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Fabric Filter:
Air cleaning device capable of high efficiency removal of dust contamination in air in same style as a vacuum cleaner.
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Face Velocity:
The velocity of air measured at the face of a local exhaust capture hood.
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Factor of Safety:
An allowance made during the design of a structure or appliance which seeks to ensure that applied stresses during use will be maintained well within the ultimate strength of the materials used. This allows for unexpected forces which may be encountered during use.
Factor of safety = Ultimate Strength
Working Stress
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Fail Active:
Failure mode which will cause safety systems to activate in the event of general failure eg emergency lighting upon electricity supply failure.
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Fail Generational:
Failure mode in which the component failure does not prevent any essential service being performed.
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Fail Passive:
Failure mode in which the protection system operates and stops the process in the event of a failure in any of the systems components.
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Fail to Danger:
Failure mode where the protection system becomes inoperative if there is a failure in any of its components. In the event of a hazardous condition arising the process/plant will continue to operate without being tripped.
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Fail to Safety:
See Fail Active, Fail Passive and Fail Generational.
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Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA):
An inductive analysis used to examine each component of a system to determine how various modes of failure might effect the system or any of its components.
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Failure Tracing Method:
An analytical technique of either inductive or deductive approach which makes a detailed assessment of a system and determines the methods and consequences of failure. See Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) and Event Tree Analysis (ETA).
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Farmer’s Lung:
See Aspergillosis.
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Fast Neutrons:
Neutrons with energies in excess of 0.1 MeV and a corresponding velocity of about 4 × 106 m s-1
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Fatigue Failure:
A mode of failure characterised by the slow growth of cracks in a material subjected to fluctuating stresses.
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Fault Tree Analysis (FTA):
A failure oriented graphical technique providing a systematic description of the combination of possible occurrences which can lead to the specified failure or undesired event under investigation. Uses a top down flow chart to link elements via ‘and/or’ logic gates. Can be quantified using probability data.
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Fibre:
Small solid particle which has an aspect ratio of at least 3:1 with aerodynamic properties to penetrate deep into the lungs (eg asbestos).
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Fibre Ropes:
Used for slings, fibre ropes can be made from several materials eg: manila, hemp, sisal, coir and cotton.
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Filter1:
Term used to describe the human being’s attention mechanism, a vast store of experiential information which can be accessed when required.
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Filter2:
An air cleaning device used in ventilation systems.
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Filter3:
Dust collection device used mainly for personal sampling. The three main filter materials in use are: Glass fibre, Membrane (‘plastic’) and Silver.
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Final Exit:
The termination of a fire escape route from a building giving direct access to a place of safety such as a street, passage or walkway sited to ensure that people can disperse safely.
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Fire Alarm:
Device used to warn occupants of a building of the outbreak of fire.
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Fire Certificate:
A compulsory document issued by the fire authority (unless exemptions apply) which requires the occupier of premises to satisfy certain fire safety conditions which may be specified.
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Fire Door:
A self closing fire resisting door which provides stability, integrity and insulation for a specified period of time, typically 30 or 60 minutes.
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Fire Extinguisher:
An appliance (usually portable) containing an extinguishing medium that can be expelled by the action of internal pressure and be directed onto a fire. The pressure may be stored pressure or created by a mixture of chemicals within the body of the extinguisher.
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Fire Point:
The lowest temperature at which the heat from combustion of a burning vapour is capable of producing sufficient vapour to maintain combustion.
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Fire Resistance:
See Stability, Integrity and Insulation.
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Fire Stopping:
The practice of stopping up openings with fire resisting filler in floors or ceiling where cables pipes or other services have passed through, in order to prevent the spread of fire or smoke.
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First Action Level:
The point at which the employer must carry out noise assessments of the exposure of the workforce. A daily personal noise exposure of 85dB(A) (at time of going to print).[1] See Second Action Level and Peak Action level.
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First Aid:
Treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of injury and illness until the help of a medical practitioner is obtained. Definition in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations also includes the treatment of minor injuries which would otherwise receive no treatment or which do not need treatment by a medical practitioner.
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First Aider:
A person designated by the employer and trained on a course approved by the HSE (see Appointed Person).
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Fixed Guard:
A protective device, characterised by a permanent fixing device which cannot be displaced in a casual way, which either encloses the dangerous part (of machinery) or keeps the operator at a safe distance.
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Flame Arrestor:
A device fitted to the opening of an enclosure or connecting pipework whose function is to allow flow out, but prevent flames from being transmitted backwards.
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Flame Front:
The leading edge of a flame in a combustion reaction.
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Flame Ionisation Detector:
In sample analysis, uses a Hydrogen/Air (or Hydrogen/Oxygen) flame which ionises most organic compounds in the sample. The collection of ions by an electrode results in electrical potential which causes a flow of current. The size of the current is dependant on the nature of the substance and its concentration.
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Flammable Gas Detector:
A direct reading instrument for gases which operates on a simple electrical principle utilising a wheatstone bridge. A sample from the atmosphere is drawn through the instrument passing over a heated catalyst. Combustion occurs in the presence of flammable gas and the rise in temperature is accompanied by a corresponding rise in resistance which is proportional to the concentration of gas in the atmosphere.
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Flare Stack:
A system used to discharge and burn unwanted or excess flammable gas in a safe and controlled manner.
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Flash Point:
The lowest temperature at which there is sufficient vaporisation of a substance to produce a flash momentarily when a flame is applied.
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FMA:
See FMEA.
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Fml-1:
Fibres per millilitre (of air), a numerical measure for dusts and other particulate matter.
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Formal Group:
A group created by an organisation to achieve specific objectives laid down in the organisation’s goals.
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Formal Organisation:
See Formal Structure
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Formal Structure:
(of an organisation). The official description of the hierarchy and departmentalisation within the organisation usually illustrated by means of an organisation chart. The pattern of human relations as defined by the systems, rules, policies and regulations of the company.
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Four Cs:
The elements of competence, communication, control, and co-operation said to play a great part in the development of safety culture.
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Fractional Dead Time – (FDT):
The moment of time that a protection system is inactive and will therefore fail to operate on demand.
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Fractional Noise Exposure:
Personal noise exposure related to part of the working day or an activity.
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Fracture Mechanics:
A mathematical technique used to determine the failure of structural components by assessing the significance of defects in terms of their likelihood to promote brittle failure and metal fatigue.
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Frame of Reference:
A viewpoint which influences a person’s approach to conflict. See Unitary, Pluralist and Radical.
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Free Radical:
A grouping of atoms that normally exists in combination with other atoms but can sometimes exist independently. They are generally very reactive in a chemical sense.
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Frequency:
The number of complete cycles of an electromagnetic wave in a second. Unit: Hertz, symbol: Hz. 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second.
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Frequency (noise):
The number of pressure variations per second measured in units of Hertz (Hz).
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Frequency Analysis:
Measurement and analysis of sound in its frequency components.
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Frequency Rate (FR):
Statistic used to illustrate the number of accidents (of a specified type) per 100,000 hours (or other constant*).
FR = Total number of accidents x 100,000
Total person hours worked
*Note that the multiplier may vary for different organisations, agencies and countries. Use caution when making comparisons.
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Fume:
Solid particles formed by the condensation of vaporised materials such as metals (eg welding fume). Usually submicron in diameter and very reactive.
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Fume Cupboard:
A form of partial containment held at negative pressure by mechanical ventilation comprising an enclosed chamber accessible via a sliding/sash door. Used mainly for materials possessing toxic, corrosive or flammable characteristics.
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Fungi:
Spore forming organisms which grow as budding cells or through the formation of filaments.
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Fuse:
A protective device designed to cut off the electrical supply to a circuit when the current flow exceeds a predetermined value.
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