Occupational Health

Measuring a substance or its metabolite in a worker's blood, urine or breath to gauge actual absorbed exposure.

The science of designing work to fit the worker, reducing musculoskeletal strain and injury.

The process of measuring or estimating worker exposure to a hazard to decide what controls and medical surveillance are needed.

Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation

A medical evaluation that determines whether an employee can safely perform the essential functions of their job.

Industrial Hygiene

The science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling workplace hazards that can cause illness or injury.

Job Demands Analysis

A structured description of the physical and cognitive demands of a job, used to match workers to roles and guide return-to-work.

Documented authorization that an employee is medically able to perform a specific task, wear required PPE, or take an assignment.

The systematic, ongoing assessment of employees exposed (or potentially exposed) to workplace hazards to detect early health effects.

Permissible Exposure Limit

The maximum legal exposure to a hazardous substance an employee may experience, set and enforced by OSHA.

Personal Protective Equipment

Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards — the last line of defense in the hierarchy of controls.

A procedure that verifies a tight-fitting respirator seals properly on a specific worker, required before use and annually.

Return-to-Work

The coordinated process of safely returning an employee to work after injury, illness or leave, often with temporary restrictions.

Threshold Limit Value

A recommended occupational exposure guideline published by the ACGIH, often stricter than OSHA's legal PEL.

The clinical judgment of whether a workplace event or exposure caused or contributed to an injury or illness.

A program that prevents and manages work-related injury and illness through ongoing screening, examination and early intervention.