Dictionary of acronyms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Acronym | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ACLG | Approved Classification and Labeling Guide for all chemical substances. (To go with CHIP Regulations) |
| ACOP | Approved Code of Practice - Normally has the status of secondary legislation. ie it is not mandatory to comply with an ACOP, but the respondent will be required to show that they have taken or applied equivalent precaution to achieve same or better protection. |
| ADR | "Accord Europeen relatif au transport international des marchandise dangereuses par route" (European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road). |
| BPD | Biocidal Products Directive - European Legislation controlling the use of soaps, detergents etc |
| CDG | Carriage of Dangerous Goods - Primary HSE legislation controlling packaging of goods and labelling (placarding) of vehicles and driver training (ADR) |
| CDGTPE | The primary H&S legislation controlling movement of Clinical and other dangerous chemicals by road - "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004" - link here to go to the Regulations |
| CHIP | The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations. |
| CIWM | Chartered Institute of Wastes Management to which SMDSA is Affiliated. |
| COSHH | Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1988 - A Regulation governing the use of any material used in the work place. It extends from simple soaps and glues to poisonous chemicals. |
| COTC | Certificate of Technical Competence - required to be held by a competent person (often the Manager) in charge of a Waste Management site. |
| CPL | Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984 S.I.1984/1244. Now superceded by both European and UK regulations this was primary regulation to standardise and harmonise controls over the packaging and labeling of Dangerous Substances. See also Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG), ADR, Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC), and Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals |
| DEFRA | Dept of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - the Government body responsible for 'Environmental' Legislation to whom the Environment Agency are responsible. |
| DETR | Department for the Environment, Transport and The Regions; government department, now superceded by The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Transport is now separated under DfT (Department for Transport) |
| DfT | Department for Transport |
| DGSA | Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. All companies who consign, carry, (or act as agents for transport of) dangerous goods (including clinical waste) are required to employ a DGSA who acts in an advisory capacity on all aspects of Carriage of Dangerous Goods and ADR. They must also produce an annual report. A DGSA must have passed an approved examination and renew this every 5 years. Many consultants offer an externally contracted service to carriers of Dangerous Goods to provide the legal requirements with telephone support. |
| DOC | Duty of Care |
| DOE | Department of the Environment; government department superceded by DETR, and now DEFRA |
| DoH | Department of Health. The government department which has responsibility for health matters and specifically for the NHS. |
| DPD | Dangerous Preparations Directive |
| DSD | Dangerous substances Directive |
| DTLR | Disbanded on 29 May 2002, this was the government department responsible for transport, local government and the regions, with responsibility for elections, regeneration and housing. Local government is now part of the new Communities and Local Government, as is regeneration, housing and planning. Transport has its own department, the Department for Transport (DfT). Elections are now covered by the Lord Chancellor's Department. |
| EA | The Environment Agency - The primary body responsible for the regulation and enforcement of waste related activities in England and Wales [In Scotland = SEPA} |
| EC | European Community |
| EHS | Environment and Heritage Service. EHS is Northern Ireland’s environmental regulator, and is an agency of the Department of the Environment (DoE). It is now called the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/ |
| ESA | Environmental Services Association (formerly NAWDC) - A trade Association of waste companies largely covering Landfill operators and Municipal wastes |
| EWC | European Waste Code/Catalogue. Designed to produce generic codes for all wastes. Also denotes which are Hazardous* This code is often included in a Waste Management Licences and must also now be recorded on all forms of consignment / transfer notes |
| HSAC | Health Services Advisory Committee Their job is to protect everyone in Great Britain against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities; to conduct and sponsor research; promote training; provide an information and advisory service; and submit proposals for new or revised regulations and approved codes of practice |
| HSE | Health and Safety Executive HSE's job is to help the Health and Safety Commission ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled. They are the primary regulator/enforcer for Health and Safety issues. |
| HWR | Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 replaces the former Special Waste Regulations in England and Wales |
| IHEEM | IHEEM is the relevant learned society and professional body licensed by the Engineering Council for all those working in healthcare engineering, estates and facilities management. Membership is applicable to architects, builders, engineers, estate managers, surveyors, medical engineers and other related professionals. Link to web site: http://www.iheem.org.uk/aboutiheem/index.php |
| IWM | Former name of the now Chartered Institution of Wastes Management of which SMDSA is an Associate Member. See CIWM |
| LD50 | Lethal dose required to kill 50% (A measure of toxicity) |
| MCERTS | A system of qualifying and setting standards for emissions monitoring equipment on eg incinerators |
| MEL | Maximum Exposure Limit (relates to chemical toxicity) |
| NIOSH | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - A US body; The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. See also NIOSH List. |
| NIOSH List | Whilst producing guidance to define which medicines are considered to be Hazardous Waste (eg Cytotoxic and Cytostatic) the UK Environment Agency have referred to a list of medicines generated by NIOSH as there is no equivalent specified list of medicines in use in the UK to refer to. The list is not perfect, and does not consider common UK names for medicines. A current list together with UK names is listed here under guidance courtesy of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust. |
| NOAEL | No Observed Adverse Effect Level (relates to chemical toxicity) |
| NOEL | No Observed Effect Level (relates to chemical toxicity) |
| NOS | Not Otherwise Specified. A generic term used in classification and labelling of Dangerous Goods, and forming part of the Proper Name. See CDG or ADR |
| NVQ | National Vocational Qualification - A range of formal practical qualifications requiring the gathering of 'on the job' evidence. In waste Management a level 4 qualification is required (COTC) to be able to manage a transfer or treatment site |
| OEL | Occupational Exposure Limit (a Health and Safety limit) |
| OES | Occupational Exposure Standard |
| OPRA | Operator Performance Risk Assessment - A scheme whereby those operators and sites which have been assessed as having greater risk of pollution to the Environment and therefore demand greater levels of attention and inspection from the Agency would be charged proportionately more than a similar site/operator with lower risk. |
| PASA | The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency - provides procurement guidance to the NHS |
| POMs | Prescription only Medicines. Prescribed as Special wastes under legislation in England & Wales (but not in Scotland after July 2004), and also potentially Hazardous wastes in the England & Wales. |
| PPC | Pollution Prevention and Control - Replaces IPC, a licencing scheme for sites which do not fall under WML and includes 'prescribed' sites with a wider range outside of simple wastes management, includes power stations, furnaces, chemical manufacturers, and large incinerators. |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment. An employer must carry out both Risk assessments (Health and Safety at Work etc Acts 1974) and COSHH assessments (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002) and where the risk of harm cannot be removed by other means, provide emplyees with Personal Protective Equipment. It is an offence for an emplyee not to use the equipment provided for the tasks and occasions specified. |
| RID | International Rule for Transport of Dangerous Substances By Rail part of a raft of legislation covering transport of Dangerous Goods. See also CDG and ADR |
| RIDDOR | A Health and Safety requirement on all businesses to report incidents and accidents to in the work place |
| SEPA | Scottish Environmental Protection Agency - the primary wastes regulator in Scotland |
| SIC | Standard Industry Classification - a method of setting standard codes for different industry types - often used for statistic evaluation of market sectors |
| STEL | Short term exposure limit (a Health and Safety limit) |
| TWA | Time Weighted Average |
| UNCOE | United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The international rule-setting body that formulates and agrees content for changes to ADR and hence CDG. |
| WAMITAB | Wastes Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (the issuing Body) - Sets the standards and awards for NVQ qualifications in Wastes Management |
| WID | Waste Incineration Directive. The latest round of emission standards and criteria for operation of high temperature incinerators. |
| WML | Waste Management Licence. The permission to hold or treat wastes. Charged as an initial fee at application and a subsistence charge reviewed annually, and a final fee when the site is cleared and licence handed back. The fees are primarily designed to cover the Agency's costs in inspection and administration. |
