Glossary beginning with N

Click one of the letters above to go to the page of all terms beginning with that letter.

N

Nanometers (nm) search for term

A nanometer is unit of measure for wavelength. A nanometer (nm) is a one-billionth of a meter (10-9m).

Natural Wet Bulb Temperature (NWBT) search for term

Natural wet bulb temperature (NWBT) is a measure of both the effect of wind and humidity on evaporation of sweat from the employee’s skin. It is one of three temperatures that combine to produce the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT).

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) search for term

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) refers to skin cancer that are not melanoma. The primary NMSCs are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Outdoor workers are at a much greater risk of NMSCs than are indoor workers. 

Nonconformity search for term

Nonconformity is any deviation from a specified standard or nonfulfillment of a requirement of the occupational health and safety management system/sun safety program.

Nonionizing radiation search for term

Nonionizing radiation is radiation that does not have enough energy to ionize matter which it interacts with. The lowest wavelength (highest energy) of radiation that is nonionizing radiation is 100nm. This is the lowest boundary of ‘vacuum’ ultraviolet radiation. Nonionizing radiation includes ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, infrared radiation, microwaves and radiowaves.

Notification search for term

A notification is a requirement for notifying a specific person following an unwanted event. Notification should occur as soon as reasonably possible after the event. It is much simpler than ’reporting’. Its purpose is usually to trigger another person’s attendance or action. A supervisor notifying senior management or a worker health and safety representative after an employee’s heat stroke would be an ‘internal notification.’  In many jurisdictions there are requirements for ‘external notifications’ to regulators, which will often trigger a visit by an inspector or officer.

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