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Dangerous Goods: The term used in TDG regulations to describe hazardous materials.

Date of injury: If your injury was caused by one event, the date it happened is the date of injury. If the injury or illness was caused by repeated events, the date of injury is the date you knew, or should have known, the injury was caused by work.

Death benefits: Benefits paid to surviving dependents when a work injury results in death.

Deceleration device: Any mechanism, such as a rope grab, rip-stitch lanyard, specially-woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyard, automatic self-retracting lifeline/lanyard, etc., which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest, or otherwise limit the energy imposed on an employee during fall arrest.

Deceleration distance: The additional vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point at which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation (at the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.

De-energize: To free from any electric connection and/or electric charge.

Defect: Any characteristic or condition which tends to weaken or reduce the strength of the tool, object, or structure of which it is a part.

Defendant: The party, usually an employer or its insurance company, opposing you in a dispute over benefits.

Delay letter: A letter sent to you by the insurance company explaining why payments are delayed.

Denied claim: A claim in which the insurance company does not believe that your injury or illness was work related and therefore denies your claim.

Disability: A physical or mental impairment that limits everyday activities.

Disability management: A process to prevent disability from occurring or to intervene early and encourage and support continued employment. Disability rating: See permanent disability rating.

Discrimination claim: A petition filed if your employer has fired or discriminated against you for filing a workers' compensation claim.

Dispute: A disagreement about your right to payments, services or other benefits.

De bene esse: Of formal sufficiency for the time being; conditionally; provisionally.

Deposition: Sworn testimony taken under oath prior to trial before a court reporter in a place away from the courtroom.

Direct examination: The first questioning of a witness during a trial or deposition.

Direct Supervision: Where the supervising worker is present at the jobsite and fully cognizant and in control of the activities of the less experienced workers.

Disabling injury: An injury causing death, permanent disability, or any degree of temporary total disability beyond the day of the injury.

Disaster: Any real or anticipated occurrence which endangers the lies, safety, welfare and well-being of some or all of the people and cannot be brought under control by the use of all regular Municipal Government services and resources.

Due Diligence: The level of judgment, care, prudence, determination, and activity that a person would reasonably be expected to do under particular circumstances.