What is the Hierarchy of Hazards Controls?

The hierarchy of controls is a system that guides leaders to select the most actual and enduring ways to eliminate hazards in the workplace. The goal is to remove hazards completely, if possible, but if that can’t be done, the hierarchy framework it used to minimize the risks. There are controls that are a part of the hierarchy framework, which allows prevention through design. In order of significance, those contain:

• Elimination of the hazard; physically eliminating the hazard.
• Substitution to change the hazard.
• Isolation of workers from the hazard (or engineering controls).
• Application of administrative controls to change the way people work.
• Protection of workers through Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Eliminate the Hazard: There is no well risk control option than eliminating the hazard. A usually used eliminating a hazard is a situation in which employees are working at a height above the ground level. Moving the work to ground level removes the fall hazard. Hazards may be removed by changing how or where the work is done.

Substitution: Substitution is a form of risk elimination, and the two may be combined on some hierarchy of hazard control lists. Substitution contains replacing something that is dangerous, with something that is not dangerous. Care must be taken to confirm a new hazard is not presented into the workplace when substituting one material for another.

Engineering Controls: When a hazard cannot be removed through elimination or substitution, the next best decision is to use engineering controls. In this engineering controls the hazard is not eliminated, but workers are protected from the hazard. The basic idea is to design the work environment, and the work to be done, such that contact to hazards is eliminated or reduced.

Administrative Controls: Administrative controls are used to straight people to work in a safe manner. They contain procedures, warning signs and labels, and training. Administrative controls do not remove hazards, but control access to those hazards through the use of procedures and rules. Safe work practices contain company’s overall workplace rules and other operation-specific rules.

The controls OSHA defines as "administrative controls" are usually used in combination with other controls that straighter stop or control exposure to the hazard. In overall, administrative controls contain:

• Limiting the amount of time somebody is exposed to risks.
• Written operating events.
• Standards for safe work practices.
• Safety and health rules for employees.
• Alarms, signs, and labels.
• Buddy system.
• Training (and refresher training).
• Stretching and warm-up exercises
• Break policies.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the least effective protective measure on the hierarchy of controls, but it’s still critically significant. Elimination, substitution and engineering controls offer greater protection, all things considered, but not all circumstances let for total isolation of a risk. In situations where workers will be exposed to falling debris, dangerous chemicals and other dangers, their best bet is to wear carefully chosen, well-maintained PPE. Common PPE contains Gloves, Hard hats, Safety shoes and boots, Safety glasses/face shields, High visibility clothing, Respirators. PPE safety awareness training is useful to gain knowledge of PPE, and its role in minimizing exposure of workers to hazards, with hazards of procedures, environment hazards or any other type of physical, chemical or biological hazards, which can cause workplace injuries and illnesses.

Source:

https://ohsawareness.wordpress.com/2022/11/28/what-is-the-hierarchy-of-hazards-controls/

Ian Colin has published many articles regarding ISO Certification. Ian has rich experience as a online publisher and prepared various Certification documents as per ISO guideline since large amount of years in his professional career.