Enhancement Table: Definitions and
Terminologies
Term Original Definition Enhanced / Revised Definition
Accident An unplanned event or An unplanned event or
sequence of events that has an sequence of events that has an
undesirable consequence. undesirable consequence.
Aggregate Threshold Quantity The total amount of a The total amount of a
hazardous chemical in hazardous chemical in
connected or nearby vessels connected or nearby vessels
that may be affected by an that may be affected by an
event. event.
Catastrophic Release A major uncontrolled A major uncontrolled
emission, fire, or explosion emission, fire, or explosion
involving one or more highly involving one or more highly
hazardous chemicals. hazardous chemicals.
Cause & Effect Diagram (C&E A matrix showing the A matrix showing the
Diagram) correlation between primary correlation between primary
and final control elements in and final control elements in
safety systems. safety systems.
COMO Chief O&M Officer. Chief O&M Officer.
Employee An hourly, salaried, or contract An hourly, salaried, or contract
person who works at a facility person who works at a facility
and comes in direct contact and comes in direct contact
with a covered process. with a covered process.
Event An occurrence involving An occurrence involving
process, equipment, or human process, equipment, or human
performance causing a system performance causing a system
upset. upset.
Flammable Gas Gas that forms flammable Gas that forms flammable
mixtures with air at certain mixtures with air at certain
concentrations under ambient concentrations under ambient
conditions. conditions.
Flammable Liquid Liquid with a flash point below Liquid with a flash point below
100°F, excluding certain 100°F, excluding certain
mixtures. mixtures.
Hazard A condition or chemical A condition or chemical
property that could cause property that could cause
harm or damage. harm or damage.
Highly Hazardous Chemical Toxic, reactive, flammable, or Toxic, reactive, flammable, or
explosive substances. explosive substances.
HIRA Hazard Identification Risk Hazard Identification Risk
Assessment. Assessment.
HSSE Health Safety Security Health Safety Security
Environment. Environment.
Incident An unplanned event that may An unplanned event that may
or may not cause harm. or may not cause harm.
MAH Major Accident Hazards, which Major Accident Hazards, which
can lead to fatalities or major can lead to fatalities or major
damage. damage.
Near Miss An event that did not cause a An event that did not cause a
release but could have. release but could have.
Normally Unoccupied Remote A site visited periodically but A site visited periodically but
Facility not continuously staffed. not continuously staffed.
OSHA Occupational Health & Safety Occupational Health & Safety
Administration. Administration.
Process Any activity involving highly Any activity involving highly
hazardous chemicals. hazardous chemicals.
Process Hazard An inherent chemical or An inherent chemical or
physical characteristic with physical characteristic with
damaging potential. damaging potential.
Process Safety Review (PSR) Structured review to assess Structured review to assess
safety maturity in people, safety maturity in people,
processes, and plants. processes, and plants.
Process Safety Management Application of principles to Application of principles to
prevent/control accidental prevent/control accidental
releases. releases.
Risk An expression of potential loss An expression of potential loss
considering likelihood and considering likelihood and
consequences. consequences.
Threshold Quantity Minimum amount of Minimum amount of
hazardous chemical that hazardous chemical that
triggers regulatory action. triggers regulatory action.
VP Vice President. Vice President.
SIL Safety Integrity Level. Safety Integrity Level.
ALARP As Low as Reasonably As Low as Reasonably
Practicable. Practicable.
JHA Job Hazard Analysis. Job Hazard Analysis.
API American Petroleum Institute. American Petroleum Institute.
ASME American Society of American Society of
Mechanical Engineers. Mechanical Engineers.
IEC International Electrotechnical International Electrotechnical
Commission. Commission.