Safety Tidbit 8.09 – A Hierarchy of Controls Primer

Safety Tidbit 8.09 – A Hierarchy of Controls Primer

Reference: : Hierarchy of Controls | NIOSH | CDC

Elias Kline, a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in the Spring of 2024.

Controlling hazards is imperative to protecting workers in the workplace. The Hierarchy of Controls can best be characterized by an upside-down triangle with five levels of actions to reduce or remove the hazard. The five levels of general effectiveness are elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Elimination

Elimination is the highest in general effectiveness in the hierarchy of controls because it removes the hazard from the process entirely. This can be done by removing a sharp tool, harmful chemical, or heavy object from the job process.

Substitution

Substitution is done by replacing the hazard with a safer alternative. Successful substitutions reduce the workers’ risk of exposure to the hazard. It is essential to know the new potential hazards associated with the substitution and how the substitution will react with other agents in the workplace.

Engineering Controls

Engineering Controls prevent or reduce hazards from coming into contact with the worker. Some standard engineering controls include modifying equipment, ventilation, and using protective barriers. The most effective engineering controls do not interfere with the work process and need minimal user input to operate correctly.

Administrative controls

Administrative controls establish work practices that reduce the duration, frequency, or intensity of exposure to hazards. These may include work process training, job rotation, ensuring adequate rest breaks, limiting access to hazardous areas, and adjusting line speeds.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is worn to minimize the hazard, but it does not control it. Examples of PPE include protective gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, respirators, and hearing protection. When PPE is worn, employers should ensure a PPE program is in place. This program should include hazard assessments, PPE selection, and use, employee training, inspected and replaced damaged PPE, and program monitoring for continued effectiveness.

Lastly, here are some other things to remember with the hierarchy of controls. Elimination and substitution can be the most difficult actions to adopt into an existing process. These methods are best used at the design or development stage of a work process, place, or tool. Engineering controls can cost more upfront than administrative controls or PPE. However, long-term operating costs tend to be lower, especially when protecting multiple workers. Administrative controls and PPE require significant and ongoing effort by workers and supervisors. Administrative controls and PPE are often applied to processes where hazards are poorly controlled.

I hope this was helpful, and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

 

P.S. Please let me know if you have a new safety or health question.