OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) promotes the use of a hierarchy of controls to manage and reduce workplace hazards and risks effectively. The hierarchy of controls is a systematic approach that prioritizes various strategies to address workplace hazards, with the goal of reducing the risk of injury or illness.
The hierarchy of controls consists of five levels, listed in order of preference:
- Elimination: The highest and most effective level of control involves completely removing the hazard from the workplace. This means finding ways to redesign processes, tasks, or equipment so that the hazard no longer exists. If a hazard is eliminated, there is no risk to control. Elimination should always be the first choice when possible.
- Substitution: The next best approach is substitution. This involves replacing the hazardous substance, process, or equipment with a less hazardous alternative. Substitution can help reduce the risk while maintaining the same level of productivity or functionality.
- Engineering Controls: Engineering controls should be used if elimination or substitution is not possible. Engineering controls are physical changes to the workplace environment or equipment to reduce employee exposure to the hazard. Examples include machine guarding, ventilation systems, noise enclosures, and safer machinery design. Engineering controls do not rely on employee behavior for their effectiveness.
- Administrative Controls: Administrative controls implement policies, procedures, or work practices to reduce exposure to hazards. This includes scheduling, employee training, signage, job rotation, and providing personal protective equipment (PPE). Administrative controls are less effective than elimination, substitution, or engineering controls because they depend on employee compliance.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE is the last line of defense and provides a physical barrier between employees and workplace hazards such as hard hats, gloves, and safety glasses. While essential for some situations, PPE is the least effective control measure because it does not remove the hazard from its source. OSHA recommends using PPE only when other control measures are not sufficient or possible.
It's important to note that the hierarchy of controls is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The selection of control measures should be based on a thorough risk assessment that considers the specific hazards, the work environment, and the usability of each control method.
Effective hazard control usually involves multiple control measures from different levels of the hierarchy. Additionally, control measures may need to be reviewed and adjusted periodically to ensure ongoing safety in the workplace. The goal of the hierarchy of controls is to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses by minimizing or eliminating exposure to hazards.