Accident Investigation
A structured process for analyzing incidents to determine root causes and prevent future occurrences.

Administrative Controls
Policies and procedures designed to reduce workplace hazards through behavioral or procedural changes.

Air Monitoring
The measurement of airborne contaminants to ensure workplace exposure levels remain within safe limits.

Air Quality
The condition of the air in a given area as measured by the presence of pollutants compared to health-based standards.

Air Toxics
Also called hazardous air pollutants, these are airborne chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, reproductive harm, developmental effects, or other serious health problems.

Ambient Air Monitoring
The systematic measurement of outdoor air pollutants to assess compliance with air quality standards and trends over time.

Analyte
The specific chemical or substance being measured in an environmental sample such as water, soil, or air.

Aquifer
A water-bearing geological formation that can store and transmit groundwater for wells and springs.

Asbestos Exposure
Contact with asbestos fibers that can cause severe respiratory illnesses.

Behavior-Based Safety
An approach to improving safety by observing and reinforcing safe behaviors among employees.

Bioaccumulation
The buildup of a substance in living organisms over time.

Biological Hazard
Any organism or material derived from organisms that poses a threat to human health.

Biosolids
Treated sewage sludge that can be recycled and applied to land as fertilizer or soil amendment.

Bloodborne Pathogens
Microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans.

Boiler Safety
Practices and inspections that ensure boilers operate without posing explosion or burn hazards.

Brownfields
Properties where contamination or suspected contamination complicates redevelopment.

Cap and Trade
A market-based system used to reduce pollution by setting a cap on emissions and allowing permit trading.

Carbon Credits
Tradable certificates representing the reduction or removal of one metric ton of CO₂ or its equivalent.

CERCLA (Superfund)
A federal law authorizing cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances.

Certification/Accreditation
Verification processes ensuring products, services, or professionals meet environmental and safety standards.

Chemical Exposure
Contact with hazardous chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.

Chemical Hygiene Plan
A written program outlining procedures to protect workers from chemical hazards.

Chemicals and Toxins
Substances present in products, materials, or environments that may harm humans or wildlife.

Clean Air Act (CAA)
The primary federal law regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.

Clean Technology
Technologies that reduce pollution, conserve resources, or lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Clean Water Act (CWA)
The main federal law governing pollutant discharges into U.S. waters.

Compliance and Enforcement
The processes through which agencies ensure adherence to environmental laws and standards.

Conservation
The protection, careful use, and restoration of natural resources.

Confined Space
An area not designed for continuous occupancy with limited entry or exit.

Contaminant Plume
A zone of polluted air or water that moves away from a contamination source.

Corrective Action
Measures taken to eliminate the causes of detected hazards.

Crane Safety
Procedures ensuring cranes operate safely to prevent injuries.

Decontamination
Removal of hazardous substances from people, equipment, or environments.

Disaster Planning
Preparing communities to prevent, respond to, and recover from environmental emergencies.

Disaster Recovery Plan
A strategy outlining steps to restore operations after emergencies.

Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR)
A required report documenting pollutant levels in wastewater discharges.

DOT Compliance
Adherence to transportation safety standards established by the Department of Transportation.

Dust Hazard
A potentially explosive or harmful airborne particulate.

Ecology
The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

Ecosystems
Communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.

Effluent Limitation
A restriction on pollutant quantities or concentrations discharged into surface waters.

Efficiency
Using resources in a way that reduces waste and environmental impact.

Electric Vehicles
Vehicles powered entirely or partially by electricity stored in batteries.

Emerging Contaminants
Unregulated but potentially harmful substances increasingly found in air, water, or soil.

Emergency Action Plan
A formal plan describing procedures for responding to workplace emergencies.

Emergency Eyewash Station
Equipment used to flush contaminants from eyes in emergencies.

Emission Factor
A representative value relating pollutant release to an activity or process.

Endangered Species
Plants or animals at serious risk of extinction.

Energy
The capacity to do work; produced from sources such as fossil fuels and renewables.

Enforcement
Actions taken by agencies to ensure laws and regulations are followed.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
Programs and regulations that protect people and the environment from hazards.

Environmental Management System (EMS)
A structured framework for managing environmental responsibilities.

Environmental Security
The concept that environmental conditions can impact public safety and national stability.

Estuaries
Coastal areas where freshwater mixes with ocean saltwater.

Explosive Atmosphere
An environment containing flammable gases or dust capable of igniting.

Fall Protection
Equipment and procedures designed to prevent falls.

Financing
Funding for environmental projects such as clean energy or pollution control.

Fire Prevention Plan
A workplace document outlining fire hazard and response procedures.

First Aid Training
Instruction that equips employees to provide immediate medical care.

Forever Chemicals
A nickname for PFAS, which persist in the environment and human body.

Fugitive Emissions
Uncontrolled emissions from equipment or processes.

Gas Detection System
Equipment used to identify hazardous gases.

GHS Labeling
A standardized global system for chemical hazard communication.

Global Climate Change
Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns due to greenhouse gases.

Green Building
Environmentally responsible design, construction, and operation of structures.

Green Infrastructure
Stormwater management using natural systems.

Green Living
A lifestyle focused on reducing environmental impact.

Greenhouse Gases
Heat-trapping gases contributing to climate change.

Grounding System
Electrical safety measure preventing shock.

Groundwater
Water beneath Earth’s surface stored in aquifers.

Guarding
Physical barriers protecting workers from hazards.

Hand Tool Safety
Practices ensuring safe tool use.

Hazard Assessment
A systematic evaluation of workplace hazards.

Hazard Communication
A program ensuring workers understand chemical hazards.

Hazard Identification
The process of recognizing potential hazards.

Hazardous Energy Control
Procedures isolating energy sources during maintenance.

Hazardous Material
Substances posing risks due to toxicity, flammability, or reactivity.

Hazmat Handling
Management of hazardous materials to prevent spills and exposures.

Hazmat Safety
Practices protecting people from hazardous materials.

Hazmat Transport
Movement of hazardous materials under strict regulations.

Hearing Conservation
Efforts to protect workers from noise exposure.

Heat Stress
A condition caused by excessive heat exposure.

Hydraulic Fracturing
A method for extracting oil or gas from underground formations.

Hydrogeology
The study of groundwater movement through soils and rocks.

Incident Investigation
An analysis of workplace incidents to identify root causes.

Incident Rate
A numerical measure of injuries or illnesses.

Industrial Hygiene
The science of managing workplace environmental hazards.

Industrial Issues
Environmental challenges linked to industrial activities.

Industry
Businesses involved in producing goods or providing services.

Indoor Air
Air quality within buildings and enclosed spaces.

Infrastructure
Systems supporting daily life, such as water, power, and transportation.

Inspection Checklist
A tool used to review workplace conditions.

Ladder Safety
Practices ensuring safe ladder use.

Landfill
A site where waste is buried and managed.

Land Use
How land is managed for development, conservation, or production.

LEED Certification
A rating system for sustainable building design.

Machine Guarding
Safety features protecting workers from moving machinery.

M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions)
Corporate transactions that shape environmental markets.

Management
Planning and oversight of environmental programs.

Material Handling
Safe movement and storage of materials.

Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
A facility where recyclables are sorted and processed.

Material Safety Data Sheet
Information on chemical hazards; predecessor to SDS.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

Microplastics
Tiny plastic particles found in water, soil, air, and food.

Municipal/Investor-Owned Facilities
Water, wastewater, and energy systems operated by public or private entities.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Federal air quality limits for common pollutants.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
The permitting system regulating water pollution.

Near Miss
An event that could have caused harm but did not.

New Technologies
Tools and innovations improving environmental protection.

Noise Exposure
Levels of sound that may cause hearing damage.

Nonrenewable Energy
Energy from sources that do not replenish quickly.

Nuclear Energy
Energy released from atomic reactions, used for electricity.

Occupational Exposure Limit
Maximum allowable concentration of a hazardous substance in workplace air.

Oceans
Vast saltwater bodies regulating climate and supporting marine life.

OSHA Compliance
Meeting OSHA’s safety requirements.

Overexertion Injury
Injuries caused by excessive physical effort.

Ozone
A gas that protects Earth in the upper atmosphere but is harmful at ground level.

Pandemic Preparedness
Strategies to protect workers and maintain operations during outbreaks.

Particulate Matter (PM)
Tiny airborne particles that can harm health.

Permit-Required Confined Space
A confined space requiring special entry procedures.

Personal Air Sample
A measurement of contaminants in a worker’s breathing zone.

PFAS
Persistent manufactured chemicals with health risks.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Gear minimizing exposure to workplace hazards.

Partnerships
Collaborative agreements to advance environmental goals.

People
Communities affected by environmental conditions.

Pollution
The contamination of air, water, or soil with harmful substances.

Pollution Prevention
Reducing pollution at its source through better processes and materials.

Potable Water
Water safe for drinking and cooking.

Process Safety Management
Systems preventing catastrophic chemical releases.

Radiation Exposure
Contact with ionizing radiation that poses health risks.

Recordable Injury
An injury meeting OSHA’s documentation criteria.

Recycling
The collection and reuse of materials to reduce waste.

Regulation
Rules issued by agencies to protect public health and the environment.

Remediation
Cleaning or containing environmental contamination.

Renewable Energy
Energy from sources that naturally replenish.

Research and Technology
Scientific study and innovation advancing environmental protection.

Respiratory Protection
Equipment protecting workers from inhaling harmful substances.

Risk
The likelihood a hazard will cause harm.

Risk Assessment
Evaluating hazards to determine needed controls.

Risk Mitigation
Actions reducing hazard likelihood or impact.

Root Cause Analysis
A method identifying the underlying cause of an issue.

Runoff
Water moving across land surfaces, carrying pollutants into waterways.

Rules and Regulations
Requirements governing environmental activities.

Safety
Protection from environmental hazards that harm people or ecosystems.

Safety Audit
A review of safety programs and conditions.

Safety Culture
Shared values shaping safety behaviors.

Safety Data Sheet
Information on chemical hazards and controls.

Safety Management System
A coordinated approach to managing workplace safety.

Shelter-in-Place
A directive to stay indoors during emergencies.

Sequestration
Capturing and storing carbon dioxide to reduce climate impacts.

Slip Hazard
A condition increasing the risk of slipping.

Smart Grid
An electricity network using digital tech for efficient power management.

Spill Containment
Measures to control hazardous spills.

Static Electricity Hazard
A risk from accumulated static charge.

Stormwater
Rain or meltwater that carries pollutants into waterways.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
A plan addressing stormwater pollution risks.

Superfund
A federal program for cleaning the most contaminated U.S. sites.

Supply Resources
Natural materials critical to environmental and economic systems.

Sustainability
Practices meeting present needs without compromising future generations.

Toxic Substance
A chemical harmful to living organisms.

Toxicity
The degree to which a substance can cause harm.

Training
Instruction that prepares people to manage environmental hazards.

Trenching Safety
Practices preventing trench collapses.

Treatment Processes
Methods for removing contaminants from air, water, or waste.

TSDF
Facilities regulated for hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal.

Universal Precautions
Treating all bodily fluids as potentially infectious.

Unsafe Condition
A physical state increasing the risk of injury.

Ventilation Control
Systems removing contaminants from air.

Vibration Exposure
Physical stress caused by vibrating tools.

Violence Prevention Program
Plans addressing threats or acts of violence.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Organic chemicals that easily evaporate and contribute to smog.

Waste
Materials discarded because they are no longer useful.

Waste Handling
The collection and movement of waste materials.

Waste Minimization
Actions that reduce the amount of waste created.

Waste to Energy
Processes converting waste into usable energy.

Waste Toxicity
The degree to which waste materials contain harmful substances.

Waste Transport
Movement of waste to recycling or disposal facilities.

Wastewater
Used water containing contaminants from homes, businesses, or industry.

Water
A vital resource supporting life, ecosystems, and human activity.

Water Quality Testing
The evaluation of water for contaminants.

Water Reuse
Treating wastewater for reuse in irrigation, industry, or drinking.

Watersheds
Land areas where water drains into a shared water body.

Wetlands
Water-saturated habitats supporting diverse wildlife.

Workers’ Compensation
Insurance providing benefits to injured workers.

Workplace Inspection
A review of conditions to identify safety hazards.

Zero-Incident Goal
A safety objective aiming for no injuries or illnesses.