Vocabulary Definitions

Air inlet: Point where air enters a device or process. The opposite is air outlet.

Arc: Electrical current travelling a short distance through the air to flow between two conductors.

Blower: Pump-like mechanism which generates airflow.

Circuit Breaker: Electrical device which instantly breaks a circuit (switches off the power supply) as a safety measure if a variation in current is detected.

Confined spaces: Small areas without ventilation.

CO2 detector: Measures carbon dioxide.

Corrosive: Burns the skin.

Exposure: Contact (with a danger).

Extinguisher (Fire Extinguisher): Device used for putting put fires, usually a metal container with a hose or nozzle containing water, C02, powder or foam.

Flammable: Catches fire easily.

Gas Bottle: Metal container which contains compressed gas, often in liquefied form.

Guardrail: Safety rail designed to prevent people falling from high places.

Handrail: It's the same tan a guardrail.

Irritant: Causes skin to react.

Load-bearing: Describes a part of a structure or assembly that is designed to resist/transmit force.

Moisture-sensitive: Can be damaged by water.

Naked flames/sparks: Sources of ignition.

Off-cuts: Waste pieces left over after cutting.

Shot blasting: Firing small metal balls propelled by compressed air as an abrasive cleaning process.

Silo: Large container for storing bulk granular materials such as grain.

Strain: Change in size/shape of a component due to force.

Switchboard: Control panel containing several switches for all the individual circuits of an electrical installation.

Switchgear: Collective term for switching equipment.

Toxic: Poisonous.

Transformer: Electrical device for modifying current and voltage. A step-up transformer increases voltage and reduces current. A step-down transformer decreases voltage and increases current.