Key Terms

Anchorage - A point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices that is secure.

Arc flash - The result of a rapid release of energy, resulting in an explosive burst of heat and light.

Competent person - A person who is capable of identifying possible and existing hazards in the working and surrounding environment that may be hazardous to employees, as well as having the authority to take corrective measures to mitigate those hazards.

Control line - A means to restrict access using a rope, wire, or tape.

Dangerous equipment - Any equipment that has protruding parts or that, due to their form or function, may harm a person who falls into or onto the equipment.

Department of Labor (DOL) - A cabinet-level department of the United States government that is responsible for wage and hour standards, occupational safety, and many employment services.

Fall hazard - Anything at a worksite that could cause you to lose your balance or bodily support, resulting in a fall. Any walking or working surface can be a potential fall hazard.

Fall protection - Any item or system that prevents a person from falling from an elevation or mitigates the effect of a fall.

Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) - A device used to protect people that functions to deenergize a circuit, or a portion of a circuit, when a current to ground exceeds a value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit.

Guardrail system - A vertical barrier that consists of toprails, midrails, and posts. These are used to prevent employees from falling off a scaffold platform or walkway to a lower level.

Lanyard - A flexible line, such as a rope or strap, that has a connector at each end for attaching a body belt or harness to a deceleration device, lifeline, or anchorage.

Lockout - The placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed. When used as a verb, it is two words: We must lock out the machine. When used as a noun, it is one word: The lockout may seem inconvenient, but it is for your safety.

Lockout/tagout (LOTO) - A safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly de-energized (shut off), and not able to be started up again until after the completion of maintenance or repair work.

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) - A system used to arrest (stop) a worker's fall, made up of an anchorage, connectors, a body harness, and other possible items.

Portable ladder - A ladder that can be easily moved or carried.

Positioning system - A system of equipment and connectors that is used with a body harness and allows the person to work on an elevated vertical surface with both hands free.

Qualified person - A person who has been recognized as qualified to solve or resolve problems related to the work being performed.

Safety net system - A net used to protect people from injury should they fall from a height by limiting the distance of the fall and displacing the energy from the impact.

Support system - A structure such as underpinning, bracing, or shoring that provides support to a nearby structure, underground installation, or the sides of an excavation.

Supported scaffold - A platform, or multiple platforms, supported by a rigid support such as outrigger beams, brackets, legs, poles, or frames.

Suspended scaffold - A platform, or multiple platforms, suspended by ropes or a non-rigid material from an overhead structure.

Tagout - The placement of a tagout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed. This term is one word when used as a noun; two words when used as a verb.

Toeboard - A low, protective barrier that is designed in such a way as to prevent people or items from falling to a lower level.

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