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Glossary

The NCEC glossary covers a wide range of acronyms and words associated with the chemical industry and chemical legislation such as ADR, ASL, COSHH, DGSA, Hazmat, SDS, MSDS and many more. 

If there is something you feel we have missed then please contact us.

Please note that this page is still under construction so will be subject to change.

 

A-F 

 G-L

 M-S

T-Z 

 

ADR


Annexe 1 Index No

  • A method of identifying an entry in Annex 1 to the Dangerous Substances Directive
  • Annex 1 is the list of dangerous substances that is continually being updated by ATPs – (Adaptations to Technical Progress) - and is the legislation that forms the UK CHIP regulations

 

ASL

  • Approved Supply List
  • The ASL lists all substances classified as dangerous under the CHIP regulations
  • It lists the labels to be displayed on each product, as well as their risk and safety phrases
  • The latest ASL can be found in the NCEC library

  

CAS number

  • All chemicals have a CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) registry number
  • Each and every chemical has a unique number
  • The CAS number consists of 3 parts separated by hyphens e.g. CAS number for hydrogen is [133-74-0]
  • The first part of the CAS number can be up to 7 digits long,  the second part consists of 2 digits and the third part is a single digit
  • The Chemical Abstracts Service has announced that there will add an additional digit to new CAS registry numbers, starting around January 2008

 

CHIP

  • CHIP is an acronym for Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations These relate to the implementation of a variety of EC (European Community) regulations, and were first introduced in 1993. In 1994 came son-of-CHIP (CHIP 2) and now CHIP 3 is on the way
  • The CHIP regulations are of concern primarily to suppliers
  • Identify the hazards associated with the chemicals they supply
  • Give that information to those receiving or transporting the chemicals
  • Package the chemicals safely
  • Detailed information on CHIP is available through the HSE website
  • The regulations in full can be found here

  

COSHH

  • Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations
  • Legislation covering control of the risks to employees and others, from exposure to harmful substances at work
  • There is a good basic guide on the University of Bristol website

 

CSE

  • Carriage, Supply & Exposure Limits
  • CSE is a NCEC product, providing a searchable database which takes information from ADR, the EAC list, EH40 and the ASL

 

Dangerous

  • The term “danger” refers to the potential for an immediate physical or chemical effect, such as fire, explosion, corrosion or poisoning
  • A dangerous substance may affect property, people or the environment
  • They should be contrasted to “hazardous” substances, which are classified according to their health effects alone

 

DGN

  • Dangerous Goods Note
  • A transport document that displays details of hazardous chemicals in a load
  • It will contain (as specified by ADR): UN number, Proper Shipping Name, packing group, as well as information about the consigner/consignee, and other details
  • For more information, refer to ADR Chapter 5.4

 

DGSA

  • Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser
  • Companies transporting dangerous goods by road, rail, or inland waterways must appoint a DGSA
  • Amongst other responsibilities, the DGSA must ensure that his company complies with transport legislation

 

EAC

  • Emergency Action Code
  • EACs provide information on how to deal with a bulk incident involving hazardous goods
  • They provide details on: suitable extinguishing media, PPE requirement, and other information

 

ED50, EC50

  • The dose or concentration of a chemical that will have the expected effect on 50% of a sample population (see LD50, LC50)

 

EH40

  • A list of UK occupational exposure limits (OELs), as defined by the HSE

 

Flammable

  • Under CHIP regulations, substances may be flammable, highly flammable or extremely flammable
  • The classification depends upon the flash point of the substance (if liquid) – a brief guide can be found on the Bristol University website
  • In CHIP, the “flame symbol” is required only on substances classified as highly/extremely flammable
  • Under ADR, flammable materials are classified as either Class 3 or Class 4. The parameters for classification can be found in Chapter 2.2.3-2.2.4 of ADR online

 

GHS

  • Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
  • A UN system designed to co-ordinate the way in which chemicals are classified – “one chemical, one label”
  • There is a guide to GHS on the HSE website

 

Hazard

  • A hazard is something that has potential to cause harm
  • Contrast with “risk”

 

Hazardous waste

  • Waste containing hazardous properties that may make it harmful to health or the environment(Environment Agency Overview)
  • Information relating to this aspect of a chemical may be found in section 13 of a SDS (disposal)

 

Hazchem placard

  • A sign displayed on vehicles carrying dangerous goods.· Contains information on the chemical EAC,  UN number and hazard warning sign, together with a specialist telephone number and company name.· There is a useful beginner’s guide to hazchem placards on the NCEC website

 

HAZMAT

  • HAZardous MATerials
  • A Hazmat Officer in the Fire Service is often a good point of contact when dealing with a Chemsafe call
  • Hazmat Officers are now known as HMEPOs

 

HIN

  • Hazard Identification Number
  • The HIN is a code consisting of two or three figures (and sometimes preceded by “X”)
  • It indicates the main hazards posed by a product and is displayed on a hazchem placard

 

HMEPO

  • Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection Officer
  • The new term for “Hazmat Officer”, a firefighter who has been trained to advise the Fire Service on incidents involving hazardous materials
  • Their responsibilities include: advising the incident commander, analysing the hazards, conducting a risk assessment and supervising pollution control

 

IATA

  • International Air Transport Association
  • A collective of representatives from airlines
  • IATA imposed industry safety standards prior to the introduction of ICAO. After ICAO, the IATA book now contains all the information in the ICAO regulations, and further rules

 

IBC

  • Intermediate Bulk Container
  • A container used for the storage and transport of goods
  • Size may vary, and weight is typically 90-1200 kg
  • ADR contains instructions on the construction, use and testing of IBCs (see ADR Part 2 Ch. 4,6 and 7)

 

ICE

  • International Chemical Environment
  • A co-operative programme between chemical companies to (i) prevent chemical transport incidents and (ii) respond effectively if and when they do occur
  • There is a set of guidelines for ICE on the CEFIC website

 

ICSC


IDLH

  • Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
  • The maximum exposure concentration of a given chemical in the workplace from which one could escape in 30 minutes without any escape-impairing symptoms or irreversible health effects

 

IMDG

  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
  • This governs the carriage of dangerous goods by sea, and became mandatory in 2004
  • It focuses on packing of goods and the segregation of incompatible substances
  • IMDG history and content

 

Irritant

  • A chemical that may cause reversible inflammation on exposure
  • Irritancy is an expression used in CHIP (supply legislation)
  • In ADR, analogous properties of a material are expressed by its corrosivity

LC50

  • The concentration of a chemical that kills 50% of a sample population
  • The measure gives an indication of the potential toxicity of the chemical. LC50 is generally used in relation to inhalation

 

LD50

  • The dose of a chemical that kills 50% of a sample population
  • Gives an indication of the potential toxicity of the chemical

 

Level 1 response

  • The provision of remote information and general advice, following a chemical emergency
  • ICE guide to Level 1-3 emergency response

 

Level 2 response

  • The provision of advice following assessment at the scene of a chemical emergency
  • ICE guide to Level 1-3 emergency response

 

Level 3 response

  • Assistance with equipment and personnel on the scene of a chemical emergency
  • ICE guide to Level 1-3 emergency response
  • Various waste disposal companies can provide Level 3 assistance

 

MSDS

 

PSN

  • Proper Shipping Name
  • Every hazardous substance must be assigned a UN number and proper shipping name
  • The PSN is displayed on all shipping documents relating to the material

 

REACH

  • EU 2007 legislation dealing with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemical substances
  • The legislation places greater responsibility on industry to assess and manage the risks from chemicals
  • The legislation calls for the progressive phasing out of the most dangerous substances
  • HSE guide to REACH
  • BBC “Q&A” on REACH

 

Risk

  • A risk is the probability or chance that the hazard posed [by a chemical] will cause injury or damage

Risk assessment

  • A process by which the potential impact of a hazard can be assessed
  • In the context providing emergency advice, there are several situations where the caller should be advised to conduct their own risk assessment (e.g.: in the use of PPE, where a spillage can only be properly assessed by a person at the scene)

 

Risk Phrase

  • Risk phrases are codes relating to the classification, labelling and packaging of dangerous substances
  • R-phrases denote the potential hazards posed by the substance in question
  • R-phrases are derived from CHIP, and range from R1 – R68 (and combinations thereof)
  • They exist alongside safety phrases

 

 

Safety Phrase

  • Safety phrases are codes relating to the classification, labelling and packaging of dangerous substances
  • S-phrases denote the measures that should be taken to minimise the risk from a potential hazard
  • S-phrases are derived from CHIP, and range from S1 - S64 (and combinations thereof)
  • They exist alongside risk phrases

 

SDS

  • Safety Data Sheet
  • Fortunately, your suppliers have a legal obligation to provide you with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).  This contains a range of information to help you assess the risks of using that product for both day-to-day use and in an emergency.  Clearly, when you create your COSHH assessments you should use the SDS as the reference source

 

SIN

  • UN Substance Identification Number
  • Former term used for UN number

 

Supply legislation

  • Supply legislation (such as CHIP), is designed to safeguard the end user of a chemical
  • It takes into account factors such as occupational exposure – where a user may be exposed to a low concentration of a chemical for an extended period of time
  • For legislation aimed at bulk incidents, see transport legislation

 

Supply symbols

  • Supply symbols are those that appear on CHIP compliant product labels and packaging
  • They consist of an orange square with a black design (e.g.: skull and crossbones – toxic; black cross – harmful/irritant)
  • Supply symbols can be found on the Hazchem Scale Cards available on the HSE website

 

Toxic

  • A toxic substance is one that is capable of causing injury or damage to a living organism

 

Transport class

  • Under ADR, there are 9 dangerous goods hazard classes e.g.: A substance classified as explosive is said to have “transport class 1”
  • Some of the classes are subdivided, e.g.: Class 6.1 – toxic substances
  • A full explanation of each transport class can be found in section 2.2 of ADR Part I

 

Transport legislation

  • Transport legislation (such as ADR), is designed to safeguard those coming into contact with hazardous chemicals during their transport
  • It allows for incidents where a high level of exposure may occur over a short time period (e.g.: after a bulk spillage)
  • For legislation aimed at incidents involving end-users, see supply legislation

 

Tremcard

  • Transport Emergency Card
  • Tremcards are instructions in writing, aimed at drivers and the emergency services coming into contact with dangerous goods
  • ADR currently requires that Tremcards be carried with shipments of dangerous goods
  • Tremcards must be available in a language the driver can understand, and the language of every country through which the load passes

 

UN number

  • United Nations number
  • A four-digit number assigned to a potentially hazardous material or class of materials
  • UN numbers are internationally recognised and are used by the Fire Service and other emergency response personnel for identification of materials during transportation emergencies
  • Further information can be found in the ADR book and on Chemdata