1.3 Critical terms and definitions

Terms and definitions

Definitions

Prior to any work being done to identify critical tasks, all persons involved should have an understanding of the following key terms:

    Dangerous / hazardous work:

    Any work which has produced or has the potential to cause harm to employees.

    Task:

    Segment of work which requires a set of specific and distinct actions for its completion. Examples include:  

    • Performing the pre-use inspection on an overhead crane.

    • Setting up the wrapping machine for food stuffs.

    • Performing an emergency shut down on the preheat furnace.

    • Preparing the shipping papers for a rail shipment.

     

    Critical Task:

    A task which has the potential to produce major loss to people, property, process and/or environment when not performed properly.

    Procedure:

    A step-by-step description of how to proceed, from start to finish, in performing a task properly.

    Step:

    One segment of the total task where something happens to advance the work involved.

    Practice:

    A set of positive guidelines helpful to performing a specific type of work that may not always be done in a set way.