Terminology
On this page you will find explanations of commonly used terms within quality management, QHSE and compliance. These terms appear regularly on our website and in the daily work of QHSE, QESH and safety professionals. The definitions are deliberately kept short and practical, so you can quickly understand what a term means and how it is applied in the context of EXB Software. This helps you maintain an overview and see the connection between policy, execution and assurance.
ARBO
Working conditions: the full set of rules and measures aimed at safe, healthy and responsible working, laid down in the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and underlying regulations.
ARIE regulation
The Additional Risk Inventory and Evaluation (ARIE) is a regulation in the Dutch Working Conditions Decree for companies with elevated risks.
Audits
Systematic assessments to determine whether requirements and agreements are being met.
BPM (Business Process Management)
Recording processes, workflows and procedures with the sequence of activities in a way that supports you in your daily work.
CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions)
An approach within quality management to identify deviations, errors and risks in processes, analyse the root causes (Root Cause Analysis) and take action to prevent recurrence or occurrence. Certifications
Certifications are the formal confirmation by an independent third party that a product, process, system or person meets predefined (international) standards and requirements.
Compliance
Demonstrably meeting legislation, standards and internal rules.
Corrective measure
Action taken to eliminate the cause of a deviation or incident and prevent recurrence.
Dashboards
Clear displays of KPIs and performance indicators that provide insight into current status and trends.
Document management
The structured recording, approval, management, communication and provision of documents, including version control.
EHS (Environment, Health & Safety)
International term for environment, health and safety.
Health
Part of QHSE focused on preventing work-related health complaints and occupational diseases.
HHE (Health, Hygiene and Environment)
Integrated approach focused on health, hygiene and environmental control, often used in production and food environments.
GRC (Governance, Risk Management & Compliance)
Integrated framework for governing organisations, managing risks and demonstrably complying with laws and regulations.
HSE (Health, Safety & Environment)
International term for health, safety and environment; comparable in substance to QHSE, but without an explicit quality component.
HSSE manager
Officer responsible for Health, Safety, Security & Environment within the organisation.
Certified Safety Expert (HVK)
Certified safety expert with specialist knowledge in the field of occupational safety and risk control.
Incident management
Reporting, investigating and following up on incidents and near misses.
Internal audit
Audit carried out by the organisation itself to assess whether processes and systems work effectively and as intended.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
Independent, worldwide organisation that develops international standards for products, processes and services to ensure quality, safety and efficiency.
ISO (9001 / 14001 / 45001)
Internationally recognised sets of standards for management systems. The number refers to the specific standard.
ISO 9001 – Quality management systems, focused on process control and continuous improvement.
ISO 14001 – Standard for environmental management, focused on environmental performance and compliance with environmental legislation.
ISO 45001 – Standard for occupational health and safety management systems.
QESH manager
Officer responsible for Quality, Working Conditions and Environment within the organisation.
Read-and-understood monitor
A read-and-understood monitor within a QHSE solution provides the ability to track whether documentation has been reviewed.
Complaint management
Recording, analysing and following up on complaints and feedback with the aim of structural improvement.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
Measurable indicator that provides insight into performance and progress against objectives.
LMRA (Last Minute Risk Analysis)
An LMRA is a short, systematic check performed immediately before starting work to safeguard safety, health and environmental (SHE) aspects.
Reports (incidents and hazards)
Records of unsafe situations, incidents, near misses or deviations in processes.
Environment
Here: the full set of environmental factors an organisation influences, such as waste, emissions, energy consumption and raw materials.
NEN standards
NEN is the body that manages and publishes standards in the Netherlands. These are the specifically Dutch standards, often based on the international ISO standards.
NCR (Non-Conformity Report)
Non-Conformity Report (NCR): a document in quality management (manufacturing, construction) describing a deviation from specifications or standards.
Process management
Recording, executing and monitoring work processes to guarantee quality, safety and compliance.
PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
Cycle that lays the foundation for continuous improvement processes.
Prevention
Measures and activities aimed at preventing incidents, accidents, health complaints and environmental damage.
Action Plan
The execution of a Risk Inventory & Evaluation must ultimately lead to an Action Plan to resolve shortcomings.
QHSE manager
Person responsible for Quality, Health, Safety & Environment, often with a coordinating and advisory role towards management and the workfloor.
RACI Model
A RACI model is a management matrix used to establish and operationalise roles and responsibilities for tasks, goals and/or decisions.
RI&E (Risk Inventory and Evaluation)
Legally required inventory and assessment of occupational risks, including an Action Plan.
Risk manager
Officer responsible for identifying, analysing and controlling strategic, operational and compliance risks.
RCA (Root Cause Analysis)
A systematic method to uncover the fundamental cause of problems rather than only addressing symptoms.
Safety
International term for safety; focused on preventing accidents, injuries and dangerous situations.
Seveso companies
The Seveso Directive (formerly Brzo in the Netherlands) is European legislation for companies working with large quantities of hazardous substances, aimed at preventing major accidents.
SHE manager (Safety, Health & Environment)
Officer responsible for safety, health and environment, comparable to an HSE or QHSE manager.
Toolbox (meeting)
Short, practice-oriented instruction or training on a specific QHSE topic, often on the workfloor.
Safety
Preventing and controlling risks that can lead to injury, damage or disruption of work.
Safety manager
Officer responsible for setting up, implementing and improving safety policy and measures.
Improvement action
Concrete action resulting from an audit, incident, complaint or analysis that contributes to better performance.
SHE (Safety, Health and Environment)
Dutch umbrella term (VGM) for safety, health and environment, often used in construction and industry.
Shift logbook
A shift logbook is an essential digital handover document in shift work, production, healthcare or security, used to record tasks, events, incidents and checks per shift.