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Hierarchy of Controls: Examples

The document discusses the hierarchy of controls for addressing health and safety risks in the workplace. The hierarchy of controls is the preferred method for preventing and controlling hazards. It involves identifying risks through inspections or reviews, then controlling risks starting from the top of the hierarchy through engineering controls, safe work practices, administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment. Examples are provided to illustrate how different types of risks like noise exposure and respiratory hazards can be addressed at each level of the hierarchy.

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Philemon Msangi
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319 views3 pages

Hierarchy of Controls: Examples

The document discusses the hierarchy of controls for addressing health and safety risks in the workplace. The hierarchy of controls is the preferred method for preventing and controlling hazards. It involves identifying risks through inspections or reviews, then controlling risks starting from the top of the hierarchy through engineering controls, safe work practices, administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment. Examples are provided to illustrate how different types of risks like noise exposure and respiratory hazards can be addressed at each level of the hierarchy.

Uploaded by

Philemon Msangi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hierarchy of Controls

Controlling the health and safety risks in a workplace is necessary to prevent injury and
illness. The first step is to identify and assess the risks through inspections, JHA, or
equipment reviews or any other information indicating a potential risk. Then decide on
the best way to control the risk or hazard by either removing or reducing them, by
applying the Hierarchy of Controls system.

The Hierarchy of Controls is the preferred method of controlling preventing and


controlling hazards. You must document that you went through this process.
• Engineering - i.e. installing guards on machinery, ventilation, sound proofing
• Safe Work Practices - policies and procedures increasing safety either by
changing the actual way the work is done or by adding a tool to help
• Administration - i.e. Rotating workers more often to reduce exposure times
• Personal Protective Equipment - i.e. respirators, ear plugs

When deciding on the best way to control a risk, start at the top of the hierarchy of
controls. First investigate if the risk can be eliminated, by using an engineering control to
take the worker out of the equation for the hazard. Then start to factor the worker back
into the equation, by first changing the way they work, then how long they will work with
the hazard, then how they can protect themselves from the hazard. This is the most
effective way to control a hazard.

Examples:
• Noise Overexposure • Respiratory Hazard
o Engineering Controls o Engineering Controls
 Shielding of Noise Source  Ventilation
o Safe work practices o Safe work practices
 Change work process to  Change work process to
lower hazard lower hazard
o Administrative procedures o Administrative procedures
 Rotate workers to keep  Rotate workers to keep
under PEL under PEL
o Personal protective equipment o Personal protective equipment
 Hearing protection  Respirators
Engineering Controls
This glove box is an
example of an
engineering control
that isolates the
process. Unless there
is some other type of
dust problem, he
probably doesn’t need
a respirator. If he does
need a respirator, he
should be wearing an
approved respirator.

Safe Work Practice

This is example of a safe work practice


control. Vacuuming, rather than sweeping,
is the preferred method of dust removal.
Some situations require the use of HEPA
vacuums, e.g., asbestos.
Administrative Controls
Each worker is exposed to the hazard for 2 hours,
rather than 2 exposed to 8 hours.

John
Larry
2 hrs
2 hrs

8hrs

Stacy Jane
2hrs 2 hrs

Personal Protective Equipment


When effective
engineering controls
are not feasible, or
while they are being
instituted, respirators
are acceptable.

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