Construction Safety Terms

Construction safety terminology appears in site plans, safety manuals, inspections, incident reports, and regulatory requirements.

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Use this page when reviewing site safety documents, OSHA-related language, hazard controls, or incident records.

12 linked definitions.

Term	Meaning
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration	OSHA is the U.S. agency that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards.
PPE Personal Protective Equipment	PPE is safety equipment worn to reduce exposure to hazards on a construction site.
Competent Person	A competent person is someone authorized to identify construction hazards and take corrective action.
Qualified Person	A qualified person has the training, experience, or credentials needed to solve problems for a specific type of work.
Hazardous Atmosphere	A hazardous atmosphere is air that may be dangerous because of low oxygen, toxic gases, flammable vapors, or other harmful conditions.
Personal Fall Arrest System	A personal fall arrest system is equipment designed to stop a worker after a fall begins.
Guardrail System	A guardrail system is a barrier used to keep workers from falling from edges, openings, platforms, or elevated work areas.
Warning Line System	A warning line system is a temporary roof barrier used to warn workers that they are approaching a fall hazard.
Trench Box	A trench box is a protective shield used inside a trench to help protect workers from cave-ins.
Cave-In	A cave-in is the sudden movement of soil or rock into an excavation or trench.
Protective System	A protective system is a method used to protect workers from excavation cave-ins and related hazards.
Incident Report	An incident report documents a safety, property, environmental, or project event that needs formal recordkeeping.