Acronyms

This is a compilation of acronyms and abbreviations commonly used within HSE. Abbreviations readily available elsewhere, have not been included.

Those entries marked with an asterisk * relate directly to HSE.

A

Acronym
Description
AAIAC *
Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee
AALA
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority
AALS
Adventure Activities Licensing Committee
ABCA
Military standards body for US, UK, Canada and Australia
ABCB
Association of British Certification Bodies
ABCL
Automatic barrier crossing, locally monitored
ABE
Association of Building Engineers
ABM
Activity based management
ABNT
Associacao Brasileira de Normas Tecnicas (Brazil)
AC
Advisory committee
AC
Asbestos cement
ACA
Association of Consultant Architects
ACAI
Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate (see IAPI) now Environment Agency
ACAS
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
ACDP *
Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
ACDS *
Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances
ACE
Association for Consultancy and Engineering
ACES
Amusement Catering Equipment Society
ACGM *
Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification
ACL
Approved Carriage List
ACM
Asbestos-containing material
ACOP
Approved Code of Practice
ACP
Advisory Committee on Pesticides
ACRE
Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
ACTS *
Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances
AD *
Area Director now Operations Manager
ADI
Acceptable daily intake
ADN
European provisions concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways
ADR
Accord dangereux routier (European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road)
ADS *
Approved Dosimetry Service
AEAT
AEA Technology PLC
AENOR
Asociacion Espanola de Normalizacion y Certificacion
AFAIRP
As far as is reasonably practicable
AFCD
Automatic flue closing device
AFFF
Aqueous film forming foam
AFNOR
Association Francaise de Normalisation
AFP
Alphafetoprotein
AGR
Advanced gas-cooled reactor
AHB
Automatic half barrier
AHERA
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
AI
Active ingredient
AIA
Asbestos International Association
AIAC *
Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee
AIB
Asbestos Insulation Board
AIC
Active instability control
AIDII
Associazone Italiana Degli Igienisti Industriali
AIDS
Acquired immunedeficiency syndrome
AIFTA
Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement
AIOSH
Associate of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
AIRMIC
Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce
AIST
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
AIT
Auto(geneous) ignition temperature
ALARA
As low as reasonably achievable
ALARP
As low as reasonably practicable
ALG
Association of London Government
ALI
Annual limit of intake
ALIBI
Assessment of LPG installations for Bleve incidents
ALPI *
Asbestos Licensing Principal Inspector
ALU
Asbestos Licensing Unit
AM *
Administration manager
AMAG
Agricultural Machinery Advisory Group
AMFO
Arbetsmiljofonden (Sweden)
AMPS
Association of Management and Professional Staff
ANC
Association of Noise Consultants
ANEC
Association Normalisation Europeenne pour les Consommateurs
ANFO
Ammonium nitrate/fuel oil
ANHMRC
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
ANPAT
Association Nationale pour la Prevention des Accidents du Travail (Brussels)
ANPR
Automatic number plate recognition
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
AO *
Area office now Regional office
AOCL
Automatic open crossing, locally monitored
AOCR
Automatic open crossing, remotely monitored
AOCTs
Associated Overseas Countries and Territories
AOPD
Active opto-electronic protection device
APAU *
Accident Prevention Advisory Unit now Operations Unit
APB
Auditing Practices Board
APBL
Automatic power boom lowering (system)
APE
Aerosol photoemission
APE
Association of Planning Engineers
APELL
Awareness and preparedness for emergencies at local level
API
American Petroleum Institute
APOSC
Assessment principles for offshore safety cases
APPA
American Public Power Association
APS
Association of Planning Supervisors
AR
Acoustic reflex
ARC
Accelerating rate calorimetry
ARC
Audit Registration Committee
ARCA
Asbestos Removal Contractors Association
AREC
Association of Research Ethics Committees
ARL
Department of Community Services and Health Australian Radiation Laboratory
ARPS
Association of Railway Preservation Societies
ARTPR
Approved Requirements for Transportable Pressure Receptacles
ASAC
Asian Standards Advisory Committee
ASB
Accounting Standards Board
ASFP
Association for Specialist Fire Protection
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
ASHW
Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956
ASI
Architect and Surveying Institute
ASLI
Automatic safe load indicator
ASLIC
Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations
ASME
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASNT
American Society for Nondestructive Testing
ASO
Assistant Scientific Officer
ASP
Accident sequence precursor
ASQ
American Society for Quality
ASS
National Board of Occupational Safety and Health (Sweden)
ASSE
American Society of Safety Engineers
ASTA
Association of Short-circuit Testing Authorities
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials
ATC
Automatic train control
ATEX
Atmosphere Explosiv (used in the context of two European Directives, 94/9/EC and 1999/92/EC)
ATO
Automatic train operation
ATP
Automatic train protection
ATR
Approved Tank Requirements
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATV
All-terrain vehicle
ATWS
Anticipated transient without scram
ATWT
Anticipated transient without trip
AU
Accounting unit
AURPO
Association of University Radiation Protection Officers
AWE
Atomic Weapons Establishment
AWS
Automatic warning system

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B

Acronym
Description
BA
Breathing apparatus
BA
Biological agent
BACS
Bankers automated clearing services
BACTA
British Amusement Catering Trades Association
BAFO
Best and final offer
BALPPA
British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions
BAM
Bundesanstalt fur Materialprufung
BAPE
Benign asbestos pleural effusion
BASEEFA *
British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (until July 2003)
BAT
Best available techniques
BAT
Biological Tolerance Value (Biologischer Arbeitsstoff-Toleranz-Wert)
BATNEEC
Best available techniques not entailing excessive cost
BAU
Bundesanstalt fur Arbeitsschutz und Unfallforschung
BCA
Building Control Authority
BCC
Biocides Consultative Committee
BCC
British Ceramic Confederation
BCECA
British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association
BCF
Bromochlorodifluoromethane
BCMC
British Cable Makers Confederation
BCME
Bis chloromethyl ether
BCRU
British Committee on Radiological Units
BEI
Biological exposure indices
BEL
Biological exposure limits
BEM
Business excellence model
BEBOH
British Examining Board in Occupational Hygiene
BERSA
British Elastic Rope Sports Association
BEU *
Business efficiency unit
BEUC
European Consumers' Bureau
BEWA
British Effluent And Water Association
BFI
Benefit Fraud Inspectorate
BG
British Gas
BGH
Bundesgerichtshof (Germany)
BGS
British Geological Survey
BHSS
British Health and Safety Society
BIAT
British Institute of Architectural Technologists
BIMBO
Buy in management buy out
BIOH
British Institute of Occupational Hygiene
BIP
Business improvement programme
Bis CME
Bis chloromethyl ether
BLEVE
Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion
BLR
Blue light radiation
BMA
Bundesministerium fuer Arbeit und Sozialordnung (Germany)
BMHB
British Materials Handling Board
BMTA
British Measurement and Testing Association
BNS
Bureau de Normalisation de la Siderurgie (France)
BNTA
Bureau de Normalisation du Tube Acier (France)
BOHS
British Occupational Hygiene Society
BOO
Build own operate
BOP
Balance of plant
BPBIF
British Paper and Board Industry Federation
BPCA
British Pest Control Association
BPD
Biocidal Products Directive
BPEO
Best practicable environmental option
BPF
British Property Federation
BPM
Best practicable means
BRAC
Building Regulations Advisory Committee
BRE
Building Research Establishment
BREF
Best available techniques reference documents
BREL
British Rail Engineering Limited
BRIB
Better Regulation and International Branch
BRINDEX
Association of British Independent Oil Corporation Companies
BROA
British Rig Owners Association
BRTF
Better Regulation Task Force
BRU
Better Regulation Unit
BSA
Business Software Alliance
BSC
Balanced scorecard
BSD *
Business Services Division
BSE
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
BSI
British Standards Institution
BSO
Basic safety objective
BSOR
Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations
BSR
Board of Standards Review (ANSI)
BSS
Basic Safety Standards Directive
BSTSA
British Surface Treatment Suppliers Association
BTL
Better team leadership
BTM
Bromotrifluoromethane
BTP
British Transport Police
BTS
Bureau Technique Syndical Europ' en par la Sant' et la Securit' (Belgium)
BVS
Bergbau Versuchsstrecke (W Germany)
BWF
British Woodworking Federation
BWR
Boiling water reactor

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C

Acronym
Description
C & I
Control and Instrumentation
CA
Certifying authority
CA(BA)
Compressed air (breathing apparatus)
CAC
Codex Alimentarius Commission
CADD
Computer-aided design drafting
CAER
Community Awareness and Emergency Response (Chemical Manufacturers Association)
CAIRS
Canadian Institute for Radiation Safety
CAM
Computer aided manufacture
CAMEO
Computer-aided management of emergency operations
CAMR
Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research
CANDU
A Canadian developed reactor deriving its name from Canadian deuterium uranium
CANMET-DEMR
Canada Center for Mineral and Energy Technology - Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
CANUTEC
Canadian Transport Emergency Center
CAPM
Computer-aided production management
CAPS
Computer aided planning system
CARICOM
Caribbean Community and Common Market (formerly CARIFTA)
CARIFTA
See CARICOM
CAS
Chemical Abstracts Service
CASE
Council for Associated Stock Exchanges
CAT
Cable avoiding tool
CAWR
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations
CBI
Confederation of British Industry
CBN
Cubic boron nitride
CBNM
Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements
CBP
Construction best practice
CBT
Computer based training
CC
Construction Confederation
CCA
Compliance cost assessment
CCAB
Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies
CCC
Confederation of Construction Clients
CCCN
Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (EC)
CCD
Charge coupled device
CCE
Commission of the European Communities
CCE
Computer controlled equipment
CCF
Common cause failures (see PES)
CCF
Construction Clients Forum
CCHARR
Co-ordinating Committee on Health Aspects of Radiation
Research
CCIT
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee
CCNSG
Client Contractor National Safety Group
CCOU
Construction Central Operations Unit
CCScheme
Considerate Constructor Scheme
CCTA
Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency
CD
Central Division (Hazardous Installations Directorate)
CD
Consultation distance
CD
Consultative document
CDA
Controlled droplet application
CDC
Centers for Disease Control (USA)
CDFR
Commercial demonstration fast reactor
CDG Rail
Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail Regulations
CDGCPL
Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations
CDM
Construction Design and Management
CDR
Communicable disease report (compiled by CDSC)
CD-ROM
Compact disc read only memory
CDSC
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
CEA
Chemical Engineering Abstracts (Produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry)
CEA-CEN
Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique-Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires
CEB
Corporate Efficiency Board
CEC
Commission of the European Communities
CECA
Civil Engineering Contractors Association
CECC
CENELEC Electronic Components Committee
CEDEFOP
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
CEDHYS
Association des Directeurs des Systemes d'Information de l'Industrie Pharmaceutique
CEE
Communaute Economique Europeenne (French for EEC)
CEE
Communita Economica Europea (Italian for EEC)
CEE
International Commission on Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment
CEEC
Central and eastern European countries
CEEFA
Committee for Electrical Equipment for use in Flammable Atmospheres (committee representing BEAMA)
CEEMAC *
Certification of Electrical Equipment for Mining Advisory Council
CEEP
Centre Europeen de l'Entreprise Publique
CEF
Cluster enhanced filter
CEF
Comite Electrotechnique Francais
CEFIC
European Chemical Industry Council
CEFLC
European Council of Chemical Manufacturers Federation
CEHO
Chief Environmental Health Officer
CEI
Council of Engineering Institutions
CEMEC
European Centre for Disaster Management
CEN
Comite Europeen de Normalisation
CENCER
CEN's certification body
CENELEC
Comite Europeen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
CEOC
Colloque Europeen des Organismes de Controle
CEPS
Central Expertise Policy and Support
CEPT
Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et des Telecommunications
CER
Carriage of Explosives Regulations
CERCHAR
Centre d'Etudes et Recherches des Charbonnages de France
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environment Response Compensation and Liability Act (USA)
CERD
Comite Europeen de Recherche et Developpment
CERIAC *
Ceramics Industry Advisory Committee
CERTICO
Certification Committee of ISO
CESD
Communications Electronics Security Department
CESI
Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (Italy)
CET
Corrected effective temperature
CFD
Computational fluid dynamics
CFDRA
Campden Food and Drink Research Association
CFEs
Centres of financial expertise
CFF
Common funding formula (education)
CFRP
Carbon fibre reinforced plastic
CGPM
General Conference of Weights and Measures
CGTF
Central Government Task Force
CHANs *
Chemical Hazard Alert Notices
CHAS
Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme
CHCS
Chemical Hazards Communications Society
CHEMAG
Chemicals in Agriculture Advisory Group
CHEMFAX *
Computerised database with Chemicals NIG
CHEMSAFE
Chemical Industry Scheme for Assistance in Freight
CHEMTREC
Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (USA)
CHID *
Chemicals and Hazardous Installations Division
CHIEF
Customs handling of import and export freight
CHIMP
Commission for Health Improvement
CHIP
Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations
CHP
Combined heat and power
CHSC
Corporate health and safety committee
CHSG
Construction Health and Safety Group
CHSW
Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations
CI
Chief Inspector
CIAg *
Chief Inspector of Agriculture
CIB
Chartered Institute of Building
CIB
Construction Industry Board
CIBSE
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
CIC
CID
Occupational Medicine and Hygiene Laboratory
Chemical Industries Division
CIDI
Central Index of Dose Information
CIDST
Comite d'Information et de Documentation Scientifique et Technique
CIEC
Construction Industry Employers' Council
CIEH
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
CIM *
Chief Inspector's Memo
CIM
International Convention Concerning the Carriage of Goods by Rail
CIMAH
Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations
CIOB
Chartered Institute of Building
CIRC
Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer (France)
CIS
International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre
CISDOC
International Labour Organisation database available on OSHROM
CISPR
Comite International Special des Perturbations Radioelectriques
CITB
Construction Industry Training Board
CJD
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
CLA
Copyright Licensing Authority
CLASP
Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme
CLAW
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
CLEANAIR
Campaign for a Smoke-Free Environment
CLEAR
Campaign for Lead-Free Air
CLECAT
Comite de liaison Europeen des commissionnaires et auxiliaires de transports du marche commun
CLER
Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations
CLG
Constructors liaison group
CLP
Classification Packaging and Labelling
CM
Case manager
CM
Command (paper) 1987
CME
Chloromethyl ether
Cmnd
Command (paper) 1958 - 1986
CMO
Chief Medical Officer
CN
Case note
CNC
Computer numerical control
CNRS
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris)
CNS
Comite de Normalisation de la Soudure (France)
CO
Carbon monoxide
CO
Clerical Officer (now Administrative Officer)
COAD
Chronic obstructive airways disease
COBRA
Cabinet Office Briefing Room A
(Code) IN
Inspection (code)
(Code) LCA
Legal Commentary - Acts (Code)
(Code) LCR
Legal Commentary - Regulations (Code)
(Code) LP
Legal Proceedings (Code)
(Code) LPS
Legal Proceedings - Scotland (Code)
(Code) OP
Office Procedures (Code)
(Code) OR
Organisation (Code)
CODEX
Codex Alimentarius Commission
COE
Council of Europe
COFFIN*
Construction and factory fatal information (database)
COFREND
Comite Francais des Essais Non Destructifs
COGEMA
Compagnie General des Matieres Nucleaires
COGENE
Committee on Genetic Experimentation
COI
Critical oxygen index
COIN
Corporate Operational Information
COIT
Central Office of Industrial Tribunals
COMAH
Control of Major Accident Hazards
COMARE
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
COMITEXTIL
Comite de Coordination des Industries Textiles de la CEE
COMMETT
EEC programme in Education and Training for Technology
CONCAWE
Oil Companies European Organization for Environment, Health and Safety (Belgium)
CONDAM
Construction Design and Management Regulations
ConDoc *
Consultative Document
CONIAC *
Construction Industry Advisory Committee
COP
Code of Practice
COPA
Control of Pollution Act
COPANT
Pan American Standards Commission
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPOLCO
Committee on Consumer Policy (ISO)
COPR
Control of Pesticides Regulations
COREPER
Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Communities
CORGI
Council for Registered Gas Installers
COSAS
Corporate Science and Analytical Services Division
COSHH
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
COSLA
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
COST
Cooperation Europeenne dans la Domaine de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique
COT
Committee on Toxicity in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
COVENIN
Comision Venezolana de Norma Industriales (Venezuela)
CP
Code of Practice
CPA
Construction Products Association
CPA
Crop Protection Association
CPC
Chemical protective clothing
CPIG
Crown Premises Inspection Group
CPL
Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPS
Crown Prosecution Service
CRA
Chemical Recovery Association
CRB
Criminal Records Bureau
CRE
Coal Research Establishment (part of BCC)
CREST
Comite de Recherche Scientifique et Technique (European Community)
CREIPI
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Institute (Japan)
CRMP
Corporate risk management plan
CSAT
Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal
CSBF
Civil Service Benevolent Fund
CSBTS
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision
CSC
Civil Service College
CSC
Civil Service Commission
CSC
(International) Convention for Safe Containers
CSCS
Construction Skills Certification Scheme
CSIS
Civil Service Insurance Society
CSNWC
Civil Service National Whitley Council
CSOHS
Civil Service Occupational Health Service
CSPA
Civil Service Pensioners Alliance
CSR
Comprehensive spending reviews
CSR
Corporate social responsibility
CSRF
Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
CSSA
Computer Services and Software Association
CSTP
Committee on Scientific and Technological Policy (OECD)
CSTU
Control Systems Technology Committee
CTD
Cumulative trauma disorder
CTG
Corporate topic group
CTI
Castings Technology International
CTMU
Central Training Management Unit
CTPV
Coal tar pitch volatiles
CTS
Carpal tunnel syndrome
CTSA
Channel Tunnel Safety Authority
CUE
Common user estate
CV
Calorific value
CV
Check visit
CVCS
Chemical and volume control system
CVD
Cardiovascular disease
CVS
Chorionic villus sampling
CWR
Continuous welded rail
CZ
Consultation zone

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D

Acronym
Description
dB
Decibels
DB
Dry bulb
dB(A)
Decibels on the A weighted scale
DBA
Design basis accident
DBFO
Design build finance operate
DC
Direct chill (casting)
DCEHO
Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer
DCI *
Decided Cases Index
DCI *
Deputy Chief Inspector
DCIF *
Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories
DCIO
Deputy Chief Inspecting Officer (of Railways)
DCLG
Department for Communities and Local Government
DCM
Deputy Case Manager
DCMS
Department of Culture Media and Sport
DCOA
Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994
DCPD
Dicyclopentadiene
D/D
Division/Directorate
DD
Divisional Director
DDG *
Deputy Director General
DDPH
Deputy Director of Public Health
DE
Department of Employment now Department for Education and Employment
DEF STAN
Defence Standards
DEFRA
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEHO
District Environmental Health Officer
DEHS
Director of Environmental Health Services
DEL
Departmental Expenditure Limit
DEMKO
Danmarks Elektriske Materielkontrol (Denmark)
DEMU
Diesel-electric multiple unit
DEn
Department of Energy wound up in 1992 now part of DTI
DERA
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
DEVCO
Development Committee (ISO)
DfES
Department for Education and Skills
DFM
Dust, fume and mist
DFRS
Defence Fire and Rescue Service
DFS
Defence Fire Service
DfT
Department for Transport
DG *
Director General
DG
Directorate General (EC)
DH
Department of Health
DH
Duty holder
DIANE
Direct Information Access Network for Europe
DIAS *
Directorate of Information and Advisory Services. Health and Safety Executive
DIN
Deutsches Institut fur Normung (German Standards Institute)
DIP
Document image processing
DIS
Draft International Standard
DISP
Duty Holder Intervention Strategy Planning Board
DL
Distance learning
DLR
Docklands Light Railway
DMB
Divisional Management Board
DMU
Diesel multiple unit
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNB
Departure from nucleate boiling
DNHPD
Department of National Health and Population Department (South Africa)
DO
Dangerous occurrence
DoE
Department of the Environment now Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DOE
Department of Energy (United States)
DOL
Department of Labor (United States)
DOT
Department of Transport now part of Department Transport, Local Government and the Regions
DOT
Department of Transportation (United States)
DP
Disabled person
DPE
Duty holder planning event
DRC
Disaster Research Centre (USA)
DS
Danish Standards Association
DSAC
Design safety analysis and control
DSC
Design safety case
DSC
Differential scanning calorimetry
DSE
Display screen equipment
DSEAR
Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations
DSHA Regs
Dangerous Substances in Harbours and Harbour Areas Regulations
DSO
Direct service organisation
DSS
Department of Social Security
DST *
Directorate of Science and Technology
DTA
Differential thermal analysis
DTI
Department of Trade and Industry
DTLR
Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
DTM
Desk top monitoring
DVD
Digital versatile disc
DVT
Driver van training
DWC
Department Whitley Council
DWL
Derived working levels
DWP
Department for Work and Pensions

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E

Acronym
Description
EA
Environment Agency
EA75
Explosives Act 1875
EA regs
Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations
EAC
European Agency for Cooperation (EC)
EAE
Evidence analysis and evaluation
EAEC
European Atomic Energy Community
EARA
European Asbestos Removal Association
EAS
Enterprise allowance scheme
EASE
Estimation and assessment of substance exposure
EASHW
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
EAU *
Economic Advisors' Unit (part of Policy Unit)
EAZ
Education action zone
EBW
Electron beam welding
EC
European Commission
EC
European Communities
ECA
Electrical Contractors Association
ECA
Economic Commission for Africa (UN)
ECA
European Chemicals Agency
ECAC
European Civil Aviation Conference
ECCS
Emergency core cooling system
ECDIN
Environmental Chemical Data Information Network (EC)
ECE
Economic Commission for Europe (UN)
ECETOC
European Chemical Industry Ecology and Toxicology Centre
ECG
European co-operation grouping
ECGD
Export Credits Guarantee Department
ECIA
Engineering Construction Industry Association
ECIS
European Communities Information Service
ECISS
European Committee for Iron and Steel Standardisation
ECITC
European Committee for I.T. Testing and Certification
ECL
Exposure control limit
ECMA
European Computer Manufacturers Association
ECOIN
European core inventory
ECS
Empty coaching stock
ECSU *
Electrical Certification Support Unit
ED
Employment Department now Department for Education and Skills
EDG
Employment Department Group
EDI
Electronic data interchange
EDO
Estate duty office
EDTA
Ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid
EEB
European Environmental Bureau
EECMB *
Electrical Equipment Certification Management Board
EECS *
Electrical Equipment Certification Service
EEF
Engineering Employers Federation
EEG
Europese Economische Gemeenschap (Dutch for EEC)
EEI
Edison Electric Institute
EEL
Emergency exposure limit
EEMUA
Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association
EER
Emergency evacuation and rescue
EER
Evacuation, escape and rescue
EERA
Evacuation, escape and rescue assessment
EFL *
Explosion and Flame Laboratory, now part of HSL
EFTA
European Free Trade Association
EHO
Environmental health officer
EHSR
Essential health and safety requirement
EI *
(HM) Explosives Inspectorate
EIA
Environmental impact assessment
EIC
Energy Industries Council
EINECS
European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances
ELCB
Earth leakage circuit breaker
ELCI
Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance
ELF
Extra low frequency
ELINCS
European list of notified chemical substances
ELO *
Enforcement liaison officer
EM *
Explanatory memorandum
EMA *
Employment Medical Adviser
EMAS *
Employment Medical Advisory Service
EMR
Electromagnetic radiation
EMSU *
Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit
EMU
Electrical multiple unit
EMU
European Economic and Monetary Union
EN
European Standard
ENA *
Employment Nursing Adviser
ENB
Explosives Notified Body
EO
Ethylene oxide
EO
Executive Officer
EOF
Europaeiske Okonomiske Faellesskab (Danish for EEC)
EOTC
European Organisation for Conformity Assessment
EPA
Environmental Protection Act
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency (USA)
EPI-DERM
Surveillance scheme for occupational skin disease
EPO
European Patent Organisation
EPOCH
European Programme on Climatology and Natural Hazards
EPS
Enforcement policy statement
EPS
European Pre-standard
ERB
Engineers Registration Board (CEI)
ERIC
Emergency response intervention card
ERL
Emergency reference level
ES
Ergonomics Society
ESAC *
Education Services Advisory Committee
ESB *
Executive Support Branch now Senior Management Support Unit
ESC
Economic and Social Committee (EC)
ESD
Emergency shutdown device
ESF
European Social Fund
ESFR
Early suppression fast response
ESH
Electric surface heating
ESP
Electrostatic precipitator
ESPRIT
European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology
ESRA
European Safety and Reliability Association
ESReDA
European Safety Reliability and Data Association
ESTC
Explosives Storage and Transport Committee
ETS
Environmental tobacco smoke
ETS
European Telecommunications Standards
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
ETVA
Elektrotechnische Versuchsanstalt (Austria)
EU
European Union
EURADOS
European Radiation Dosimetry Group
EURATOM
European Atomic Energy Community
EUROCONTROL
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
EUROCOOP
European Community of Consumers' Co-operatives
EUROMAP
European Plastics Machinery Suppliers' Association
EUROSH*NET
European Occupational Safety and Health Network
EUROSTATS
Series of statistics produced by the SOEC
EUROVENT
European Committee of Air Handling and Air Conditioning Equipment Manufacturers
EWC
European Works Councils
EWG
Europaeische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft
EXCO
Executive Committee (ISO)
EXP
Expanded polystyrene
EXTEST
International Study Group for the Standardisation of Methods of Testing Explosives
EZ
Enterprise zone

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F

Acronym
Description
F & GPC
Finance and General Purposes Committee (sub-committee of NEC)
F&RA
Fire and Rescue Authority
FAC
Food and Agriculture Committee
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAST
Federation against Software Theft
FASTCo
Forestry and Arboriculture Safety and Training Council
FBG
Fluidised bed generator
FCG *
Field Consultant Group
FC(SP)R
Fire Certificate (Special Premises) Regulations 1976
FDA
Food and Drug Administration (USA)
FDA
Association of First Division Civil Servants
FDIS
Final Draft International Standard
FEPA
Food and Environment Protection Act
FER
Fundamental Expenditure Review
FFI
Flexible film isolator
FI *
(HM) Factory Inspectorate
FIAC *
Foundries Industry Advisory Committee
FIC *
Factory Inspectorate (Subject File) Circular
FIM *
Factory Inspectorate Minute
FIN *
Factory Inspectorate Note
FINU *
Finance Unit (part of Resources and Planning Directorate)
FIRA
Furniture Industry Research Association
FIRAC *
Factory Inspectorate Research Advisory Committee
FISM *
Factory Inspectorate Specialist Minute
FISP *
Financial Systems and Payments
Fit3
Fit for work, fit for life, fit for tomorrow
FL
Flexileave
FLP
Flameproof
FLT
Fork lift truck
FM
Factory Mutual (USA)
FMAS
Financial Management Accounting System
FMB
Federation of Master Builders
FMI
Financial Management Initiative
FMU *
Field Management Unit
FOCUS *
Field Operations Computer System
FOD *
Field Operations Directorate
FOD MB
FOD Management Board
FOILE
FOD's iInterventions with large employers
FOM *
Fortnightly Operational Minute (issued by FOD)
FOPS
Falling Object Protective Structure(s)
FOU
For Official Use
FP*
Field Professional
FPA71
Fire Precautions Act 1971
FPO
Fire Prevention Officer
FPSO
Floating production storage and off-loading unit
FPU *
Finance and Planning Unit
FP(W)R
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
FRAB
Financial Reporting and Advisory Board
FRS
Financial Reporting Standards
FRS
Fire Research Station (part of BRE)
FSA
Financial Services Authority
FSA
Foreign Service Allowances
FSA
Food Standards Agency
FSAC
Food Safety Advisory Centre
FSBP
Finger systolic blood pressure
FSO
Fire Safety Officer
FSO
Formal Second Opinion
FSR
Filter self-rescuer (mining)
FSSU *
Field Scientific Support Unit now Field Services Unit
FST
Finger skin temperature
FSU *
Field Services Unit
FSU
Floating storage unit
FSV
Free steered vehicle
FWH
Flexible working hours
FWR
Functional work recording system

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G

Acronym
Description
GAAP
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
GAD
Gas Appliances Directive
GAD
Government Actuaries Department
GAE
General Administrative Expenditure
GAMBICA
Association for the Instrumentation, Control and Automation Industry in the UK
GATT
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GDO
General Development Order
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GDPO
General Development Procedure Order
GFP
General fire precautions
GGF
Glass and Glazing Federation
GHGB
Good Health is Good Business
GHS
Globally Harmonised Systems
GIE
Groupement d'Interet Economique
GILSP
Good industrial large scale practice
GLA
Gangmaster Licensing Authority
GLA
Greater London Authority
GLC
Gas liquid chromatography
GLP
Good laboratory practice
GLSP
Good large scale practice
GLW
Gross laden weight
GM
Genetically modified
GM
Guidance Memoranda
GMAW
Gas metal arc welding
GMO
Genetically modified organism
GN
Guidance Note
GN:CS
Guidance Note : Chemical Safety
GN:EH
Guidance Note : Environmental Health
GN:GS
Guidance Note : General Series
GN:MS
Guidance Note : Medical Series
GN:PM
Guidance Note : Plant and Machinery
GNVQ
General National Vocational Qualification
GOST USSR
State Committee for Standards
GPA
Agreement on Government Procurement
GRP
Glass reinforced plastic
GSI
Government Secure Intranet
GSMR
Gas Safety Management Regulations
GSTP
Generalised System of Tariff Preferences
GT
Globe thermometer
GTA
Government Technical Adviser
GTAW
Gas tungsten arc welding

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H

Acronym
Description
HACCP
Hazard analysis critical control point
HAI
Hospital acquired infections
HAM
Hand held monitor
HASAC
Health and Safety Advice Centre
HASAWA
* Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
HASCOG
Health and Safety Co-ordinating Group (IEHO)
HAV
Hand-arm vibration
HAV
Hepatitis A virus
HAZAN
Hazard analysis numerical methods
HAZCOM
Hazards Communication Standard
HAZOP
Hazard and Operability Study
HBIG
Hepatitis B immunoglobulin
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HC
Health Circular (DH)
HD
Harmonization Document
HD
* Health Directorate
HD
Hodgkins disease
HECR
Highly exothermic chemical reactions
HEDSET
Harmonised electronic data set (European Communities)
HELA
* Health and Safety Executive/Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee
HEO
Higher Executive Officer
HEPA
High efficiency particulate air (refers to high efficiency air filters)
HEPOL
* Health and Safety Executive/Police force Enforcement Liaison Committee
HES
Home electronic systems
HFL
Highly flammable liquid
HGV
Heavy goods vehicle
HHE
Health Hazard Evaluation
HHS
Hypothenar hammer syndrome
HHSI
High-head safety Injection
HI
Hazardous installation
HIA
Health Impact Assessment
HID
Hazardous Installations Directorate
HIPU
* Hazardous Installations Policy Unit, now part of CHID
HIV
Human Immunovirus/immunodeficiency virus
HMAI
* Her Majesty's Agricultural Inspectorate, now part of FOD
HMAC
Hazardous Materials Advisory Council (U.S.A.)
HMCG
Her Majesty's Coastguard
HMEI
* Her Majesty's Explosives Inspectorate
HMFI
* Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate
HMIM
* Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Mines
HMIP
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (part of Environment Agency)
HMIPI
Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland
HMNII
* Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
HMRI
* Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate
HN
Health Notice (DH)
HNMR
High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance
HO
Home Office
HoOPs
Head of Operations
HOTL
Heads of Testing Laboratories Working Group of the EEC
HPD
* Health Policy Division now Health Directorate
HPD
Hearing protection devices
HPLC
High performance liquid chromatography
HPM
Hazardous production materials
HPTLC
High performance thin layer chromatography
HPV
High production volume
HRD
* Human Resource Development
HRM
* Human Resource Management
HRMB
* Human Resource Management Branch
HRR
Health Risk Review
HRSC
Human resources service centre
HRU
* Human Resources Unit
HSA
Hazardous Substances Authority
HSA
Health and Safety Adviser
HSA
Health and Safety Authority (Republic of Ireland)
HSAC
* Health Services Advisory Committee
HSAM
* Health and Safety Administrative Minute
HSAM(GAP)
* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (General Administrative Procedures)
HSAM(INF)
* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (Information)
HSAM(PM)
* Health and Safety Administrative Minute (Personnel Management)
HSAO
Health and Safety Awareness Officer
HSC
* Health and Safety Commission
HSCER
Health and Safety (Consultation with Employers) Regulations
HSE
* Health and Safety Executive
HS(EA) Regs
* The Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977
HSE(M)
* HSE Electrical Equipment Certification and Approvals Authority (Mining)
HSELINE
* HSE Information Services publicly available computerised database of bibliographic references on health and safety at work. Also available on OSHROM
HSEM
* Health and Safety Executive Minute
HSENI
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
HSG
Health and Safety Guidance Booklet
HS(G)
* Health and Safety (Guidance) (Booklet)
HSK
Hauptabteilung fuer die Sicherheit der Kernanlagen Bundesamt fuer Energiewirtschaft (Switzerland)
HSL
* Health and Safety Laboratory
HSO
Higher Scientific Officer
HSPL
Health and Safety Policy Liaison (Department of Environment)
HS(R)
* Health and Safety (Regulations) (Booklet)
HST
High Speed Train
HSW Act
Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974
HSWA
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
HT
Hazard type
HT
High tension (electrical)
HTLV(III)
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
HTML
Hypertext mark up language
HTR
High temperature reactor
HV
High voltage
HVAC
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning
HVCA
Heating and Ventilation Contractors Association
HWE
Healthy Worker Effect
HWI
Hazardous Waste Inspectorate (DoE)
Hz
Hertz
HzSC
Hazardous Substances Consent

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I

Acronym
Description
IAC *
Industry Advisory Committee
IADC
International Association of Drilling Contractors
IAES
International Academy of Environmental Safety
IALI
International Association of Labour Inspection
IAM
Institute of Advanced Motorists
IARC
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO)
IAS *
Information and Advisory Services
IB
International Branch (part of Policy Unit)
IBN
Institut Belge de Normalisation (Belgium)
ICANN
International Cooperation for Assigned Names and Numbers
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
ICAP
International Code Assessment and Applications Programme
ICC
International Chamber of Commerce
ICE
Institute of Chartered Engineers
ICES
Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors
ICFMH
International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene
ICNIRP
International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection
ICOEH
International Commission for Occupational and Environmental Health
ICOH
International Commission on Occupational Health (Singapore)
ICOMH
International Committee on Occupational Mental Health
ICONE
Index Comparatif des Normes Europeenes (comparative index of European Standards)
ICPEMC
International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
ICRP
International Commission on Radiological Protection
ICRU
International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements
ICS
International Classification for Standards
ICS
Investors Compensation Scheme
ICSCA
Industry Co-operation on Standards and Conformity Assessment
ID
Infectious dose
ID
Internal diameter
IDCAFS
Inter-departmental Committee on Animal Feeding Stuffs
IDE
Institute of Demolition Engineers
IDEA
Improvement and Development Agency
IDLH
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
IEA
International Energy Agency (OECD)
IEB *
International and Environment Branch now International Section
IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission
IECC
Integrated Electronic Control Centre
IECEE
International Electrotechnical Commission's Certification Scheme
IEE
The Institution of Electrical Engineers
IEIC
Independent Engineering Insurers' Committee
IER
Institute of Employment Research now Institute of Employment Studies
IES
Institute for Employment Studies
IFAN
International Federation for the Application of Standards
IG
Immunoglobulin
IG *
Industry Group
IGUS
International Group for Unstable Substances (OECD)
IHAC
Industrial Health Advisory Committee
IHSSF
International Healthcare Safety and Security Foundation
IIAC
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
IiP
Investors in People
IIRSM
International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
ILA
Individual learning account
ILAC
International Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
ILB
Industry Lead Body
ILE
Institution of Lighting Engineers
ILGRA
Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment
ILMS *
Integrated Library Management System
ILO
International Labour Organisation
ILO *
Information Liaison Officer
ILS
Industrial Law Society
ILT
Industrial Language Training
ILV
Indicative Limit Value (now known as IOELVs - Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values
ILW
Intermediate level waste
ILWS
Inductive loop warning system
IM *
Information Manager
IMDG
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMECHE
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
IMO
International Maritime Organization (was IMCO)
IMS
Industrial methylated spirit
IMT
Inspection Management Team
IMU
Information Management Unit
IMW
Institute of Wastes Management (Northampton)
IN
Improvement Notice
IN
Issue Note
INCOTERMS
International rules for interpretation of terms frequently used in foreign trade contracts
INDG
Industry Guidance
IND(G)
Industry Guidance
INFCO
Standing Committee for the Study of Scientific and Technical Information on Standardization (ISO)
INFOTERRA
International Referral System for Sources of Environmental Information (UN)
INIEX
Institut National des Industries Extractives (Belgium)
INIS
International Nuclear Information Service (IAEA)
INM
Institute of Naval Medicine (Royal Navy)
INPACT
Institut pour l'Amelioration des Conditions de Travail (France)
INPO
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
INRS
Institut National de Recherche et de Securite (France)
INSEAD
Institut Europeen d'Administration des Affaires
INSHT
Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (Spain)
INTERTANKO
International Association of Independent Tanker Owners
INTEREP *
HSE and Information Services' computerised database of bibliographic references to confidential and unpublished documents on health and safety at work. Restricted to HSE staff
INTEREX *
HSE Information Services computerised database of exchange agreements with organisations in the UK and abroad
IO
Inspecting Officer (of Railways)
IOD
Institute of Directors
IOELV
Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Value
IOH
Institute of Occupational Health (University of Birmingham)
IOH
Institution of Occupational Hygienists
IOHA
International Occupational Hygiene Association
IOM
Institute of Occupational Medicine (Edinburgh)
IOMC
Interorganisation Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals
IOSH
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
IP
Injured person
IP
Institute of Physics
IPA
Isopropyl alcohol
IPC
Integrated pollution control
IPG *
Information Planning Group
IPLA
HM Inspectorate of Pollution/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee
IPMS
Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists
IPPC
Integrated pollution prevention and control
IPPR
Institute for Public Policy Research
IPR
Integrated pollution regulation
IPS
Integrated Protection System
IPT
Insurance Premium Tax
IQS
Institute of Quantity Surveyors
IR
Infra red
IR
Ionising radiation
IRAM
Instituto Argentino de Racionalizacion de Materiales (Argentina)
IRIS
Integrated Risk Information System (USA)
IRLR
Industrial Relations Law Report
IRM
Inspection repair and maintenance (Offshore)
IRM
Institute of Risk Management
IRO
Integrated Regional Offices
IRP
Institute of Radiation Protection
IRP
Intellectual Property Rights
IRPA
International Radiation Protection Association
IRPTC
International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (UN)
IRR
Ionising Radiations Regulations
IRRG
Ionising Radiations Research Group
IRRV
Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation
IR(SS) Regs
Ionising Radiations (Sealed Sources) Regulations
IR(URS) Regs
Ionising Radiations (Unsealed Radioactive Substances) Regulations
IS *
Information Services
IS *
Information Specialist
IS
Intrinsic safety
IS
Intrinsically safe
ISBN
International Standard Book Number(ing)
ISCA
International Standards Steering Committee for Consumer Affairs
ISEC
Information Strategy Executive Committee
ISGOTT
International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals
ISI
In-service inspection
ISIC
International standard industrial classification
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
ISP
International Standard Problem
ISRS
International Safety Rating System
ISSA
International Social Security Association
ISSG
Information Strategy Steering Group
ISTR
Institute of Safety in Technology and Research
ISVR
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (Southampton)
IT
Industrial Tribunal
IT
Information technology
ITB
Industry Training Board
ITB
Insurance Technical Bureau
ITSA
Independent Tank Storage Association
ITSI
Information Technology Standards Institute
IUPAC
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
IWEM
Institution of Water and Environmental Management
IWM
Institute of Wastes Management
IZ
Inner zone

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J

Acronym
Description
JAC
Joint Advisory Committee
JACR
Joint Advisory Committee Report
JDI
Joint Declaration of Intent
JDS
Joint Disciplinary Scheme
JEA
Japan Electric Association
JEC
Japanese Electrotechnical Committee
JFRO
Joint Fire Research Organisation
JIB
Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry
JIC
Joint Industrial Council
JIG
Job Interview Guarantee
JIS
Japanese Standard Association
JISC
Japanese Industrial Standards Committee
JISC
Joint Industry Safety Committee
JML
Japanese Ministry of Labour
JNC
Joint National Committee (IPMS, FDA, SCS)
JOCE
Journal Officiel des Communautes Europeennes
JRC
Joint Research Centre (EURATOM)
JSC
Joint Standing Committee
JSCR
Joint Standing Committee Report
JWG
Joint Working Group
JWP
Joint Working Party

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K

Acronym
Description
KAN
Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung
KHF
Know How Fund
KIT
Keep in touch
KTA
Kerntecnischer Ausschuss
KWU
Kraftwerk Union

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L

Acronym
Description
LA
Local authority
LAA
Laboratory animal allergy
LAA
Local Authority Associations
LAAPS
Local Authority Accident Prevention and Safety Services
LAC
Local Authority Circular
LACOTS
Local Authority Committee on Trading Standards
LADD
Lifetime average daily dose
LASER
Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
LASP
Local Authorities Strategic Programme
LASS
Leisure Accident Surveillance System
LAU
Local Authority Unit
LAUTRO
Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Office
LBA
London Boroughs Association
LBCNC
Land Based Colleges National Consortium
LBRO
Local better regulation office
LC *
Licence condition
LCDP
Local career development panels
LCIE
Laboratoire Central des Industries Electriques (France)
LCLo
Lethal concentration low
LCRG
Local Career Review Group
LC5O
Lethal concentration 50
LD
Land Division
LDA
Linear photodiode array
LDG
List of dangerous goods
LDLo
Lethal dose low
LD50
Lethal dose fifty
LEA
Local Enterprise Agency
LEL
Lower explosive limit
LEL
Lower exposure limit
LEQ
Equivalent continuous sound level
LEQ(8)hr
Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (normalised to 8 hours)
LEV
Local exhaust ventilation
LFDCA
London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
LFL
Lower flammability limit
LFS
Labour Force Survey
LGA
Local Government Association
LGSC
Landlord's gas safety certificate
LGTF
Local Government Task Force
LIF
Laser induced fluorescence
LIF
Lighting Industry Federation
LIFFE
London International Financial and Futures Exchange
LIMS
Laboratory Information Management Systems
LIS *
Library and Information Services, now Information Services
LITTS
Large Inventory Top Tier Site(s)
LLC *
Local Liaison Committee
LLMI
Local Labour Market Intelligence
LLP
Limited Liability Partnerships
LMFBR
Liquid metal fast breeder reactor
LMS
Labour Market System (employment data)
LNG
Liquefied natural gas
LOCA
Loss of coolant accident
LOCAE
List of Classified and Authorised Explosives
LOD
Limit of Detection
LOEL
Lowest Observed Effect Level
LOFT
Loss of Fluid Test Programme (OECD)
LOLER
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
LOPP
Large Organisations Pilot Project
LOQ
Limit of Quantitation
LOX
Liquid oxygen
LP
Liquefied petroleum
LP
Low pressure
LPA
Local Planning Authority
LPC
Loss Prevention Council
LPG
Liquefied petroleum gas
LPGA
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association
LPGITA
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Technical Association
LREC
Local Research Ethics Committee
LRT
Light rapid transit
LRV
Light rail vehicle
LSEV
Laboratoire des Substances Explosives de Vemeuil
LSS
Load scaling sensitivity
LTA
Lost time accident
LTI
Lost time incident
LTSRs
Long Term Safety Reviews
LUL
London Underground Limited
LV
Low voltage
LV
Low volume
LVD
Low voltage directive
LWC
Local Whitley Committee
LWR
Light water reactor
LWRA
London Waste Regulation Authority

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M

Acronym
Description
M & E
Mechanical and Electrical
MAC
Maximum Acceptable Concentration or Maximum Allowable Concentration
MACE
Multipurpose Automatic Control Equipment
MAFF *
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
MAFS
Management Arrangements Feasibility Study (in FOD)
MAG
Metal active gas
MAG
Metal arc gas
MAGNET
Minority Action Group Network
MAIB
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
MAK
Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentration(en) German
MAPP
Major Accident Prevention Policy
MAR
Management and Administration
MARCODE*
Database of Investigated Accidents (originally Marches Code)
MAS
(Civil Service) Medical Advisory Service, now Occupational Health and Safety Agency Ltd.
MaTSU
Marine Technology Support Unit
MAUK
Mining Association of the UK
MAWP
Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
MB
Management Board
MbO
Management by Objective(s)
MbOCA
4,4'Methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline)
MCA
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
MCB
Manually controlled barrier (crossings)
MCCS
Microclimate cooling system
MCG
Major Contractors Group
MCI
Management Charter Initiative
MCS
Microclimate cooling system
MCS
Mining Certification Service (See HSE (M))
MDHS
Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances
MDI
Diphenylmethane diisocyanate
MDI
Methyl diphenylene diisocyanate
MDTSA
Methods for the Detection of Toxic Substances in Air
ME
Myalgic encephalomyelitis
MECS *
Mining Equipment Certification Service (part of BASEEFA)
MEK
Methyl ethyl ketone
MEL *
Maximum Exposure Limit
MEPC
Marine Environment Protection Committee
MESG
Maximum experimental safe gap
MeV
Million electron volts or mega electron volts
MEWP
Mobile elevating work platform
MFCI
Molten Fuel Coolant Interaction
MH
Major hazards
MHAU *
Major Hazards Assessment Unit
MHIDAS
Major Hazards Incident Data Service. Database available on OSHROM
MHLWP
Major Hazards Legislation Working Party
MHSP
Major hazards strategic programme
MHSWR
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
(HM) MI
Mines Inspectorate
MI
Mandatory Investigation
MI
Myocardial infarction
MIC
Methyl isocyanate
MIC
Minimum ignition current
MIC
Mining Industry Committee
MIDAS
Machine information display and automation system
MIE
Minimum ignition energy
MIG
Metal inert gas
MIGE
Missile impact and gaseous explosions
MIIB
Major incident investigation board
MINOS
Mine Operating System
MIPG
Major incident progress group
MIPS
Median Index of Public Sector Tender Prices
MIRWMS
Merseyside Ionising Radiation Warning and Monitoring System
MIS
Management Information Systems
MIS
Manufacturers, importers and suppliers
MISHAP
Model for the Estimation of Individual Societal Risk from the Hazards of Pipelines
MLH
Minimum List Heading (of the Standard Industrial Classification)
MMMA
Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association
MMMF
Man-made mineral fibre
MMWR
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (USA)
MND
Motorneuron(e) disease
MNE
Multinational enterprise
MOCA
4,4' Methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline)
MOD
Ministry of Defence
MOD(AD)
Ministry of Defence (Army Dept)
MOD(AFD)
Ministry of Defence (Air Force Dept)
MOD(N)
Ministry of Defence (Naval Dept)
MOD(PE)
Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive)
MOR
Mortality Odds Ratio
MOTO
Memorandum of Terms of Occupancy
MoU
Memorandum of Understanding
MPC
Maximum Permissible Concentrations
MPC
Monetary Policy Committee
MPE
Maximum Permissible Exposure
MPO
Management and Personnel Office
MQ *
Mines and Quarries
MQB *
Mining Qualifications Board
(HM) MQI *
(HM) Mines and Quarries Inspectorate now Mines Inspectorate
MR
Mandatory Reporting
MRA
Mutual Recognition Agreement
MRDE
Mining Research and Development Establishment (now Coal Research Establishment)
MREC
Multicentre Research Ethics Committee
MRL
Maximum Residue Limit
MS
Manuscript
MS
Mass spectrometry
MS
Member State (of European Union)
MSC
Maritime Safety Commission
MSD
Musculoskeletal disorder
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet(s)
MSER
Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations
MSF
Manufacturing Science Finance Union
MSHC
Mines Safety and Health Commission (sometimes used instead of SHCMOEI)
MSIV
Main steam isolating valve
MSLB
Main steam line break
MT
Management Trainee
MTD
Marine Technology Directorate
MTIRA
Machine Tool Industry Research Association (now AMTRI)
MU
Multiple Unit (train)
MVA
Market value added
MVBR
Motor vehicle body repair
MVR
Motor vehicle repair
MW
Microwave
MWF
Metalworking fluid(s)
MWL
Miniature warning light
MZ
Middle zone

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N

Acronym
Description
NAAFI
Navy, Army, Air Force Institute
NAC
National Agricultural Centre
NACB
National Accreditation of Certification Bodies
NADOR
Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
NAFE
Non-advanced further education
NAFLIC
National Association for Leisure Industry Certification
NAIR
National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity
NAM
National Account Managers
NAO
National Audit Office
NAPP *
Non-Agricultural Pesticides Panel
NAPS
Nationwide Association of Preserving Specialists
NARM
Naturally occurring and accelerator produced radioactive material
NASC
National Association of Scaffolding Contractors
NATLAS
National Testing Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
NATM
New Austrian Tunnelling Method
NAWDC
National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors
NCB
National Coal Board, now British Coal Corporation
NCEC
National Chemical Emergency Centre
NCF
National Contractors Federation
NCIS
National Criminal Intelligence Service
NCSIIB
National Certification Scheme for Inservice Inspection Bodies
NCVQ
National Council for Vocational Qualifications
NDLB
National Dock Labour Board
NDPB
Non Departmental Public Body
NDT
Non-destructive testing
NE
Nuclear Electric
NEA
Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD)
NEB
Nuclear Energy Board of Ireland, Dublin
NEBOSH
National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
NEBR
Nuclear Emergency Briefing Room
NEBROSH
National Examination Board in Risk, Occupational Safety and Health
NEC
National Executive Committee
NEC
Net Explosives Content
NEC
Network Emergency Co-ordinator
NEDB
National Exposure Data Base
NEMKO
Norges Elektriske Materiellkontroll (Norway)
NEPLG
Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group
NESC
Network for Evaluating Steel Components
NES
Not Elsewhere Specified
NFB
National Federation of Builders
NFCI
National Federation of Clay Industries
NFDC
National Federation of Demolition Contractors
NFRC
National Federation of Roofing Contractors
NGL
Natural gas liquid(s)
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
NHBC
National House Building Council
NI
Nominated Inspector
NI
Northern Ireland
NIAOA
National Insurance Agency Against Occupational Accidents (Italy)
NICE
National Institute for Clinical Excellence
NIDA
National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA)
NIEHS
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIG *
National Interest Group
NIGM *
National Interest Group Minute
NIH
National Institutes of Health (USA)
NIHHS
Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations
NIHL
Noise induced hearing loss
(HM) NII *
(HM) Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (operational arm of the Nuclear Safety Directorate, Health and Safety Executive)
NIMEXE
Harmonised nomenclature for foreign trade statistics of the EEC
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (USA)
NIOSHTIC
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health database, available on OSHROM
NIR
Non-ionising radiation
NIR
Northern Ireland Railway
NIREX
Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive
NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
NJUG
National Joint Utilities Group
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
NNC
National Nuclear Corporation
NNI
Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut (Netherlands)
NOAEL
No Observed Adverse Effect Level
NOES
National Occupational Exposure Survey (U.S.A.)
NONS
Notification of New Substances Regulations
NPF
Nominal protection factor
NPTC
National Proficiency Tests Council
NRA
National Rivers Authority
NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USA)
NRG *
National Responsibility Group now National Interest Group
NRPB
National Radiological Protection Board
NRT
National Responsibility Team
NSCC
National Specialist Contractors Council
NSD *
Nuclear Safety Directorate, Health and Safety Executive
NSF
Norges Standardiseringsforbund (Norway)
NSRMU
Nuclear Safety Research Management Unit
NSRSG
Nuclear Safety Research Steering Group
NSSF
National Standardisation Strategic Framework
NSSS
Nuclear steam supply system
NTI
New Training Initiative
NTIS
National Technical Information Service (USA)
NTP
Normal temperature and pressure
NTP
National Toxicology Program (USA)
NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board (USA)
NUI
Normally Unattended Installation
NUREG
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission publication
NUSAC
Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee
NVLAP
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (US)
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification

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O

Acronym
Description
OAC
Operational analysis and control model
OB *
Operations Branch. OSD
Obs
Obsolete/Obsolescent
OBST
Operational Business Systems Team
OC
Open crossing
OC *
Operational Circular
OCB
Offshore Certification Bureau
OCD
Occupational cerviobrachial disorder
OCMI
Organisation cultural maturity index
OCR
Opportunity Cost Rent
OCR 1322 Scheme
Management of health and safety and welfare for small and medium sized businesses in the construction industry
OCT
Overseas Countries and Territories
OD
Organisation(al) Development
ODA
Olympic Delivery Authority
OECD-IGUS
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - International Group of Experts on the Explosion Risks of Unstable Substances
OEL
Occupational exposure limit
OES *
Occupational exposure standard
OfGAS
Office of Gas Supply
OFGEM
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
OFTEL
Office of Telecommunications
OFWAT
Office of Water Services
OG
Operations Group
OGC
Office of Government Commerce
OGD
Other Government Departments
OGU
Open Government Unit
OH
Occupational health
OHAC *
Occupational Health Advisory Committee
OHASP
Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner
OHEU *
Occupational Health and Environment Unit
OHP
Overhead projector
OHS
(Civil Service) Occupational Health Service
OHSLB
Occupational Health and Safety Lead Body
OIAC *
Oil Industry Advisory Committee
OIE
Office International des Epizooties
OILM
International Organization of Legal Metrology
OIML
International Organization of Legal Metrology
OIM
Offshore Installations Manager
OITAF
International Organization for Transportation by Rope
OJ
Official Journal (of the European Communities)
OJEC
Official Journal of the European Communities
OLC
Occupation level crossing
OLC
Open level crossing
OLE
Object linking and embedding
OM
Operations Manager
OM *
Operational Minute
OMCS
Office of the Minister for the Civil Service
OME
Ontario Ministry of Environment
OMF *
Operations Managers Forum
OMHL *
Occupational Medicine and Hygiene Laboratory
OMT
Operations management team
OOPEC
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
OP
Occasional Paper
OP
Organophosphate/Organophosphorus
OPA *
Output and Performance Analysis
OPIP
Operational Process Improvement Project
OPM
Output and Performance Measures
OPO
One Person Operated
OPSD
Operational Support and Policy Division
OPSS
Office of Public Service and Science
ORR
Office of the Rail Regulator
OSC
Off-Site Centre
OSC
Operational Safety Case
OSD *
Offshore Safety Division
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)
OSHCD
Occupational Safety and Health Compact Disc
OSHIG
Occupational Safety and Health Information Group
OSHLB
Occupational Safety and Health Lead Body
OSHRC
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (USA)
OSHROM
Occupational Safety and Health (Compact Disc) Read Only Memory. Contains NIOSHTIC, CISDOC, HSELINE, MHIDAS databases
OSIRIS
Optical scattering instantaneous respirable dust indication system
OSRP Act
Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963
OSRPA
Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act
OST
Office of Science and Technology
OSU PIGI
Operational Support Unit's Procedures, Instructions, Guidance, Information
OSZHD
Organisation for the Collaboration of Railways (E. Europe)
OTAR
Overseas Tariffs and Regulations
OTSB
Offshore Safety and Technology Board
OTSU
Open Tech Support Unit
OU
Operations Unit
OVC
Occupational Violent Crime
OZ
Outer Zone

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P

Acronym
Description
P & I
Piping and Instrumentation (diagram)
P & T
Professional and Technology Category
Pa
Pascal (S.I. unit of pressure)
PA
Planning authority
PA
Put away (on registered files)
PABIAC *
Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee
PACA
Preventing Accidents to Children in Agriculture
PADHI
Planning Advice for Developments near Hazardous Installations
PAG *
Programme Action Group (of Securing Health Together)
PAH
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
PAIT
Post-Acceptance Inspection Topic
PANs
Personnel Advice Notes
PASC
Pacific Area Standards Congress
PAT
Proficiency Analytical Testing
PATRAM
Packaging and Transport of Radioactive Materials
PBB
Polybrominated biphenyl
PBN
Permanent Background Notices
PBZ
Personal breathing zone
PC
Personal computer
P(C)A
Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928
PCA
Public Contractors Association
PCAH
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
PCAW
Public Concern at Work
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyl
PCBP's
Polychlorinated biphenylenes
PCIAOH
Permanent Commission and International Association on Occupational Health
PCM
Phase contrast microscopy
PCM
Plutonium contaminated material
PCS
Public and Commercial Services Union
PCSPS
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
PCSR
Pre-construction safety report
Pct
Polychlorinated Triphenyls
PD
Promotion dossier
PDO
Personal Development Objectives
PDS
Professional Development Scheme
PE
Photo-electric
PEC
Packaging of Explosives for Carriage Regulations
PEFD *
Planning Efficiency and Finance Division
PEGS
Pesticide Exposure Group of Sufferers
PEL
Permissible Exposure Limit (U.S. Dept. of Labour)
PER
Professional and Executive Recruitment
PERU
Pay and Employee Relations Unit
PES
Programmable electronic systems
PES
Public expenditure survey
PF
Personal file
PF
Procurator Fiscal
PFA
Pulverised fuel ash
PFD
Primary flash distillate
PFEER
Prevention of Fire Explosion and Emergency Response Regulations
PFP
Process fire precautions
PGI
Protected geographical indication
PGR
Road Transport (Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Packages etc) Regulations
PH
Property holdings
PH
Public Health
PHELA
Pesticides HSE/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee
PHO
Public Health Officer
PHIPCO
Public Health and Industrial Pesticides Council
PHSA
Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990
PI *
Principal Inspector
PIA
Professional Investment Authority
PIAC *
Printing Industry Advisory Committee
PIACT
International Programme for the Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (ILO)
PIAP
Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel
PICOP
Person in Charge of Possession (trains)
PICOW
Person in Charge of Works (Railways)
PID
Project iInitiation document
PIHS
Preliminary industrial hygiene survey
PII
Professional indemnity insurance
PILON
Payments in lieu of notice
PIN
Publication Information Notice
PIO
Principal Inspecting Officers (of Railways)
PIPI
Pipelines Inspectorate
PIRER
Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations
PISC
Programme for the Inspection of Steel Components
PIZ
Public Information Zone
PLACO
Planning Committee (ISO)
PLC
Public Level Crossing
PLC
Programmable logic circuits
PLC
Programmable logic controller
PLTB
Programmed learning text book
PM
Permanent Manuals
PMA
Paintmakers Association (of Great Britain)
PMDA
Plastics Machinery Distributors' Association
PMF
Progressive massive fibrosis
PMR
Proportional mortality ratios
PMS
Paint mixing system(s)
PN
Prohibition notice
PO
Private Office
POCO
Post Operational Cleanout (Nuclear)
POHL
Principal Officer Health Liaison
POMSTER
Placing on the Market and Supervision of Transfers of Explosives Regulations
POOSH
Professional Organisations in Occupational Health and Safety
POPMAR
Policy, organising, planning and implementing, measuring, auditing and reviewing
POPUMET
Protection of Persons undergoing Medical Examinations or Treatment
PORV
Power-operated relief valve
POSH
Policies for Strategy on Health
POSR
Pre-operation Safety Review
PoW
Plan of Work
PP Regs
Power Presses Regulations
PPE
Personal protective equipment
PPEB
Policy Projects and Environment Branch, part of Policy Unit
PPHSLC
Plastics Processing Health and Safety Liaison Committee
ppm
Parts per million
PPM
Process and production method
PPMA
Petrol Pump Manufacturers Association
PPTO
Principal Professional and Technology Officer
PQ
Parliamentary Question
PR & D
Public Research and Development
PRA
Paint Research Association
PRA
Probabilistic risk analysis
PRA
Probabilistic risk assessment
PRAM
Pipeline risk assessment method
prEN
project EN
PRI
Plastics and Rubber Institute
PRINCE
Projects Via Controlled Environment
PRISM
Personnel Record Information Systems for Management
PRS *
Pesticides Registration Section
PRS
Property Repayment Scheme
PRU
Pay Research Unit
PRV
Pressure relief valve
PS
Personal Secretary
PSA
Probabilistic safety analysis
PSA
Public Service Agreements
PSAR
Preliminary safety analysis report
PSB
Professional Staffs Branch
PSC
Port State Control
PSDU *
Personnel Services Delivery Unit
PSGB
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Psaf
Particle size distribution function
psi
Pounds per square inch
PSI
Principal Specialist Inspector
PSO
Principal Scientific Officer
PSO
Professional Standards Office
PSR
Pipelines Safety Regulations
PSPS
Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme
PSSR
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations
PST
Professional, Scientific and Technical
PSV
Planned Special Visit
PTB
Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt
PTF
Petroleum Training Federation
PTFE
Polytetrafluoroethylene
PTO
Professional and Technology Officer
PTOM
Pays et territoires d'outre-mer
PTW
Permit to work
PU *
Planning Unit, part of Resources and Planning Directorate
PU
Policy Unit
PU
Polyurethane
PU
Public utility
PUF
Polyurethane foam
PURPOSES
Purchase Management System
PUSU *
Policy Unit Support unit
PUWER
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
PWP
Personal Work Plan
PWR
Pressurised water reactor
PWTAG
Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group

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Q

Acronym
Description
QA
Quality assurance
QAC
Quality Assurance Committee
QBD
Queen's Bench Division
QC
Quality control
QMS
Quality management systems
QNFT
Quantitative fit testing
QNIG
Quarries National Interest Group
QPB
Quarterly Programme Board
QRA
Quantified risk assessment
QRG
Quarterly Return Group
QSEs
Qualified scientists and engineers
qv
quod vide (which see)

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R

Acronym
Description
R
Risk phrases (ie R40, R42) as defined by the Approved List of the CHIP Regulations
R2P2
Reducing Risks Protecting People
R & D
Research and Development
RAB
Resource Accounting and Budgeting
RAC
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (USA)
RALG
Risk Assessment Liaison Group
RALUCO
Radioactive luminous compound
RAMG
Regulatory Assistance Management Group
RAMRail
The Packaging, Labelling and Carriage of Radioactive Material by Rail Regulations 1996
RAMRoad
The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Great Britain) Regulations 1996
RAPU *
Risk Assessment Policy Unit
RAS
Recruitment and Assessment Services (Civil Service)
RAS
Remote access service
RASH
Rapid screening of hazard
RASP *
Replacement Accounting System Project (New Accounting Computer System)
RATs
Remote access terminals
RAWS
Regional Administrative Works Study
RCD
Residual current device
RCEP
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
RCH
Railway Clearing House
RCO
Regulatory compliance officer
RCP
Reactor coolant pump
RCS
Reactor coolant system
RCS
Royal Society of Chemistry
RD
Regional Director
RDMA
Regulatory decision making audit
RDP
Registered disabled person
REACH
Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals
REAT
Real ear attenuation at threshold
REC
Research Ethics Committee
REGS
Regulations
REHIS
Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
REL
Recommended exposure limit
REM
Roentgen Equivalent-Man
REM
Rapid eye movement
REMA
Regional Employment Medical Adviser
REMCO
Committee on Reference Materials (ISO)
REPAC
Regional Protection Advisory Committee
REPPIR
Radiation (Emergency) Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations
RESHORB
Racial Equality, Health and Safety and Overseas Recruitment Branch (in ED) now Health and Safety Policy Liaison
RF
Radio frequency
RFAC
Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee
RFD
Rail freight distribution
RFDC
Regional Flood Defence Committee
RFMS
Radio frequency magnetron sputtering
RHRS
Residual heat removal system
RHS *
Revitalising Health and Safety
RI *
Railway Inspectorate
RIA
Regulatory Impact Assessment
RIAC *
Railway Industry Advisory Committee
RIAS
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
RICE
Regular interlaboratory counting exchange
RICS
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
RID
Reglements Internationales Relatif au Transport des Marchandises Dangereuses par Chemin de Fer
RIDDOR
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
RIIS
Research Institute of Industrial Safety (Japan)
RIMNET
Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network
RIP
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
RIPA
Royal Institute of Public Administration
RIS
Resource Information System
RISKAT
Risk Assessment Tool
RLO
Research Liaison Officer
RLSD *
Research and Laboratory Services Division [see HSL]
RMTD
Radioactive Materials Transport Division of the Department of Transport
RNA
Ribonucleic acid
RNE
Reseau National D'Essais. (France)
RNES
Royal Naval Engineering Service
RNIP
Regulatory Nuclear Interface Protocol
RNSS
Royal Naval Scientific Service
RO
Regional Office
ROAMEF
Rationale, Objectives, Appraisal, Monitoring, Evaluation and Feedback
ROGWU
Russian Oil, Gas and Construction Workers Union
ROIT
Regional Office of Industrial Tribunals
ROPS
Roll-over protection system
RoR
Review of Regulation
RoRo
Roll-on Roll-off vehicle ferry
RoSPA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
ROSV
Remote operated solenoid valve
RPA
Radiation Protection Adviser
RPD *
Resources and Planning Directorate
RPD (FAS) *
Resources and Planning Division (Financial and Accounting Section)
RPE
Respiratory protective equipment
RPS
Reactor protection system
RPS *
Research Planning Section (of HSL)
RPSGB
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
RPV
Reactor pressure vessel
RSA60
Radioactive Substances Act 1960
RSC
Royal Society of Chemistry
RSH
Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
RSI
Repetitive strain injury
RSLs
Registered Social Landlords
RSM *
Regional Support Manager
RSPA
Research and Special Programs Administration (USA)
RSP
Relevant statutory provision
RSP
Registered safety practitioner
RSSG
Royal Society Study Group
RSU *
Research Strategy Unit
RTA
Road traffic accident
RTD
Research Technology and Development Projects
RTR
Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations
RUBIAC *
Rubber Industry Advisory Committee
RUBSSO
Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives
RWA
Regional Water Authority
RWMAC
Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

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S

Acronym
Description
S
Section
S & C
Switches and crossings
S & T
Signal and telecommunications
S and LP
Safety and loss prevention
SABE
Strategic Advisory Body on Environment
SAC
Subject Advisory Committee
SACA
Systemic accident cause analysis
SAI
Safety appliance illustration
SAM
Senior Admin Manager
SAP
Safety assessment principles
SAP
Safety assurance principles
SAP
Social Action Programme
SARA
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (U.S.A.)
SASD
Strategy and Analytical Support Directorate
SBS
Sick building syndrome
SBTAF
Small Business Trade Association Forum
SC
Safety case
SC
Skillcentre
SCANS *
Selective Current Awareness Newsheets produced by HSE Information Services on a variety of topics
SCASUG
Safety Case Assessment System Users Group
SCBA
Self contained breathing apparatus
SCC
Safety Case Co-ordinator
SCC *
Situations Co-ordination Centre
SCC
Standards Council of Canada
SCDO
Safety Case Distribution Officer
SCE
Safety critical element
SCE
Sister chromatid exchanges
SCHAM
Safety Case Handling and Assessment Manual
SCHELA
Standards of Compliance sub-committee of HELA
SChIF *
Senior Chemical Inspector of Factories
SCISAS
Size classifying isokinetic sequential aerosol sampler
SCLE
Scottish Construction Licensing Executive
SCMST
Safety Case Management Support Team
SCOPE
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (ICSU)
SCOS
Scottish Chamber of Safety
SCOSS
Standing Committee on Structural Safety
SCR
Safety Case Regulations
SCS
Safety Case (IT) Systems
SCS
Society of Civil Servants
SCSR
Self-contained self-rescuer (Mining)
SCU
Survey Control Unit (of the Central Statistical Office)
SDA
Service Delivery Agreement
SDD
Scottish Development Department
SDI *
Selective dissemination of information
SDIA
Soap and Detergent Industries Association
SDR
Special Drawing Rights
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
SECG
Specialist Engineering Contractors Group
SEI
Safety Environment Institute (U.S.A.)
SEL *
Safety Engineering Laboratory, now part of HSL
SELECT
Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland
SELV
Safety extra low voltage
SEM
Scanning electron microscopy
SEMA *
Senior Employment Medical Adviser
SEMKO
Svenska Electriska Materielkontrollanstalten (Sweden)
SENA *
Senior Employment Nursing Adviser
SEO
Senior Executive Officer
SEO
Special Exemption Order
SEPA
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
SEPD
Scottish Economic Planning Department
SERDS
Single ended ranging drum shearer
SES *
Safety and Enforcement Statistics
SET
Science Engineering and Technology
SEV
Schweizerischen Elektrotechnischen Vereins (Switzerland)
SF
Subject File
SFA
Securities and Futures Authority
SFAIRP
So far as is reasonably practicable
SFS
Finnish Standards Association
SFS
Suomen Standardsoimisliitto (Finland)
SG
Specialist Group
SGD *
Strategy and General Division now Policy Unit
SGGB
Showmen's Guild of Great Britain
SGHWR
Steam generating heavy water reactor
SGMSEC
Scientific Group on methodologies for the safety evaluation of chemicals (WHO/ICSU)
SH2 *
Securing Health Together
SHAD
Safety Health and Awareness Day
SHCMOEI
Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries
SHEG
Scottish Health Education Group
SHELA
Statistics sub-committee of HELA
SHIELD *
Safety and Health Information - Establishment Linked Data
SI *
Specialist inspector
SI
Statutory Instrument
SI
Systeme Internationale
SIB
Safety Information Bulletin (DH)
SIB
Securities and Investment Board (succeeded by FSA)
SIC
Standard Industrial Classification
SIC
Statement of Internal Control
SID
Specialised Industries Division
SIESO
Society of Industrial Emergency Services Officers
SIL
Safety integrity level
SIMVIDOSE
Simultaneous Video Dose
SIN
Substance Identification Number
SIP
Site Inspection Programme
SIPI
Scottish Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (see also HMIPIS)
SIR *
Specialist Inspection Report
SIRP
Society of Independent Roundabout Proprietors
SIS
Standarisering Kommissionen i Sverige (Sweden)
SIT
Spontaneous ignition temperature
SITC
Standard International Trade Classification
SITC(R)
Standard international trade classification (revised)
SIT(R2)
Standard international trade classification (2nd revision)
SITTS
Small Inventory Top Tier Site(s)
SIU *
Strategy and Information Unit
SLA
Service level agreement
SLIC
Senior Labour Inspectors Committee
SLIM
Simpler Legislation for Internal Markets
SLM
Short Life Memorandum
SLOD
Significant likelihood of death
SLOT
Specified level of toxicity
SM *
Sector Manager
SMART
Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound
SMDP
Senior Management Development Programme
SME
Small and medium-sized enterprises
SMIL
Statistics and market intelligence library (DTI)
SMP *
Safety Management Prospectus
SMR *
Senior Management Review
SMR
Standardised morbidity ratio
SMR
Standardised mortality ratio
SMR
Stress MSD and Return 2 Work
SMRAB *
Safety in Mines Research Advisory Board
SMRE *
Safety in Mines Research Establishment
SMS
Safety Management System
SMSR
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations
SMSU *
Senior Management Support Unit
SNHL
Sensory neural hearing loss
SNUPPS
Standardised nuclear unit power plant system
SNV
Association Suisse de Normalisation (Switzerland)
SO
Scientific Officer
SO *
Solicitor's Office
SOC
Standing Orders Committee
SOEC
Statistical Office of the European Communities
SOER
Scottish Office Emergency Room
SOFA
Statement of Financial Activities (needed by Charities)
SOFHT
Society of Food Hygiene Technology
SOL *
Solicitor's Office
SOLAS
Safety of Life at Sea
SOPs
Standard Operating Procedures
SORP
Statement of Recommended Practice
SOUP
Software of uncertain pedigree
SPAD *
Signal passed at danger
SPAID
Society for the Prevention of Asbestosis and Industrial Diseases
SPATS
Senior Professional Administrative Training Scheme
SPC
Semi-Permanent Circulars
SPD *
Safety Policy Directorate
SPF
Science Policy Foundation
SPGU *
Strategy Policy and Guidance Unit
SQL
Structured query language
SRA
Strategic Rail Authority
SRD
Safety and Reliability Directorate (AEA Technology)
SRO
Statutory Regulation Order
SRSC
Safety Representatives and Safety Committees
SRI
Safety Related Instrumentation
SRP
Society for Radiological Protection
ss.
Sections
SS
Staff Side
SSAP
Statement of Standard Accounting Practice
SSB *
Statistical Services Branch now Operations Unit
SSC
Scientific sub-committee (of ACP)
SSE
Safe Shutdown Earthquake
SSERC
Scottish Schools Science Equipment Research Centre
SSG
Scientific Staffs Group
SSI
Solid state interlocking
SSI *
Superintending Specialist Inspector
SSMSU
Strategy and Senior Management Services Unit
SSO
Senior Scientific Officer
STA
Skills Training Agency (Employment Department)
STABEX
Export earnings stabilisation scheme
STACO
Standing Committee for the Study of Principles of Standardization (ISO)
STAJ
Science and Technology Agency (Japan)
STATAS
Structured Audit Techniques for Assessment of Safety Management
STC
Scientific and Technical Committee (EC)
STEL
Short term exposure limit
STEP
Science and Technology for Employment Protection
StEP
Strategic enabling programmes
STP
Scientific and Technological Programme (EC)
STRC
Scientific and Technical Research Committee (EC)
STS
Soft tissue sarcoma
SVHC
Substances of very high concern
SWEF
Swedish Work Environment Fund (Sweden)
SWIFT
Structured What-If Technique
SWL
Safe working load
SWO
Staff Welfare Officer
SWORD
Surveillance of Work Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease
SWP
Safe working pressure
SYSPU
Systems Planning and Strategy Unit, part of Railway Inspectorate

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T

Acronym
Description
t
tonne(s)
T
Toxic
TA
Training Agency
TA
Technical Adviser
TA
Topic Assessor
TACADE
Teachers Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Drug Education
TAG
Technical Advisory Group
TAM
Topic Assessment Manager
TAR
Topic Assessment Record
TBT Agreement
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
TC
Tar Creosote
TC
Track Circuit
TCDD
Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin
TCLo
Toxic Concentration Low
TCPA
Town and Country Planning Act 1971
TCPSA
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972
TCSU
Technical Computing Services Unit
TDGSA
Transport of Dangerous Goods (Safety Advisers) Regulations
TDI
Toluene diisocyanate
TDLo
Toxic dose low
TDN
Technical Data Note now replaced by HSE Guidance Notes
TDU
Toxic dose unit
TEAM *
Technically evaluated advisory materials
TEAP
Transportation Emergency Assistance Plan (Canada)
TEC
Training and Enterprise Council (Training Agency)
TELARC
Testing Laboratory Registration Council of New Zealand
TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
TEXIAC *
Textiles Industry Advisory Committee
TFPI
Tripartite Forum on Health and Safety in the Pharmaceutical Industry
TGA
Thermogravimetric analysis
TGIC
Triglycidyl Isocyanurate
THELA
Training sub-committee of HELA
TGWU
Transport and General Workers Union
THORP
Thermal oxide reprocessing plant
THSD *
Technology and Health Services Division, now Directorate of Science and Technology
TIG
Tungsten Inert Gas
TIL *
Technical Information Leaflet
TIR
Transport International Routier
TLI *
Training Liaison Inspector
TLO *
Training Liaison Officer
TLV
Threshold limit value
TM
Testing memorandum
TM *
Training Manager
TM *
Typing Manager
TMA
Trimellitic Anhydride
TML
Trans Manche Link
TMSG *
Technical, Medical and Science Group
TNO
Organisatie voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek
TNPG
The Nuclear Power Group
TOC
Train Operating Company
TOFD
Time-of-Flight-Diffraction (ultrasonic inspection)
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System - British Rail
TOR
Tolerability of Risk
TORCH
Transferring Ownership Responsibility and Commitment for Hazard Control
TP
Temporary Promotion
TPC
Technical Progress Committee (EC)
TPED
Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive
TPR
Transportable Pressure Receptacles
TQ
Total Quality
TRC
Technology Reports Centre
TRC
Textile Research Council
TRC
The Radiochemical Centre Ltd.
TRNS *
Technical rules, new series (issued by EECS)
TSB
Technical Staffs Branch
TSCA
Toxic Substances Control Act (USA)
TSI
Technical Specifications for Interoperability
TSWG
Track Safety Working Group
TTO
Telecommunications Technical Officers
TU *
Technology Unit. OSD
TU
Trade Union
TUC
Trades Union Congress
THORP
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
TUS
Trade Union Side
TUTB
European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (Belgium)
TVI
Tutored Video Instruction
TW
Thames Water
TWA
Time-Weighted Average
TWI
Training Within Industry

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U

Acronym
Description
UA
Unit of Account
UBA
Umweltbundesamt (Germany)
UCATT
Union of Construction Allied Trade Technicians
UCO
Use Classes Order
UCSIP
Union des Chambres de l'Industrie du Petrole
UDC
Universal Decimal Classification
UDRP
Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy
UDS
Unscheduled DNA synthesis
UEL
Upper explosive limit
UEL
Upper exposure limit
UFL
Upper flammability limit
UHS
Ultimate heat sink
UILI
Union of International Independent Laboratories
UKAEA
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
UKAS
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
UKCS
United Kingdom Continental Shelf
UKHIS
United Kingdom Hazard Information System
UKIBEC
United Kingdom Insurance Brokers' European Committee
UKMIS
United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations
UKOOA
United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association
UKPIA
United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association
UKREP
United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the EC
UL
Underwriters Laboratories (USA)
ULV
Ultra Low Volume
UNCETDG
United Nationals Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
UNCLOS
United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea
UNCSTD
United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development
UNECE
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
UNI
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (Italy)
UNICE
Union des Industries de la Communaute Europeenne
UNIDO
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
UNIG
Utilities National Interest Group
UNM
Union de Normalisation de la Mecanique (France)
UNSCEAR
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
URENCO
Dutch/German/UK organisation for uranium enrichment
USA
Universities Safety Association
USAS
United States of America Standards Institute
USNRC
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
UTE
Union Technique de l'Electricite (France)
UV
Ultra Violet
UVCE
Unconfined vapour cloud explosion
UVV
Unfallverhutungsvorschrift (Germany)
UWC
User Worked Crossing
UWED
Use of Work Equipment Directive (EC)

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V

Acronym
Description
V/A
Visual Aid
VCE
Vapour Cloud Explosion
VCM
Vinyl Chloride Monomer
VCW
Voluntary Cessation of Work
VDT
Visual Display Terminal
VDU
Visual Display Unit
VFM
Value for Money
VHF
Viral haemorrhagic Fever
VLCC
Very Large Crude Carrier
VMD
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
VNMS
Variable wall mining system
VOC
Volatile Organic Compounds
VPC
Veterinary Products Committee
VPN
Virtual private network
VSC
Voluntary Safety Cases
VWF
Vibration white finger

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W

Acronym
Description
WA
Water Authority
WAG
Welsh Assembly Government
WASP *
Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency
WATCH *
Working Group for the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals (ACTS)
WB
Wet bulb
WBGT
Wet bulb globe temperature
WBV
Whole body vibration
WCDP
Widows', Children's and Dependents' Pension
WCL
World Confederation of Labour (Christian Democrat)
WCM
Weekly Circular Minute
WCO
Workplace Contact Officer
WE
Work Experience
WEC
Work of Engineering Construction
WEG
Working Exposure Guidelines
WG
Working group
WGIR
Working Group on Ionising Radiations
WHMIS
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHO
World Health Organization
WIAS
West Indies Associated States
WING
Work Injured Nurses Group
WINTECH
Welsh Innovation and Technology
WIPO
World Intellectual Property Organisation
WISH
Waste Industry Safety and Health (Forum)
WLM
Working Levels per Month
WMIA
Woodworking Machinery Importers' Association
WML
Wireless markup language
WO
Welsh Office
WP
Word Process(-ing/-or)
WP
Working Party
WP.6
UN/ECE Working Party on Harmonization and Standardization Policies
WP.29
UN/ECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations
WPA
White Paper Account
WRA
Waste Regulation Authority
WRRS
Work-Related Road Safety
WRULD
Work related upper limb disorders
WSA
Workers' Safety Adviser
WSC *
Warhead Safety Committee
WSF
Wrong Side Failure (Railways)
WSL
Warren Spring Laboratory
WSO
World Safety Organisation (USA)
WTO
World Trade Organization
w/w
Weight for weight
WWM Regs
The Woodworking Machines Regulations
WWREA
Wire and Wire Rope Employers Association
WWT
Working Well Together

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X

Acronym
Description
XBRL
Extensible Business Reporting Language
XI
Irritant
XML
Extensible markup language
Xn
Harmful
XPS
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
XRD
X-ray diffraction
XRF
X-ray fluorescence

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Y

Acronym
Description
YP
Young Person
YTS
Youth Training Scheme

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Updated 2023-04-03