Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V Wsafety glasses
Glasses specifically designed to protect the user's eyes from flying objects or harmful light rays. Sunglasses do not qualify as safety glasses.
safety orders
Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations is divided into sections that deal with specific industries (construction, electrical, general industry, etc). Each of these sections is called a safety order.
serious and willful misconduct (S&W)
A petition filed if the injury is caused by the serious and willful misconduct of the employer or the injured worker.
serious injury or illness
A serious injury or illness is one that requires employee hospitalization for more than 24 hours for other than medical observation. Permanent scarring or loss of any part of the body also falls under serious injury.
serious violation
A serious violation exists if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from either an exposure that exceeds permissible limits or from practices, methods, operations or processes which are used in the workplace.
settlement
A workers' compensation cases may be settled in one of two ways, by a compromise and release (C&R) or by a stipulation with request for award. A C&R usually settles all outstanding issues in a claim for a single lump sum payment. A stipulation may leave certain issues open, such as future medical treatment and/or vocational rehabilitation.
sharp
Any object used or encountered that can be reasonably anticipated to penetrate the skin or any other part of the body, resulting in an exposure incident. Sharps include, but are not limited to, needle devices, scalpels, lancets, broken glass and capillary tubes, exposed ends of dental wires and knives, drills and burs.
sharps container
A container specifically designed for the disposal of contaminated sharps.
sharps injury
Any injury caused by a sharp, including but not limited to cuts, abrasions or needlesticks.
sheepherders
Any individual who tends flocks of sheep grazing on range or pasture; who moves sheep to and about an area assigned for grazing; who prevents sheep from wandering or becoming lost, or uses trained dogs to round up strays and protect sheep against predators and the eating of poisonous plants; who assists in the lambing, docking and shearing of sheep; who provides water or feeds sheep supplementary rations; and who performs such duties pursuant to an approved order filed under the federal H2A program or any successor program.
standard railing / guardrail
These railings protect workers from falling and are constructed of wood or an equally substantial material. They consist of a top rail and a mid-rail halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway or ramp and must be capable of withstanding a load of 13 pounds per linear foot applied either horizontally or vertically.
State Compensation Insurance Fund
State Compensation Insurance Fund or SCIF is the state's largest workers' compensation insurance carrier. If you can't find an insurer willing to cover your business, SCIF is required to provide you with coverage.
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
A branch of the state Employment Development Department that pays temporary disability benefits for non-industrial injuries or illnesses.
stipulation with request for award (Stip)
A settlement in which the parties agree on the terms of an award. It may include any future medical treatment. Payment takes place over time.
student employee
A student employee who is enrolled in high school, or in an accredited two-year community college or accredited four-year college or university, or who was so enrolled in the school semester or quarter or trimester most recently completed, provided the student attended school at least nine hours per week in such most recent school period and is pursuing a course of study aimed at receiving a diploma or degree.
Student employee, camp counselor or program counselor of an organized camp
student employee
An employee enrolled in high school, or in an accredited two-year community college or accredited four-year college or university, or who was so enrolled in the school semester or quarter or trimester most recently completed, provided the student attended school at least nine hours per week in the most recent school period and is pursuing a diploma or degree.
camp counselor or program counselor
A staff member whose main responsibility involves either direct supervision of living-group campers or direct program relationships with campers.
organized camp
A site with program and facilities established to provide an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives for five days or more during one or more seasons of the year.
Organized camp does not include a motel, tourist camp, trailer park, resort, hunting camp, auto court, labor camp, penal or correctional camp, child care institution, home-finding agency, or any charitable or recreational organization which complies with the rules and regulations for recreational trailer parks provided by Health and Safety Code Section 18301(b).
subpoena
A document that requires a witness to appear at a hearing. There must be an application for adjudication on file for a subpoena to be valid.
subpoena duces tecum (SDT)
A document that requires records be sent to the requester. There must be an application for adjudication on file for a subpoena duces tecum to be valid.
summary rating
The percentage of permanent disability calculated by the state Division of Workers' Compensation disability evaluation unit based on either the primary treating physician or a panel qualified medical evaluator. This type of rating is only available for workers not represented by an attorney.
summary rating reconsideration
An administrative procedure to object to the summary permanent disability rating issued by the state Division of Workers' Compensation disability evaluation unit. The request must be made within 30 days of receipt of the summary rating.