Maybe you’ve heard of OSHA’s “hierarchy of controls” in a safety training class or seen it on a sign somewhere, but do you know what it means and what it’s trying to accomplish in your workplaces?
Before implementing the hierarchy of controls, the first step is recognizing a hazard in the workplace. It can be something as simple as a leaky chemical container or as broad as working in a confined space. If there is a recognized hazard, then the hierarchy of controls can help employees and employers avoid an incident resulting in injury or even property damage.
The hierarchy of controls comes in five descending phases that were developed to help make decisions based on the hazard and the feasibility of controlling the hazard and its impact on the employees.
Elimination: This is where employers should always start. Can the hazard be eliminated altogether? What will it take to eliminate the hazard? If the hazard can be eliminated, then that is what’s best for all and eliminates the possibility of injury. An example of elimination is to lower work to the ground to remove fall hazards. Another example would be to use a lift or hand cart to move material instead of employees lifting the material, thereby eliminating the potential for a back injury. Sometimes elimination isn’t possible due to costs or other issues. That brings us to our next step.
Substitution: If elimination isn’t possible, what about a substitute? This is our second-best option. Examples include replacing a hazardous chemical with a less hazardous chemical and replacing worn power tools with newer tools. These solutions can remove most of the hazard but do not eliminate the hazard altogether, so there is still some portion of the hazard to be aware of.
Engineering Controls: Sometimes the hazard can’t be eliminated or even substituted, but keeping employees out of harm’s way can be accomplished. This is where engineering controls come in. You create a physical barrier like a wall or fence between the hazard and the employee. Other examples are providing vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters when having to clean up spills, using a guard rail system for fall prevention and providing exhaust ventilation systems to remove dust and other contaminants. Engineering controls reduce exposure to a hazard and often eliminate direct contact, but the hazard still exists.
Administrative Controls: This is a different type of control because at this level this is changing the way an employee works. This level also gives employees more information such as training or procedures to handle the hazard better. Examples of administrative controls are procedure changes such as scheduling maintenance of equipment when fewer employees are around, employee safety and job skills training, and installing signs and warning labels. These controls do not eliminate the hazard, but they give the employee the knowledge on how to better handle the hazards.
Personal Protective Equipment: PPE is the last line of defense in protecting employees. When the higher levels of control are not adequate or feasible, then PPE is required for protecting employees from hazards. You can also have in place one or more higher levels of control but still need PPE to be worn. It is also the least effective means of hazard control as employees are exposed to the hazard fully. The safety of an employee can be compromised if the employee removes his PPE or does not wear it properly. Also, no PPE is considered 100% effective in totally protecting employees.
The bottom line is that hazards are always going to exist in our industry. How we approach them can go a long way in protecting employees from injuries.
About the Author
Ronnie Freeman is safety director for Mount Pleasant Waterworks and Safety Committee chair for the Water Environmental Association of South Carolina.
