Health and Safety Definitions

Term	Explanation
Accident	An unplanned and uncontrolled event that has led to, or could have caused, injury to persons, damage to plant or other loss.
Employee	Person contracted to work for payment.
Employer	Person or business paying for contracted work to be carried out.
Dangerous Occurrence	An accidental event or happening of a serious nature not causing injury to others.
Hazardous Substance	A substance labelled as dangerous (this is: very toxic; toxic; harmful; irritant or corrosive).
Health	A state of complete physical , mental and social well being, not merely an absence of disease or injury.
Hoist	A system used to raise or lower goods and equipment.
Lift	A cage in a vertical shaft used to raise or lower people or equipment.
Machine	Apparatus combining action of several moving parts.
Manual Handling	Lifting, pushing, pulling or moving loads using bodily force or hands.
Prohibition	The prevention of an activity if there is a risk of injury.
Safety	A state of absence or freedom from risk of injury, accident or dangerous occurrence.
Work equipment	Equipment ranging from hand tools, machines, through to complete plant.