by Dave Gecic
It is difficult to understand acronym’s, those silly little letter collections. Often when you look for technical or regulatory information you run into dozens of them. Here are some common abbreviations used in the industrial, chemical, and finishing industries:
Government Organizations
CDC is the Center for Disease Control
CDER is the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the FDA
CPSC is the Consumer Products Safety Commission
DHS is the Department of Homeland Security
DOD is the Department of Defense
DOE is the Department of Energy
DOT is the Department of Transportation
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency
FAA is the Federal Aviation Administration under the DOT
FDA is the Food and Drug Administration
FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency
FSIS is the Food and Safety Inspection Service of the USDA
HHS is Health and Human Services.
MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration
NIH is the National Institute of Health
NSA is the National Security Agency
SBA is the Small Business Administration
USDA is the United States Department of Agriculture
Environmental and Transportation Abbreviations
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists agency which determines occupational exposure limits such as the TLV. It is made up of people from the government and educational institutions.
ATSDR is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It is part of HHS that records and tries to minimize environmental hazards. It was created by CERCLA.
BOD is the Biological Oxygen Demand. It helps measure the biodegradability of a substance.
CAA is am abbreviation sometimes used for the Clean Air Act.
CAER is Community Awareness and Emergency Response.
CAS is the Chemical Abstract Service
CAS# is a unique number assigned by the Chemical Abstract Service to identify articles that reference the health and safety of that chemical. Sometimes refereed to by the EPA as a CASRN which is a Chemical Abstracts service Reference Number.
CBI is Confidential Business Information. It is information that is treated as private and exempt from public disclosure. However it may be required to be disclosed under certain circumstances.
CBP is Customs and Border Protection and they are in charge of border customs.
CDL is Commercial Drivers License. In most cases you are required to have one for driving a vehicle with hazardous materials.
CERCLA is the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act. It is sometimes known as the “Superfund Act”. Passed in 1980 it was later amended by SARA.
CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations. It includes all the regulations that the government applies to many industries.is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a little book that tells you want to do in the case of many environmental and transportation emergencies. It is for first responders but anyone involved in hazardous materials should be familiar with it.
COD is chemical oxygen demand and helps measure the biodegradability of chemicals.
CNS is the Central Nervous System.
CPSC is the Consumer Products Safety Council.
CWA is the Clean Water Act. Seldom used acronym.
ECEL is an Existing Chemical Exposure Limit. Used by the EPA to differentiate new proposed exposure limits from current limits.
ECP is a Exposure Control Plan.
EPCRA is the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.
FOIA is the Freedom of Information Act.
GHG is Green House Gas. It is sometimes used for material that can increase global warming.
GHS is the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. It is a system that seeks to harmonize hazardous regulations across international borders.
HAP are Hazardous Air Pollutants. The EPA has a specific list that determines these.
HMR is Hazardous Material Regulations. They are determined in part by the PHMSA and part by the EPA and partially by some OSHA regulations.
HMT is the Hazardous Material Table. It is found at 49 CFR 172.101.
LD50 is the Lethal Dose 50%. It is the concentration of a substance that is lethal for 50% of a population.
NPRM is Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. It is used by PHMSA and DOT when new regulations are proposed during the comment period.
NTSB is the National Transportation Safety Board. Until 1975 they reported to the DOT but became an independent agency. They investigate all motor vehicle, aviation, bridge and railroad incidents. They are responsible for investigating any hazardous material releases.
OCSPP is the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. It is part of the EPA.
OHMS is the Office of Hazardous Material Safety. It is part of PHMSA and regulates the transportation and handling of hazardous materials.
OHS is a general term for Occupational Health and Safety.
OPS is the Office of Pipeline Safety. It is part of PHMSA and regulates materials transported by pipelines.
PBPK is Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic modeling. It predicts concentrations of a chemical that can build up in the body over time. (It is seldom used in safety literature.)
PEL is a Permissible Exposure Limit. Used to determine the amount of a hazardous material someone should be exposed to.
PESS is Potentially Exposed or Susceptible Subpopulation. Used by the EPA to discuss groups that may be in danger from chemical hazards.
PFAS are Polyfluoroalkyl Substances often referred as forever chemicals.
PG is the abbreviation for Packing Group. This is a description of how hazardous a material is. The lower the number the more hazardous the material is.
PHMSA is Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. They are actually part of the Department of Transportation. They are responsible for the safety and transport of all types of materials including hazardous materials.
POTW is a Publicly Operated Treatment Works.
PRA is the Paperwork Reduction Act.
PRIA is Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis. It is a study by PHMSA and DOT to be used when new regulations are being proposed.
PROPIN is an abbreviation for Proprietary Information. Similar to CBI.
PSN is the Proper Shipping Name. This is referenced in the hazardous material table found in 40 CFR 172.101. It is a description of a material that describes the nature of its hazard for example “Flammable” or “Corrosive”.
RFA is the Regulatory Flexibility Act which allows agencies to not enforce certain provisions of their regulations under special circumstances.
RSPA is the Research and Special Programs Administration. It was a part of the DOT responsible for hazardous transportation prior to 2004 when the PHMSA was started.
RTECS is the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemicals Substances. A list of chemical managed by NIOSH.
SACC is the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals.
SARA is the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act. It was passed in 1986 and amended and added to many of the CERCLA regulations.
SCAC is a Standard Carrier Alpha Code. It is a four letter code used to identify a transportation company. They are assigned by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association.
SDWA is the Safe Drinking Water Act.
SP is an abbreviation for Special Provisions. These are regulations found in the hazardous material table in 49 CFR 172.101 that apply to specific chemicals.
STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit.
TLV is Threshold Limit Value.
TSCA is the Toxic Substance Control Act.
TURA is the Toxic Use Reduction Act. It is from the State of Massachusetts and requires companies to report their toxic chemicals, develop plans to decrease toxins and to pay a fee if they have toxins.
TWA is a Time Weighted Average. It is the maximum amount that someone should be exposed to over a certain period of time. Usually related to a PEL of STEL.
USCG is the United States Coast Guard. They are responsible for implementing hazardous regulations. In 2002 they became part of Homeland Security. From 1967 they were part of the Department of Transportation.
WCPP is a Workplace Chemical Protection Program. It is a plan required to be able to use certain chemicals to minimize their hazards. It must be approved by the EPA.
WOTUS is the Waters of the United States.
Metal Finishing Abbreviations
AISI is the American Iron and Steel Institute. The voice of the American Steel Industry.
AWS is the American Welding Society.
CCAI is the Chemical Coaters Association International. It informs and educates the world about all types of surface coatings.
FABTEC is a wide ranging trade show for all types of fabrication and finishing.
NASF is the National Association of Surface Finishing. They promote good practices and spread information of all types of surface preparation especially plating, buffing, and coating.
PCI is the Powder Coating Institute. They promote the use of powder paints and have useful workshops and publications.
PMA is the Precision Metalforming Association.
SUR/FIN is the NASF annual trade show for the surface finishing technology industry.
Mechanical and Electrical Abbreviations
ESD is Electrostatic Discharge
PE is a Protective Earth Ground rather than aground that is just attached to a metal chassis.
International Abbreviations
AICS is the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances. It is an inventory of chemical substances in use in Australia.
AMAS is the Mexican National Association of Surface Finishing. Promotes electroplating, anodizing, surface finishing and other types of coating in Mexico.
CDSL is the Canadian Domestic Substance List. It is s list of commercial chemicals in Canada.
CEN is the European Committee for Standardization. It is a non-government agency responsible for ASTM type regulations in the EU.
CENELOC is the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. It is involved in many types of standards involving the manufacture and disposal of any type of electronic equipment including vehicles.
CEPA is the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. It was originally passed in 1988 and had a major update in 1999.
DGL is the Dangerous Goods List. It is a list of hazardous chemicals developed by the EU.
DSL is the Domestic Substance List for Canada.
ECHA is the European Chemicals Agency.
EEC is the European Economic Community. Sometimes called the “EC”.
EFTA is the European Trade Association.
EN is European Standards. It is the term for testing and other regulations in the EU.
EINECS is the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances. This is an inventory of commercial chemicals used in the EU.
IAEA is the International Atomic Energy Agency. Part of the UN.
IATA is the International Air Transport Association. It regulates shipments by air.
ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization. It regulates international shipments by air.
ICC is the Indian Chemicals Council.
ICH is the International Council for Harmonization.
IMDG is the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. It regulates international shipments by sea.
IMO is the International Maritime Organization which developed the MARPOL rules.
KCSL is the Korean Chemical Substance List.
MARPOL is short for Marine Pollution. It is also the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution for Ships. It was developed by the International Maritime Organization.
MITI is the Ministry of international Trade and Industry. Japeanese agency that reviews the hazards of chemical substances.
MRA are Mutual Recognition Arrangements. They are bilateral agreements between regulatory agencies usually from different countries to respect the others regulations.
NDSL is the Non-Domestic Substance List for Canada.
OECD is the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
REACH is Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. Set of major regulations for the EU.
UN Model Regulations are a set of regulations recommended by experts at the UN which deal with international shipping.
UNSCOE is the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts. It is a group that works to develop the UN Model Resolutions and GHS.
Industry Abbreviations
A2LA is the American Association of Laboratory accreditation. It certifies laboratories that do certain procedures and use certain methods.
AIM is the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020.
AAMA is the American Architectural Manufactures Association. It created specifications and procedures especially paint specifications for metal used in building. It is now part of FGIA.
ACC is the American Chemistry Council also known as the Manufacturing Chemists Association. It is a trade association of chemical company that advocates for the industry.
ACS is the American Chemical Society.
AFL is the American Federation of Labor, a collection of labor unions.
AMA is the American Marketing Association.
AMA is the American Medical Association.
ANSI is the American National Standard Institute. They make standards for different industrial processes.
AOAC is the International Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.
APSC is the Automotive Parts Suppliers Conference.
ASTM is the American Society of Testing and Materials which was founded in 1898. They no longer consider themselves a solely American institution however and have renamed themselves ASTM International. They develop numerous standards for the industry.
CAR is the Center for Automotive Research.
CMS is the Coordinate Metrology Society. They are a group that promotes close tolerance measurement and inspections using mobile measuring systems.
CMSC is the yearly conference for the CMS.
FGIA is the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Association. It creates specifications and promotes the glass industry and architectural coating specifications. It formed recently from the combination of AAMA and IGMA.
GCP is Good Clinical Practice. Usually used for medical trials but sometimes for laboratory work.
ICWUC is the International Chemical Workers Union Council. It is now part of the UFCW, however they still exist as an independent entity. They train workers to protect themselves from spills and exposure.
IGMA is the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Association. It made specifications concerning double pain glass. It is now part of FGIA.
IHEA is the Industrial Heating Equipment Association.
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. It develops benchmarks for companies to meet under various types of standards for example ISO 9000, etc.
MEMA is the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association. Automotive association.
NAICS is the North American Industrial Classification System. It is an organization that provides reference numbers which helps to determine what categories a company does business in.
NEMA is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
NIST is the National Institute of Standards and Technology. A part of the DOC that publishes standard reference data for different types of chemicals.
NSC is the National Safety Council. This group seeks to eliminate preventable death and injuries.
SDO is the Standard Development Organization. It could be any organization that develops any standard.
SGAM is a Small Group Activity Method. It is a type of training that is often used when training employees about hazardous products.
PIRG is the Public Interest Research Group which is a collection of not for profit organizations in the US and Canada that advocate for public and environmental safety.
TURI is the Toxics Use Reduction Institute which is a state agency of Massachusetts that helps to develop less toxic materials and cleaners for various industries.
UAW is the United Auto Workers. It controls and advocates for auto workers in most automotive companies.
UFCW is the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The ICWUC merged into them in 1996.
Educational Abbreviations
ASR is an Annual Statistical Report.
CEU are Continuing Education Units
PDS is a Professional Development Seminar.