Reference

NCSO glossary

Written and fact-checked by the NCSO Prep team, Alberta · Last reviewed 9 August 2026 · Sources

Legislation

OHS Act

The primary Alberta statute setting out duties and obligations for workplace parties. The highest-level instrument of the three.

OHS Regulation

Sits under the Act; deals largely with administrative requirements such as certifications and approvals.

OHS Code

The technical detail — specific requirements by hazard and activity. Most day-to-day site rules live here.

Due diligence

Taking every reasonable precaution in the circumstances. The standard against which an employer's conduct is judged after an incident.

Three worker rights

The right to know about hazards, the right to participate in health and safety, and the right to refuse dangerous work.

Prime contractor

The party responsible for coordinating health and safety at a worksite with multiple employers.

Competent worker

Adequately qualified, suitably trained and with sufficient experience to perform work safely without supervision, or with only a minimal degree of supervision.

Hazard and risk

Hazard

A situation, condition or thing with the potential to cause harm.

Risk

The likelihood that harm occurs, combined with how severe it would be. Hazard is the thing; risk is the exposure to it.

Hierarchy of controls

The order of preference for controlling hazards: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment. PPE is the last line, never the first.

Elimination

Removing the hazard entirely. The most effective control because it does not depend on human behaviour.

Engineering control

A physical change to the workplace — guarding, ventilation, isolation — that reduces exposure without relying on the worker.

Administrative control

A change to how work is done: procedures, rotation, training, signage. Depends on compliance, so ranks below engineering.

FLHA

Field Level Hazard Assessment. Completed at the worksite before the task, addressing conditions as they are that day.

Formal hazard assessment

A planned, documented assessment of the hazards associated with a job or site, reviewed periodically rather than daily.

Inspections, investigations and audits

Inspection

Examining the workplace to identify hazards and unsafe conditions. Forward-looking and preventive.

Investigation

Examining an incident that has already happened, to establish cause and prevent recurrence.

Audit

An evaluation of the health and safety management system itself — whether the programme exists, is documented and is being followed. Not the same as an inspection.

Root cause

The underlying system failure that allowed an incident, as distinct from the immediate cause. "Worker was not trained" is closer to a root cause than "worker slipped".

Corrective action

The step taken to fix an identified deficiency, with an assigned owner and a due date.

Near miss

An event that could have caused harm but did not. Investigated because the difference between a near miss and a fatality is often luck.

COR

Certificate of Recognition. Awarded to an employer whose safety management system passes audit. Held by the company, not the person.

Sampling

In auditing, examining a representative subset of documents, sites or workers rather than every instance.

WHMIS and hazardous materials

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. Canada's hazard communication standard, aligned with GHS since WHMIS 2015.

GHS

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, the international framework WHMIS 2015 adopted.

SDS

Safety Data Sheet. The 16-section document detailing a product's hazards, handling, storage and emergency measures.

Supplier label

Applied by the manufacturer or importer; includes the product identifier, hazard pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, and supplier information.

Workplace label

Applied when a product is decanted into another container at the workplace. Requires product identifier, safe handling information, and a reference to the SDS.

Signal word

Either "Danger" (more severe) or "Warning" (less severe), indicating the degree of hazard.

Fall protection and confined space

Fall arrest

A system that stops a fall after it begins. Requires clearance below and a plan for prompt rescue.

Fall restraint

A system that prevents the worker reaching a position from which a fall is possible. Preferable to arrest, because no fall occurs.

Anchor

The secure point a fall protection system connects to, rated for the loads the system may impose.

Free fall distance

The distance travelled before the fall arrest system begins to slow the fall.

Total fall clearance

The distance required below the working surface for the system to arrest a fall without the worker striking a lower level. Free fall plus deceleration plus harness stretch plus a safety margin.

Confined space

A space with limited or restricted means of entry or exit, not designed for continuous human occupancy, and large enough for a worker to enter and perform work. All three conditions must be present.

Permit-required confined space

A confined space that also contains or has the potential for a serious hazard — atmospheric, engulfment, entrapment or similar.

Standby person

The attendant stationed outside a confined space, maintaining communication with entrants and initiating rescue. Does not enter.

Atmospheric testing

Testing before and during entry. The standard order is oxygen first, then flammables, then toxics — because the other readings are unreliable without knowing oxygen content.

Programmes and emergency

HSMS

Health and Safety Management System. The documented structure of policy, procedures, training, inspection, investigation and review.

ERP

Emergency Response Plan. Covers foreseeable emergencies, roles, communication, evacuation and rescue.

Orientation

Site-specific instruction given before a worker begins work, distinct from general training.

Toolbox talk

A short, task-focused safety discussion held at the worksite, typically at shift start.

Practise these terms

• Legislation
• H&S Programs
• Hazard Assessment
• Inspections
• Incident Investigation
• COR Auditing
• Emergency Preparedness
• Fall Protection
• Confined Space
• WHMIS / GHS

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Questions people ask

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. Risk is the likelihood that harm actually occurs, combined with its severity.

What is the hierarchy of controls?

Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first.

What is the difference between an inspection and an audit?

An inspection examines the workplace for hazards and unsafe conditions. An audit evaluates the health and safety management system itself.

What makes a space a confined space?

Three conditions must all be present: limited or restricted entry and exit, not designed for continuous human occupancy, and large enough for a worker to enter and perform work.

Last updated 9 August 2026.