hazard/safety terms

Question 1

Hazard

Answer 1

Something that presents a danger or risk of injury

Question 2

Hazardous material

Answer 2

A substance that has the potential to cause harm

Question 3

Biohazard

Answer 3

A biological substance, such as blood or another bodily fluid, that has the potential to transmit disease

Question 4

Carcinogen

Answer 4

A substance known to cause cancer

Question 5

Other potentially infective materials (OPIMs)

Answer 5

A category of possible biohazards other than blood, including tissues and bodily fluids, such as semen, vaginal secretions and spinal fluid, that have been defined by OHSA

Question 6

Accident

Answer 6

Any unplanned occurrence that has potentially negative consequences

Question 7

Infectious disease

Answer 7

An illness caused by an infectious particle that can be transmitted from person to person

Question 8

Healthcare-associated infection

Answer 8

An infection that a patient acquires while being treated at a healthcare facility for a different ailment

Question 9

Side effect

Answer 9

An unintended, often problematic outcome for a treatment

Question 10

Adverse effect

Answer 10

An unintended harmful effect of a medical treatment

Question 11

Laboratory medicine

Answer 11

The analysis of samples, such as bodily fluids, tissues or chemicals, for diagnostic or research purposes

Question 12

Drug

Answer 12

A substance used to treat a symptom (complaint) or to treat/prevent a disease

Question 13

Sharps

Answer 13

Medical equipment, such as needles or scalpels, that can puncture or cut healthcare workers; used sharps may transmit biohazards.

Question 14

Sharps container

Answer 14

A rigid, well-labeled plastic container designed to safely hold sharp objects for disposal.

Question 15

CT scan

Answer 15

A computed tomography scan; a scan that uses X-rays to create 2-D and 3-D images of parts of the body.

Question 16

Radiation

Answer 16

A form of energy characterized by the passage of particles or waves through a medium (e.g. light, heat, radio waves and X-rays)

Question 17

X-ray

Answer 17

A form of electromagnetic radiation that can be used for medical imaging and therapeutic purposes.

Question 18

Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA)

Answer 18

A division of the US Department of Labor whose mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions.

Question 19

Material safety data sheet (MSDS)

Answer 19

A document that provides information on the hazards, handling procedures and safe disposal of a chemical.

Question 20

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Answer 20

A category of clothing that protects the wearer from coming into contact with infectious material.

Question 21

Safety procedure

Answer 21

A series of steps put into place to prevent accidents

Question 22

Standard precautions

Answer 22

A set of practices used to help prevent the transmission of infections, including assuming that everyone is potentially infectious, wearing PPE and disposing of sharps properly.