2008 

NEBOSH IGC - Some Definitions for

Common Words and Phrases

 
 

ETA Consultancy®
 NEBOSH IGC DEFINITIONS 
COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES 
From time to time in its examinations NEBOSH ask their candidates to give a definition of a key
word or explain its meaning briefly.
Following is a list of the more common used key words on the NEBOSH International General
Certificate course, the aim being to assist students in understanding such terms.
The listing is not exhaustive and candidates are requested to cross refer with notes where
possible to ensure that they are comfortable with the contents and any definitions or outlines that
they may have to generate.
For ease of reference the key words have been placed in alphabetical order.

Key Word Definition and or Explanation

ACCIDENTS Are undesired and unplanned events which
may cause
• Personal injury,
• Damage to property or equipment, or
• Loss of output, or
• All three.

APTITUDE Aptitude refers to an individual’s ability in

respect of something - their knowledge and
skills, and general ease of learning and
understanding, about it.

ATTITUDES An attitude is a person’s point of view or way of

looking at something, and gives him or her a
tendency, readiness or predisposition to act or
react in a particular way in a given situation.

COMMUNICATION The flow of information between two parties

that is understood by each party
 Key Word Definition and or Explanation
CONFINED SPACE Any place, including any chamber, tank, vat,
silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or similar
space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature,
there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified
risk.
Specified risk means a risk to any person at
work of:
• Serious injury arising from fire or explosion
• Loss of consciousness arising from an
increase in body temperature
• Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation
arising from gas, fume, vapour or the lack
of oxygen
• Drowning arising from the increase in the
level of liquid
• Asphyxiation arising from a free flowing
solid or because of entrapment by it.

CONSULTING Discussing matters of importance between two

parties, taking account of all opinions and
reaching a decision based on the discussion.
Allows people to make a personal contribution
to the decision-making process

CONTROL MEASURE Any measure implemented to eliminate, reduce

or control the risks from a hazard

DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES These are events or situations that could harm

employees at work in such a way that there is a
legal requirement to report them. If something
happens which does not result in a major
injury, but clearly could have done, it may be
classed as a dangerous occurrence.

DSE All equipment used in the workplace to display

information with which the user interacts in
some way.
 Key Word Definition and or Explanation
EMPLOYERS’ “DUTY OF CARE” Exercising reasonable care in order to protect
others from the risks of foreseeable injury,
health problems or death at work. Identified in
the case of Wilson & Clyde Coal Co. Ltd V
English (1938). Common law duties were then
set to provide and maintain:
• Safe place of work, safe means of
access/egress
• Safe systems of work
• Safe appliances, equipment and plant
• Competent and diligent people
• Selection, training and supervision

ERGONOMICS The study of the way people interact with

equipment in their working environment with
the objective of improving their comfort, safety
and productivity

HARM Ill-health (physical & mental) & injury

HAZARDS A situation with the potential to cause harm or

danger.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDIT The structured process of collecting

independent information on the efficiency,
effectiveness & reliability of the total health &
safety management system, and drawing up
plans for corrective action

HEALTH AND SAFETY CULTURE (IOSH
DEFINITION)
The health and safety culture of an
organisation comprises “the characteristics
shared attitudes, values, beliefs and practices
of people at work concerning not only the
magnitude of risks that they encounter but also
the necessity, practicality, and effectiveness of
preventative measures”.

INFORMING Transferring knowledge or facts to people by

the use of one or more media

MAGNITUDE OF RISK Is an estimate of how likely it is that someone

would succumb to a particular hazard, with an
assessment of the likely severity of injury
caused. LIKELIHOOD X SEVERITY.
 Key Word Definition and or Explanation
MANUAL HANDLING The movement of loads by human or physical
effort. Includes lifting, moving, pushing, pulling,
transporting, supporting, putting down &
intentional dropping & throwing of loads by
hand or bodily force.

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE LIMIT Maximum concentration of an airborne

substance averaged over a reference period to
which employees may be exposed by
inhalation under any circumstances.

MOTIVATION Motivation is what induces an individual to act

the way he or she does. It is a tendency of an
individual to take action to achieve a particular
goal.

NEAR MISSES These are any form of accident which could

result in injury or loss but do not.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE STANDARD Concentration of airborne substances

averaged over a reference period at which
current knowledge suggests it is unlikely to
harm employees exposed by inhalation day
after day to that concentration.
NB Published annually in EH40

PERCEPTION The way that people interpret and make sense

of presented information e.g. in relation to their
surroundings or to the equipment they are
using.

PRACTICABLE In light of current knowledge and invention, if it

is foreseeable to comply, then you must
comply, regardless of time money and effort.

REASONABLY PRACTICABLE Balance the cost of taking action (in terms of

time and effort as well as money) against the
risk being considered.
The degree of risk against the sacrifice
involved.

RISK The likelihood that the harm from a particular

hazard is realised.

SAFETY CULTURE (HSE’S DEFINITION)
The product of individual and group values,
attitudes, perceptions, competencies and
patterns of behaviour that determine the
commitment to, and the style and proficiency
of, an organisation’s health and safety
management.
 Key Word Definition and or Explanation
SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK A step-by-step procedure, which takes into
account hazards, controls, essential
equipment, materials and the environment to
produce an acceptable level of safety.

STRESS The adverse reaction people have to excessive

pressures or other types of demand placed on
them.

TARGET ORGAN The organ in the body on which a biological or

chemical agent exerts its effects e.g. the target
organ for asbestos is the lungs

THE TORT OF NEGLIGENCE Breach of common law legal duty of care to

exercise reasonable care towards others,
resulting in loss, damage or injury.

Key defining case is Donoghue V Stevenson

(1932).
Three main points to test for negligence:
1. Defendant under duty of care to claimant
(injured party)
2. Duty breached
3. Result of breach - claimant suffered
damage or loss

TORT / DELICT A wrongful act or omission causing harm or

damage to a person or body corporate which is
actionable in common law e.g. nuisance,
negligence, breach of statutory duty.

TRAINING A means of improving attitude skills and

experience with the aim of bringing about a
semi-permanent change in attitude. Changing
attitude promotes changes in behaviour.

UNSAFE ACTS Practices which human beings perform which

are hazardous, i.e., rushing, short cuts,
horseplay, drink or drugs abuse within the
workplace.

UNSAFE CONDITIONS Physical conditions of the workplace which

render it unsafe. i.e., unguarded machines,
spills.
 Key Word Definition and or Explanation
WORK EQUIPMENT Any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or
installation for use at work. (Use means any
activity involving work equipment & includes
starting, stopping, programming, setting,
transporting, repairing, modifying, maintaining,
servicing & cleaning).

WORKING AT HEIGHT Work carried out above ground at a height of

2metres or more.

VIOLENCE Any incident in which a person is abused,

threatened or assaulted in circumstances
relating to their work