Hazard Controls
Introduction
As you learned earlier, there are many different types of hazards in the workplace.
Hazardous conditions include unsafe materials, equipment, the environment, and employees. Unsafe work practices include: allowing untrained workers to perform hazardous tasks, taking unsafe shortcuts, horseplay, or long work schedules.
Traditionally, a prioritized "Hierarchy of Controls" (HOC) has been used to implement feasible and effective exposure controls to protect workers. We encourage the use of the HOC as described within the ANSI/ASSP Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, to control hazards. The six strategies are discussed below.
- Elimination. Totally eliminates the hazard. No hazard: no exposure.
- Substitution. Mitigates a hazard. Replaces toxics with nontoxics.
- Engineering controls. Isolates hazards through design.
- Warnings. Alert employees to the hazard.
- Work Practice Controls. Safe procedures and practices.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Places a barrier between hazard and worker.
The idea behind this hierarchy is that the control methods at the top of the list are usually more effective and protective than those at the bottom. Following the hierarchy leads to the implementation of inherently safer systems, ones where the risk of illness or injury has been substantially reduced.
Interim Measures
Using a lower priority hazard control method over another higher priority control strategy may be appropriate for providing interim (temporary) protection until the hazard is abated permanently. If you can't eliminate the hazard entirely, the interim control measures will likely be a combination of control methods used together. OSHA believes that feasible interim measures are always available if higher-level control methods are not possible.
For more information on evaluating safety management systems, see OSHAcademy Course 716 Safety Management System Evaluation
Let's take a closer look at the hierarchy of control strategies.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. When applying the hierarchy of controls, which is the MOST effective method to control or prevent hazards?
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