Glossary

Abbreviation for biological hazards. Many warning signs use this abbreviation.

The term biological agent is defined in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and means a micro-organism, cell culture, or human endoparasite which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or other hazard to human health.

Biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins and others such as protozoa. These can all cause harm to human health.

Biomass is organic, meaning it is made of material that comes from living organisms, such as plants and animals. The most common biomass materials used for energy are plants, wood, and waste. These are called biomass feedstocks.

Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion – an explosion resulting from the failure of a vessel containing a liquid at a temperature significantly above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure

A permanently saturated area of spongy ground with poor drainage. Bogs are usually found in upland areas experiencing cool temperatures and high rainfall. Slow decomposition of the plants found in bogs sometimes leads to the formation of peat.

A hidden bomb or mine so placed that it will be set off by an unsuspecting person through such means as moving an apparently harmless object. Also any hidden trap set for an unsuspecting person or animal.

Boundary starvation requires the removal of potential fuel from around the six sides of the fire on board a vessel, which may be ignited by conductivity through bulkheads, decks or deck heads.

Animals including domestic cattle, buffaloes, bison and oxen.

A central and advanced control point for occasions where it is necessary for BA to be started up at a distance from the original point of entry to a hazard area.

A pre-nominated fire control to be used by the call handling agent for the distribution of calls in times of unexpected pressure. The call handling agent will automatically divert calls to the buddy if unanswered by the affected control room for a defined period. Buddy arrangements provide various levels of support; however, they should allow for emergency call taking and for the transfer of emergency call data back to the affected control.

Hot spots, sometimes called bullseyes, are areas of intense heat in a fire. They may have the potential to reignite.

A large watertight chamber, open at the bottom, from which the water is kept out by air pressure and in which construction work may be carried out under water.

In the UK, British Telecommunications plc acts as the CHA for all the networks.

Used as a component in vehicle construction.

Producing or tending to produce cancer.

A first aid technique that uses either hands-only chest compressions, or cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

An incident requiring the deployment of large numbers of appliances and personnel, which may include National Resilience capabilities. It may last for several days or weeks and may be the subject of direction from the Secretary of State or the Regional Nominated Co-ordinator.

A catenary line is used to transmit electrical power to trains and trams.

Part of the drainage system running alongside a railway track.

The Met Office’s CHEMET service is used to track the dispersion of a chemical release.

Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.

The Coandă effect is the tendency of a stream of fluid (or gas) to stay attached to a surface, rather than follow a straight line in its original direction. It may also be expressed as the tendency of a fluid (or gas) jet to be attracted to a nearby surface.

The coastal waters, up to 12 miles offshore, around the British Isles are divided into 19 areas. They are also referred to as inshore waters.