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712 Safety Supervision and Leadership
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Elimination

Eliminating hazards at their source is the most effective strategy to reduce exposure, but it can be challenging to implement in existing processes.

Worker standing incorrectly on ladder.
How can you eliminate the hazard of using a ladder when changing a light bulb?

This approach involves designing or redesigning tools, equipment, systems, processes, and facilities to eliminate work-related hazards. When machinery or processes are still under development, eliminating hazards can be simple and inexpensive. However, for existing processes, major changes can be costly. Ultimately, even expensive changes that remove serious hazards may be cost-effective in the long run.

Examples of elimination controls include:

  • removing the need to use flammable or explosive chemicals;
  • placing noisy equipment at a remote location to remove excessive noise; and
  • using extension poles to replace ceiling light bulbs.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-3. Which Hierarchy of Controls method is considered most effective in controlling hazards?