Hierarchy of hazard controls
For example, construction professionals cannot remove the danger of asbestos when handling the hazardous agent is the core of the task.
At this stage, there’s greater flexibility to design out hazards or incorporate risk controls that align with the intended function.
[5] Effective engineering controls are integral to the original equipment design and work to eliminate or block hazards at the source before they reach workers.
Examples of administrative controls include procedure changes, employee training, and installation of signs and warning labels, such as those in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.
While PPE can be beneficial, its effectiveness relies on correct and consistent use, and it may incur significant costs over time, especially when used daily for multiple workers.
Employers must provide PPE when other control measures are still being developed or cannot adequately reduce hazardous exposure to safe levels.
[16] Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) minimizes risks to health and safety when worn correctly, including items like earplugs, goggles, respirators, and gloves.
However, PPE and administrative controls don't eliminate hazards at their source, relying instead on human behavior and supervision.
Prevention through Design emphasizes addressing hazards at the top of the hierarchy of controls (mainly through elimination and substitution) at the earliest stages of project development.
[16] NIOSH’s Prevention through Design Initiative comprises “all of the efforts to anticipate and design out hazards to workers in facilities, work methods and operations, processes, equipment, tools, products, new technologies, and the organization of work.”[19] While the control hierarchy shown above is traditionally used in the United States and Canada, other countries or entities may use a slightly different structure.
[20][21][22] The variation of the hierarchy used in the ARECC decision-making framework and process for industrial hygiene (IH) includes modification of the material or procedure to reduce hazards or exposures (sometimes considered a subset of the hazard substitution option but explicitly considered there to mean that the efficacy of the modification for the situation at hand must be confirmed by the user).
The hierarchy of controls serves as a valuable tool for safety professionals to determine the most effective methods for managing specific hazards.
Additionally, it aids in developing a comprehensive hazard control plan for implementing the chosen measures effectively in the workplace.
