FAQ on Abbreviations Related to Safety

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FAQ on Abbreviations Related to Environment, Health, and Safety

Edition: January 1997

This FAQ (answers to Frequently Asked Questions) on Abbreviations was complied by Peter Zavon with the assistance of active participants in the Safety discussion list who are too numerous to name here. Additions, corrections, etc., should be sent to Peter Zavon at the following e-mail address: PZavon@WB.Xerox.com. (You may also send them to me).

AA	Atomic Absorption, Absorption of electromagnetic radiation at discrete wavelengths by atoms. The quantity of absorbed radiation is a measure of the concentration or amount of that atom in the sample. Example of an analytical method using this property is: AAS
AAS	Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy - Performed by stimulating a filament of a chosen element and using the light emitted by the filament to detect the amount of that element in a sample by measuring the absorption of the light.
ABIH	American Board of Industrial Hygiene - The organization which conducts the testing for CIH and issues the CIH credential.
ABSA	American Biological Safety Association - A professional association for the exchange of biosafety information. Currently ABSA provides a quarterly newsletter to members and sponsors an annual conference Membership is $75 annually. For more information, contact: ABSA, 1202 Allanson Rd., Mundelein, IL 60060, 708/949-1517.
ACGIH	American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists - A Professional Association well known for establishing and publishing the TLVs, for publishing the Industrial Ventilation Manual, and as one of the sponsors of the ABIH and AIHCE.
ACM	Asbestos Containing Material
AE	Atomic Emission, The emission of electromagnetic radiation at discrete wavelengths by exited atoms. Quantity of emitted light is a measure of the concentration or amount of that atom present in a sample. Examples of analytical methods which use this property include: AES, ICP (Inductive Coupled Plasma)
AES	Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry - Analysis by detection and quantitation of the characteristic electromagnetic emissions from atoms in a sample.
AHERA	Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (Title II of TSCA) US Federal legislation requiring all schools to determine the location and condition of asbestos containing material, and setting up procedures for issuing credentials to those who disturb asbestos for testing or removal.
AIHCE	American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition. Annual week long, professional conference jointly sponsored by the AIHA and the ACGIH in the spring.
AIHA	American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, VA. The broad professional association for Industrial Hygienists in the US and Canada, with local sections also in parts of Europe. This association is the largest professional Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Hygiene association in the world.
ALARA	As Low As Reasonably Achievable, a philosophy applied to the control of exposure to ionizing radiation
ALCM	Associate in Loss Control Management, a credential issued by the Insurance Institute of America, which is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA 19355-0770.
ANSI	American National Standards Institute, publishes consensus standards on a wide variety of subjects, including safety equipment, procedures, etc. contact: ANSI, Attn: customer Service, 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Telephone [212-642-4900] is staffed 8:45 - 16:45 Eastern Time
	ANSI has international distributors in England (American Technical Publications, Ltd., in Herts.), in Japan (Japanese Standards Association, Tokyo), and in Canada (Standards Council of Canada, Ottawa)
API	American Petroleum Institute
APF	Assigned protection factor, used in the context of respiratory protection
APIH	Association of Professional Industrial Hygienists, based in Tennessee, USA, this organization offers professional credentialing of industrial hygienists as RIH or RPIH under the Tennessee title protection law for industrial hygiene.
APPA	Association of (College and University) Physical Plant Administrators, a US professional association which, among its other activities, monitors government legislative and regulatory actions which may impact the academic community.
ASHRAE	American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air conditioning Engineers, publishes a well regarded multivolume handbook which includes ventilation guidance, and standards on IAQ and other ventilation related issues.
ASA	Accredited Safety Auditor, a credential issued by the International Loss Control Institute, which is located in Loganville, Georgia, USA.
ASME	American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASP	Associate Safety Professional, designation given to one who has successfully completed the first half of the examination process for CSP.
ASSE	American Society of Safety Engineers, the national professional society for Safety Engineers in the US. 1800 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018-2187 USA Voice Phone - (708) 692-4121 Fax - (708) 296-3769
AST	Aboveground Storage Tank
ASTM	American Society for Testing and Materials
ATSDR	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an agency of the Public Health Service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AWT	Advanced Wastewater Treatment
BACT	Best Available Control Technology, a term used in US environmental control regulations
BAT	Best Available Technology
BATEA	Best Available Technology Economically Achievable, terminology for sewage cleanup technology to be applied under Canadian Municipal-Industrial Strategy for Abatement, for cleanup of Great Lakes water sources.
BBP	Bloodborne pathogens, most often used in the context of a discussion of HIV and/or Hepatitis.
BCSP	Board of Certified Safety Professionals The certifying organization that issues the ASP, CSP, and COHST credentials following review of experience and successful completion of written tests. In addition to an exam in the Comprehensive Practice of Safety, specialty exams are offered in Safety Management, Fire Protection, and Safety Engineering 208 Burwash, Savoy, IL 61874 USA, (217) 359-9263
BCT	Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology
BLEVE	Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
BLS	Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency of the US government which gathers statistical information on accident rates, among other things.
BOD	Basic Oxygen Demand; also, Biological Oxygen Demand - the oxygen demand if a water sample is biologically oxidized
BOHS	British Occupational Hygiene Society, the national professional society of Occupational Hygienists in the United Kingdom
BPT	Best Practicable Control Technology
BSC	Biological Safety Cabinet
BTU	British Thermal Unit, a tradition unit of measure for heat.
CAA	Clean Air Act, US legislation regarding air pollution.
CAIR	Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule (under TSCA)
CAP	College of American Pathologists
CAS	Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio Publisher of Chemical Abstracts and other publications and services
CCC	Compromised Container Caps, cracked or otherwise damaged screw-on caps for chemical containers. [This acronym invented 24 Feb 1995 by Jerry Mason, Chemical Management Officer, Brigham Young University.]
CCOHS	Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, a Hamilton, Ontario, Canada based organization offering a well regarded collection of MSDS on CD-ROM, as well as other H&S related services. telephone: 905-572-2981 FAX: 905-572-2206 Customer Service e-mail address - custserv@ccohs.ca
CCPS	Center for Chemical Process Safety, an organization established by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)to focus on engineering practices to help prevent and mitigate catastrophic hazardous chemical accidents.
CDC	Centers for Disease Control, based in Atlanta, Georgia, this is the organization within the US National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service which specializes in recognition, evaluation and control of communicable diseases. NIOSH is part of CDC.
CEPP	Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program
CEEL	Community Emergency Exposure Level, a sort of PEL for a whole community; intended as a guideline for when evacuations are necessary in case of accidental releases
CERCLA	Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund. US Federal legislation establishing a huge EPA project to clean up hazardous material dumps. Makes generators responsible for how waste is ultimately disposed of.
CESQG	Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
CET	Certified Environmental Trainer, a credential issued by the National Environmental training Association
CFC	Chlorofluorocarbons, being phased out world wide because of their detrimental effect on the ozone layer.
CFM	Cubic feet per minute, a unit of measure of air flow which is used in evaluating ventilation systems
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations, the official compendium of regulations issued by agencies of the US Federal Government. For example, 29CFR refers to the regulations issued by the Department of Labor, and 29CFR1910 refers to the General Industry regulations issued by OSHA, which is part of the department of Labor.
CGA	Compressed Gas Association
CHMM	Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, a credential awarded by Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, 11900 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852 Tel: 301-984-8969
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations, the compilation of all regulations issued by agencies of the US Federal Government
CHEMTREC	Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, provides hazard information warnings and guidance in emergency (and ONLY emergency) situations.
CHO	Chemical Hygiene Officer, the Administrator of a Chemical Hygiene Plan under OSHA regulations
CHP	Chemical Hygiene Plan, required by OSHA, a statement of laboratory work practices written by each employer
CHP	Certified Health Physicist, a person who deals on a professional level with radiation safety.
CIH	Certified Industrial Hygienist, on good days, certification reflects education, training and experience in the art and science of the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards in the workplace and community. On bad days it means you have a new appreciation for the "or should have know" part of liability law. On other days it simply means education, 5 years of experience and passing two brain straining tests.
CIIT	Chemical Industry Institute of Technology
CLMI	Comprehensive Loss Management Inc. of Minneapolis, MN. 55447 A company that produced and sells a well publicized back injury prevention program.
CO	Carbon monoxide
COD	Chemical Oxygen Demand - oxygen demand if a water sample is chemically oxidized.
CPSC	Consumer Products Safety Commission, a US federal agency
CPWR	Center to Protect Workers' Rights, a US based advocacy group located at 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 509 Washington, DC 20001 202-962-8490 center@cpwr.com
CSA	Canadian Standards Association, the national consensus standards association for Canada is roughly the Canadian equivalent of ANSI in the US. It is located at 178 Rexdale Boulevard, Rexdale (Toronto), Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3 (416) 747-4044
CSA	Campus Safety Association, a North America based association of people involved in providing health and safety services to colleges and universities. This is a subsidiary organization of the National Safety Council and members of the NSC in the US, Canada, and Mexico can join at no additional fee.
CSP	Certified Safety Professional, the safety equivalent to a CIH. The initials CSP are also used by certified sales professionals, certified speaking professionals, and certified silly persons. The first two of these are for real, for the last I apologize to Monty Python. The Certified Safety Professional credential is issued by the BCSP (qv)
CTD	Cumulative Trauma Disorder
CWA	Clean Water Act, US federal legislation
dBA	decibels on the A scale, a unit of measure of sound intensity.
DCL	Director of Chemistry Laboratories
DEP	diethyl phthalate
DFM	dust, fume, and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts, fumes or mists, and is used in the new NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification.
DHHS	Department of Health and Human Services, a Cabinet level department of the US Federal Government; the department in which CDC, and therefore NIOSH, is located
DHMM	Director of Hazardous Materials Management
DIERS	Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems, a consortium of companies under the auspices of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that was formed to develop methods for the design of emergency relief systems to handle runaway chemical reactions
DIPPR	Design Institute of Physical Property Data, a consortium of companies under the auspices of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that sponsors the compilation, measurement, and evaluation of physical property data for industrially important compounds
DM	dust and mist. This abbreviation refers to a respirator filter cartridge suitable for use against dusts and mists, and is used in the new NIOSH regulation on Respirator Certification.
DOP	dioctyl phthalate. The traditional test aerosol used for determining HEPA filter efficiency was an aerosolized form of warm DOP, selected because, when generated in the specified manner, the aerosol had a very narrow size distribution.
DOT	Department of Transportation, a US Cabinet level department
EP	Extraction Procedure
EAP	Emergency Action Plan; or Employee Assistance Program - one which deals with employee substance abuse or other non-employment related problems affecting work performance and safety
EHS	Extremely Hazardous Substance; also Environment, Health and Safety; or Environmental Health and Safety
ELF-EMF	Extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields, a controversial area regarding the possibility of inducing cancer in exposed people
EMA	Emergency Management Agency
EMR	Electro-Magnetic Radiation
EMS	Emergency Medical Service
EOC	Emergency Operations Center, command post for large-scale campus and community emergencies/disasters
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency, an agency of the US Federal government which regulates chemical disposal, emissions to air, water, and community pollution issues.
EPCRA	Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act Title III of SARA, [a US law] requires facilities storing Reportable Quantities of hazardous materials to report to the LEPC
ERG	Emergency Response Guide, a document providing guidance on emergency response in a transportation incident involving a particular chemical. The term is used in the context of US Department of Transportation requirements.
ERP	Emergency Response Plan
ERPG	Emergency Response Planning Guideline
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the US government.
FIFRA	Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, US federal legislation controlling the indicated pesticides.
FM	Factory Mutual, a research organization created by a group of insurance companies and concentrating on protection of property. Very well known for its expertise on fire and its property protection standards.
FMEA	Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
FMECA	Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis
FTA	Fault Tree Analysis
FTIR	Fourier Transform InfraRed, a chemical analytical method which takes the complete emission spectrum of a sample at once and uses computer software to sort out signals and identify the components of the sample.
GC	Gas Chromatography
HAZMAT	Hazardous Material
HAZOP	Hazard and Operability (Study), a structured means of evaluating a complex process to find problems associated with operability or safety of the process
HAZWOPER	Hazardous Waster Operations and Emergency Response, a term derived from US EPA regulations.
HCS	Hazard Communication Standard, a policy of communicating to employees the potential hazards of substances with which they work, and a specific standard issued in the US by OSHA.
HEPA filter	High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. At least 99.97% efficient in the filtration of air borne particles 0.3 microns in diameter or greater
HMTA	Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
HPLC	High Performance Liquid Chromatography
HR	hazard ratio, a term used in the new (1996) NIOSH regulation on respirator certification
HSO	Health and Safety Officer
HSWA	Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments(1984 amendments to RCRA)
IARC	International Agency for Research on Cancer
IAQ	Indoor Air Quality, a general term combining a multitude of issues related to complaints by the occupants of buildings about illnesses or discomfort resulting from being in the building. Typically, no single agent or easily recognized group of agents is present in excess of a PEL or TLV.
ICC	Interstate Commerce Commission, an agency of the US Government. The ICC bar is a horizontal bar at the rear of moderate and large trucks required by ICC regulation and intended to prevent a following automobile from sliding under the truck in a collision.
ICP	Inductively Coupled Plasma, an analytical method based on atomic emission.
ICS	Incident Command System, procedure for emergency management used by fire departments and other emergency response teams
IDLH	Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. As defined by NIOSH. This represents a maximum concentration from which one could escape within 30 minutes without any escape-impairing symptoms or any irreversible health effects. Note that the NIOSH definition addresses airborne concentration only. It does not consider direct contact with liquids, etc.
IEUBK	integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model (lead levels)
IHIT	Industrial Hygienist in Training, designation given to one who has completed the first half of the examination process for CIH. Valid for no more than 10 years.
IOHS	International Occupational Hygiene Society, international organization of national occupational/industrial hygiene societies
IOSH	Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a UK based professional association.
IR	Infra Red Infrared spectrophotometer, operates in the region of EMR of lower energy than visible, also known as heat waves, used primarily for identifying organic compounds
IH	Industrial Hygiene (In Europe, this is usually called Occupational Hygiene)
IHMM	Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, the organization which issues the CHMM credential, and is located at 11900 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852 Tel: 301-984-8969
IIPP	Injury and Illness Prevention Program (required under California regulations)
ILCI	International Loss Control Institute. Address is 4546 Atlanta Highway, PO Box 345, Loganville, Georgia 30249, USA
ILO	International Labor Organization, international agency of the United Nations which addresses labor issues. Has an interest in occupational safety and health issues, and publishes useful reference materials.
ISO	International Standards Organization
JCAHO	Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Accreditation by this body is necessary for US federal research grants, Medicare reimbursement, etc.
LC-50	The concentration in air which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs. Variants sometimes used include LC-25 or LC-75, as well as LC-Low (lowest detected lethal concentration)
LD-50	The experimental dose which is lethal to 50% of the test animals in a study. A convenient point of comparison between toxic materials with similar effects or target organs.
LEL	Lower Explosive Limit, the minimum percent by volume of a gas or vapor, which when mixed with air, will form a flammable mixture.
LEPC	Local Emergency Planning Committee
LIH	Licensed Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred under the Illinois (USA) licensing program for Industrial Hygiene.
LIMS	Laboratory Information Management System
LOAEL	lowest -observed-adverse-effect level
LSO	Laser Safety Officer, the person designated by a site where lasers are used, who has responsibility and authority to ensure the safe use of lasers.
LUST	Leaking underground storage tanks
MA	Molecular Absorption, Absorption of radiation by molecules. Examples of analytical methods using this property include : UV/VIS, IR, FTIR
MACT	maximum achievable control technology
MAWP	Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
ME	Molecular Emission, emission of electromagnetic radiation by a complete molecule. Often called Fluorescence or Phosphorescence.
MIS	Management Information Systems, also Master of Industrial Safety, the degree granted by the University of Minnesota (Duluth) to those who successfully complete the Master's program
MMAD	mass median aerodynamic diameter.
MS	Mass Spectroscopy, identifies compounds by breaking them up into all combinations of ions and measuring mass-to-charge ratios at detector
MSDS	Material Safety Data Sheet, provided by chemical manufacturers, required by OSHA to be available to workers
MSHA	Mine Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the US Department of Labor
MTB	Materials Transportation Bureau of the US Department of Transportation
NAS	National Academy of Sciences
NDPES	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NEBOSH	National Examining Board of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. In the UK, NEBOSH run a certificate and a diploma course. Anyone that attains the diploma can join the Institution as a full member
NESHAP	National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants, a regulation issued by the EPA
NETA	National Environmental Training Association, a US based organization which issues the CET credential.
NFPA	National Fire Protection Association publishes useful hazard ratings on many chemicals
NIH	National Institutes of Health, the primary health research umbrella organization of the US government, consisting of a number of specialized institutes, the CDC, and the National Library of Medicine
NIHL	Noise Induced Hearing Loss
NIOSH	National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, an arm of the US Centers for Disease Control, it does research and suggests guidelines for exposure control, but is not a regulatory agency.
NIST	National Institute of Standards and Technology, a US federal agency in the Department of Commerce. NIST is the successor to the US National Bureau of Standards.
NMR	Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, spectroscopy used to identify structures of organic compounds by seeing how they react to magnetic fields of various frequencies
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAEL	no-observed-adverse-effect level
NOx	Oxides of nitrogen. Used where the particular oxide is unimportant or where a mixture is being discussed.
NPR	Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, one step in the formal process of issuing regulations by US Agencies.
NRC	Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Federal Regulatory Agency which deals with radiation and radioactive materials.
NREP	National Registry of Environmental Professionals, Glenview, IL, (708) 724-6631
NRR	Noise Reduction Rating, used as a laboratory based indicator of the relative effectiveness of hearing protectors.
NSC	National Safety Council, a US (Chicago) based safety organization dealing with industrial safety, school and college safety, transportation safety. The NSC has both organizational and individual membership and publishes a number of safety oriented pamphlets, journals, books, and data sheets. The image of a green cross on a shield together with the words "Green Cross for Safety" are trademarks controlled by NSC. Mailing address is: 1121 Spring Lake Dr., Itasca, Illinois 60143, USA
NTP	National Toxicology Program, a program of the US government for the testing of chemical agents for long term toxic effects
ORM	Other Regulated Materials, terminology used in hazardous materials shipping documents.
OSHA	Occupational Safety & Health Administration, a part of the US Department of Labor, it regulates many job safety issues, including chemical handling and storage; also Occupational Safety & Health Act, the US Federal legislation which created OSHA (the Administration) and NIOSH.
OSHRC	Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, provides the ultimate administrative review of challenges to OSHA citations. Its decisions may be appealed to the US Federal Court system.
OTA	Office of Technology Assessment, a staff arm of the US Congress
OSWER	Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, an agency of the US EPA
PAPR	powered air-purifying respirator
PCB	Polychlorinated biphenyls (includes monochlorinated biphenyls, under US environmental regulations)
PEL	Permissible Exposure Limit, the maximum occupational exposure permitted under the OSHA regulations.
PHA	Process Hazards Analysis, a general term describing the formal activity of reviewing, analyzing, and documenting the hazards likely to be associated with a particular industrial process. Often implies the use of a formal review method such as FTA, FMEA, HAZOP, etc.
PMN	Pre-Manufacture Notification, required under TSCA.
PPE	Personal Protective Equipment, includes goggles, gloves, shoes, coveralls, respirators, hard hats, etc.
ppm	Parts of contaminant Per Million parts of air or other fluid. Usually called simply "parts per million" - a unit of measure of the concentration of one material mixed or dissolved into another. This unit may be converted to milligrams per cubic meter.
POTW	Publicly Owned Treatment Works (waste water treatment)
PSM	Process Safety Management
QRA	Quantitative Risk Assessment
RCRA	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, US Federal legislation which regulates materials and wastes currently being generated, treated, stored, disposed or distributed.
REL	recommended exposure limit; this abbreviation usually refers to a recommendation formally made by NIOSH and published in a Criteria Document for a particular agent or category of agents.
REM	Registered Environmental Manager, this credential is administered through the National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP). To receive the REM designation, NREP requires you to submit copies of your college transcripts, listing of specialty training, two professional references and a description of your professional experience, and how it relates to environmental management. Then you can take a comprehensive test in environmental management
RIH	Registered Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred by the State of Tennessee under its title protection legislation. (see APIH)
RMP	Risk Management Program, the CAA requires major facilities to have a written program to prevent releases to the environment in case of an accident.
RPIH	Registered Professional Industrial Hygienist, a title conferred by the State of Tennessee under its title protection legislation. (see APIH)
RRPT	Registered Radiation Protection Technologist, a designation used in the US by those active in radiation protection in the Nuclear Power generation industry
RSO	Radiological Safety Officer or Radiation Safety Officer, the individual designated for a particular site, where radiation is in use, who has responsibility and authority to ensure safe and appropriate use of radiation and radiation sources
RQ	Reportable Quantity, facilities possessing RQs of regulated substances must report to the LEPC.
RSI	Repetitive Strain Injury
RTECS	Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, a registry maintained and issued by NIOSH, listing all published studies in which a toxic effect was reported. Study quality is not reviewed, and studies reporting no toxic effects are not included in the registry.
RTK	Right to Know, may refer to an individual employee's right to know about the nature and hazards of agents used in the work place, and/or to the right of communities and their members to know about materials used and wastes generated by workplaces situated within or adjacent to the community.
SADT	Self-Accelerating Decomposition Temperature
SARA	Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, US federal Legislation which reauthorized the "Superfund", a fund intended to clean up existing hazardous waste sites. It also established a federal community Right to Know and tightened industrial reporting requirements.
SCBA	Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
SDWA	Safe Drinking Water Act (US legislation)
SERC	State Emergency Response Commission
SNUR	Significant New Use Rule, a regulatory term appearing in TSCA related considerations.
SOT	Society of Toxicology, a US-based, international professional society
Sox	Oxides of sulfur. Used when the particular oxide is unimportant to the discussion, or when a mixture is being referred to.
SPCC	Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure
SQG	Small Quantity Generator (of waste), a status that relieves the generator of some EPA requirements
SWDA	Solid Waste Disposal Act (US legislation)
TB	tuberculosis
TCDD	Tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin, also called simply "dioxins" in the popular press.
TCLP	Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, a process specified by EPA for determining whether a material meets the definition of a toxic waste for regulatory purposes in the US.
TCPA	Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (N.J.A.C. 7:31) This is legislation in the state of New Jersey which was a partial response to incidents such as that at Bophal, India and established requirements intended to reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic incident.
TRI	Toxics release inventory, an inventory required under US environmental regulations.
TSCA	Toxic Substances Control Act (US legislation)
TSS	Total suspended solids
TLV	Threshold Limit Value, an exposure limit recommended by the ACGIH to which it is believed nearly all workers can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without ill effect.
TQ	Threshold Quantity, facilities releasing TQs or greater into the environment, whether intentionally as wastes or unintentionally in an accident, must report to the EPA
TQM	Total Quality Management, the name of a management system or philosophy involving the use of employee participation, Quality Committees, formalized problem solving methods, and a focus on product quality and customer requirements.
UBC	Uniform Building Code
UFC	Uniform Fire Code
UL	Underwriter's Laboratories, one of a number of agencies that test and approve various products for safety and then permit the manufacturer to display their seal on the product as an indication of that testing.
UST	Underground Storage Tank
UV	Ultraviolet radiation
UV-Vis	UltraViolet-Visible Spectroscopy in the visible and higher energies of light.
UVCE	Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion
VDT	Video Display Terminal, sometimes called Video Display Unit (VDU)
VOC	Volatile Organic Compound
VPP	Voluntary Protection Program - An OSHA program which promotes excellence in workplace safety and health programs in exchange for limitations on scheduled inspections by OSHA.
WHMIS	Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, this is a program is legislated by the Canadian government, which requires, among other things, the creation and availability of material safety data sheets. However, in several of the Canadian Provinces, many functions associated with Federal OSHA in the US are controlled instead at a Provincial level.
Z list	The OSHA table of Permissible Exposure Limits, so named because the tables are identified as Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3, and because they are found in "Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances" of the OSHA regulations. This subpart contains 29 CFR 1910.1000 through 29 CFR 1910.1500.