Most abbreviations are defined within the text. Abbreviations are not always used if it is not
appropriate within the particular context of the sentence. The most commonly used ones are
as follows:
ACL – Approved carriage list
ACM – Asbestos -containing material
ACOP – Approved Code of Practice
ACPO – Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland
AIB – Asbestos Insulation Board
ALARP – As low as reasonably practicable
APAU – Accident Prevention Advisory Unit, now Operations Unit
ARCA – Asbestos Removal Contractors Association
BA – Breathing apparatus
BAT – Best available techniques
BRE – Building Research Establishment
BSI – British Standards Institution
CAR – Control of Asbestos Regulations
CBI – Confederation of British Industry
CD – Consultative document
CDM – Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
CECA – The Civil Engineering Contractors Association
CEN – Comite European de Normalisation
CENELEC – Comite European de Normalisation Electrotechnique
CHIP – Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations
CIB – Chartered Institute of Building
CIRA – Construction Industry Research and Information Association
CLAW – Control of Lead at Work Regulations
CONIAC – Construction Industry Advisory Committee
COPFS – Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
CORGI – Council for Registered Gas Installers
COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation
COSLA – Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
dB(A) – Decibel (A-weighted)
dB(C) – Decibel (C-weighted)
DSE – Display screen equipment
DSEAR – Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations
DWP – Department for Work and Pensions
E & W – England and Wales
EAV – Exposure action value
EC – European Community
ELV – Exposure limit value
EMAS – Employment Medical Advisory Service
EPA – Environmental Protection Act 1990
EU – European Union
FSA – Financial Services Authority
FSB – Federation of Small Businesses
HAV – Hand-arm vibration
HGV – Heavy goods vehicle
HIE – Highlands and Islands Enterprise
HOPE – Healthcare, Occupational and Primary for Employees
HSAC – Health and Safety Advice Centre
HSCER – Health and Safety (Consultation with Employers) Regulations
HSE – Health and Safety Executive
HSL – Health and Safety Laboratory
HSW – Act Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
HWL – Healthy Working Lives
IAC – Industry Advisory Committee
ILO – International Labour Office
IOSH – Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
LBRO – Local Better Regulation Oce
LEAL – Lower exposure action level
LOLER – Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
LPG – Liqueed petroleum gas
MCG – The Major Contractors Group
MEL – Maximum exposure limit
MHOR – Manual Handling Operations Regulations
MHSW – Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
MORR – Management of Occupational Road Risk
MoT – Ministry of Transport (still used for vehicle tests)
NAWR – Control of Noise at Work Regulations
NEBOSH – National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
NVQ – National Vocational Qualication
OHSAS – Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series
OSH – Occupational Safety and Health
PF – Procurator FiPHASS – The Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland
POOSH – Scotland Professional Organisations in Occupational Safety & Health
PPE – Personal protective equipment
PPM – Parts per million
PUWER – The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
RCD – Residual current device
REACH – Registration Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals
RES – Representative (s) of employee safety
RIDDOR – The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
RoSPA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
RPE – Respiratory protective equipment
RRFSO – Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order
RTA – Road traffic accident
SaHW – Safe and Healthy Working
SBSA – Scottish Building Standards Agency
ScotPHO – Scottish Public Health Observatory
SCVO – Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
SE – Scottish Executive
SEPA – Scottish Environment Protection Agency
SHAW – Scotland ’s Health at Work
SPL – Sound pressure level
STEL – Short-term exposure limited
STUC – Scottish Trades Union Congress
SWL – Safe working load
SWP – Safe working pressure
TLV – Threshold limit value
TUC – Trades Union Congress
TWA – Time-weighted average
UEAL – Upper exposure action level
UK – United Kingdom
VAWR – Vibration at Work Regulations
WAHR – Work at Height Regulations
WBV – Whole body vibration
WEL – Workplace exposure limit
WHO – World Health Organization
WRULD – Work-related upper limb disorder