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Learning Objectives:
At the end of this INFORMATION SHEET, the students/trainees must be able to:
Describe the Hierarchy of Controls in the workplace.
Identify on how to control the risk in the workplace.
Hierarchy of Controls pyramid in OSH
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/
Eliminating - to remove it completely.
Substitution - To replace or substitute a hazardous agent or work process with a less dangerous one.
Engineering Control - changing a piece of machinery or a work process to reduce exposure to a hazard.
Administrative control - working a limited number of hours in a hazardous area.
Personal Protective Equipment - it includes the ear and eye protection, respirators and protective clothing.
Example of possible risk.
Source: www.kissclipart.com
Control the Risk
Control the Risk
- Once the hazard has been identified and assessed, you should implement control measures to reduce the risk of injury or disease.
- Some methods are more effective than others depending on the hazard. Ideally, the most effective control should be implemented. Unfortunately, this is not always possible so an effective compromise must be found.
- When developing a hazard control strategy the "hierarchy of control" should be used. The "hierarchy of control" uses the range of feasible options that are available.
These options include:
Substitute something with a lesser risk (is there something that does the same job, but is safer to work with?)
Eliminate the hazard (does it need to be there?)
Isolate the hazard from people (contain the hazard)
Control the hazard by engineering (change the machine or process)
Change the work practices (limit use or exposure, use good housekeeping)
Supply protective equipment (after considering other options first)
Picture attempt to eliminate hazards. Source: seafoodhaccp.cornell.edu
Elimination
Elimination
Physically removed the hazard—is the most effective hazard control. For example, if employees must work high above the ground, the hazard can be eliminated by moving the piece they are working on to ground level to eliminate the need to work at heights.
Hazard elimination is a hazard control strategy based on completely removing a material or process causing a hazard. Elimination is the most effective of the five members of the hierarchy of hazard controls in protecting workers, and where possible should be implemented before all other control methods. Many jurisdictions require that an employer eliminate hazards if it is possible, before considering other types of hazard control.
Elimination is most effective early in the design process, when it may be inexpensive and simple to implement.
Picture represents substitute hazards
Source: https://chemdoc.com/
Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, the second most effective hazard control, involves replacing something that produces a hazard (similar to elimination) with something that does not produce a hazard—for example, replacing lead-based paint with titanium white. To be an effective control, the new product must not produce another hazard. Because airborne dust can be hazardous, if a product can be purchased with a larger particle size, the smaller product may effectively be substituted with the larger product.
Picture represents strategies to protect workers
Source: www.123rf.com
Engineering controls
Engineering controls
- are strategies designed to protect workers from hazardous conditions by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard or by removing a hazardous substance through air ventilation. Engineering controls involve a physical change to the workplace itself, rather than relying on workers' behavior or requiring workers to wear protective clothing.
Engineering controls
Engineering controls
- is the third of five members of the hierarchy of hazard controls, which orders control strategies by their feasibility and effectiveness. Engineering controls are preferred over administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) because they are designed to remove the hazard at the source, before it comes in contact with the worker. Well-designed engineering controls can be highly effective in protecting workers and will typically be independent of worker interactions to provide this high level of protection. The initial cost of engineering controls can be higher than the cost of administrative controls or PPE, but over the longer term, operating costs are frequently lower, and in some instances, can provide a cost savings in other areas of the process.
Administrative controls
Administrative controls
- are training, procedure, policy, or shift designs that lessen the threat of a hazard to an individual. Administrative controls typically change the behavior of people (e.g., factory workers) rather than removing the actual hazard or providing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Administrative controls are fourth in larger hierarchy of hazard controls, which ranks the effectiveness and efficiency of hazard controls.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment
- is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter.
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