Hierarchy of Control www.emcins.com

Identifying and controlling safety and health Other examples in the workplace is fundamental to the prevention of of injuries and illnesses. Many different techniques elimination are: are available to help identify hazards, including: • Redesign a Substitution workplace audits, supervisor observation, job safety workstation analysis, injury claims analysis, and a variety of other to relieve Engineering methods. Hierarchy of hazard control is a system used physical stress Controls to minimize or eliminate worker exposure to hazards. and remove Administrative When workplace hazards are identified, organizations ergonomic Controls often look for a quick fix, such as providing additional hazards Personal Protective training or personal protective equipment. While • Install a sound Equipment these may be appropriate controls for some hazards, absorbing other control techniques, beginning with elimination, enclosure around a noisy machine should be investigated as well. The hierarchy of hazard • Remove trip hazards in pedestrian walkways control, in order of effectiveness, is as follows: • Elimination—eliminating the hazard from Substitution the workplace If it’s not feasible to eliminate a hazard, the next most effective approach is substitution by removing • Substitution—replacing a hazardous substance something that produces a hazard and replacing it or activity with a less hazardous one with a lesser hazard. For example, consider the case • —isolating workers from of stripping the floor finish from a terrazzo floor the hazard; e.g. providing machine guards so new finish can be applied. The method • Administrative Controls—developing policies uses an extremely corrosive product known to cause and procedures for safe work practices chemical burns to exposed skin. In addition, workers • Personal Protective Equipment—providing are exposed to slip and fall hazards due to the slippery and requiring the use of safety devices such as residue produced by the stripping process. The respirators, earplugs, hard hats, safety glasses, etc. organization should investigate alternative processes, such as a dry removal process that does not use Elimination chemicals, thus eliminating the chemical exposure When evaluating the best way to control a hazard, and slip and fall hazards. Other examples of hazard start at the top of the hierarchy with elimination. substitution are: Elimination of a hazard is the most effective means of • Replace a larger parts container (70 lb capacity) controlling it. Where no hazard or exposure exists, no with a smaller parts container (20 lb capacity) to chance of injury or illness exists. There are many ways reduce the risk of overexertion to eliminate a hazard from the workplace. For example, • Substitute a “natural” pesticide for a pesticide consider the hazard of an operator repetitively placing that is a known carcinogen metal parts into a press. Over time, the operator may develop cumulative trauma disorders from repetitive use of the hands and wrists. By automating the press Continued so operators are not required to handle the parts, the hazard of repetition is eliminated. Hierarchy of Hazard Control

Engineering Controls not reduce or eliminate the hazard itself, but might If you cannot eliminate a hazard or provide a less reduce the worker’s exposure to the hazard. Other hazardous alternative, the next best approach is to examples of administrative controls include: reduce the hazard at its source. Engineering controls • Training employees on safe job procedures are a very reliable way to control worker exposures • Using team lifts for heavy parts as long as the controls are designed, used and • Requiring workers in hot environments to take maintained properly. Engineering controls do not breaks and providing fluids for rehydration eliminate hazards, but rather keep people isolated • Installing warning signs and labels on equipment from them. For example, consider the case of a road • Performing maintenance involving hazardous crew exposed to high levels of dust when cutting materials at night when minimal staff is present concrete. Since there is no way to eliminate or substitute the dust hazard, the road crew uses a Personal Protective Equipment wet method to keep airborne dust to a minimum. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only Other examples of engineering controls are: be used after all other steps in the hierarchy have • Ensuring that proper machine guarding is in been investigated. PPE is the least effective means place on all machinery and equipment of controlling hazards because of the high potential • Using mechanical aids (lift tables, hoists) to for the PPE to become ineffective due to damage minimize material handling injuries or failure to be worn. There are many types of PPE • Using ventilation to remove fumes and vapors available for controlling hazards such as noise, at their source chemical exposure, sharp objects, etc. In many cases, • Providing adjustable workstations to PPE is used to supplement the existing engineering accommodate employees of different heights and administrative controls. For example, a lathe protected by a Plexiglas shield can reduce the amount Administrative Controls of flying metal chips, but likely will not completely Administrative controls are management strategies reduce the risk of a chip entering the operator’s eye. or procedures designed to reduce employee To supplement the shield, safety glasses should be exposure to hazards by changing the way people used as an additional means of protection. Other work. Administrative controls do not actually examples of PPE use include: remove or reduce the hazard and should only be • Wearing earplugs or earmuffs in noisy areas used when elimination, substitution, or engineering • Wearing gloves to prevent cuts and splinters controls are infeasible, or until such controls can be • Wearing a hard hat on a construction job site implemented. For example, consider our previous case of an operator placing metal parts into a press. If For Additional Information automation is not feasible, the next best option might Occupational Safety & Health Administration: be to rotate operators every two hours so no single www.osha.gov worker is using their hands and wrists constantly • Safety & Health Management Systems eTool throughout the shift. As you can see, this option does

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