory requirement for employers to identify chemical hazards and provide information to workers through labels, Safety Data Sheets, and training.

The systematic, ongoing collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data on worker populations to detect early signs of work-related disease and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs.

An OSHA-required program for workplaces where noise exposure meets or exceeds 85 dBA TWA, including monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping.

International Agency for Research on Cancer, a WHO agency that evaluates and classifies carcinogenic risks to humans using a scale from Group 1 (carcinogenic) to Group 3 (not classifiable).

International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency that sets international labor standards, promotes rights at work, and develops policies and programs on occupational safety and health.

The science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace environmental factors that may cause worker illness, impaired health, or significant discomfort.

A systematic method for identifying hazards associated with each step of a job task and determining the best way to reduce or eliminate those hazards before they cause injury.

A rare, aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, often with a latency period of 20-50 years.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a U.S. federal agency within the CDC responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.

Any chronic condition that occurs as a result of work or occupational activity, including respiratory diseases, cancers, dermatoses, and hearing loss caused by workplace exposures.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a U.S. federal regulatory agency under the Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards.

A group of lung diseases caused by inhaling certain dusts that damage the lungs, including silicosis (silica dust), asbestosis (asbestos fibers), and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (coal dust).

Personal Protective Equipment, including respirators, gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, and protective clothing worn to minimize exposure to workplace hazards when other controls are insufficient.

The process of identifying hazards, analyzing or evaluating the risk associated with each hazard, and determining appropriate ways to eliminate or control those risks.

An incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, leading to inflammation, fibrosis, and progressive respiratory impairment. Common in mining, construction, and sandblasting.

The scientific study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms, with occupational toxicology focusing specifically on workplace exposures.

A government-mandated insurance system providing medical benefits and wage replacement to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, typically in exchange for the employee forgoing the right to sue the employer.