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The Hierarchy of Controls is a method of controlling hazards created by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH). NIOSH was founded in 1970 and is a United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. The NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls is used as a means of determining how to implement feasible and effective control solutions to reduce likelihood and severity of potential workplace injuries. It consists of five different control measures in order of effectiveness in reducing workplace injury:
- Elimination - The elimination method is what it sounds like. It is a control measure that consists of physically removing a hazard from a workplace. It is the preferred way to control a risk because the hazard is no longer present. An example of elimination in the Hierarchy of Controls would be a situation in which employees are working at a height above ground level. If this is unnecessary for the work being done, moving the work to ground level eliminates the fall hazard.
- Substitution - The substitution method is the second most effective form of controls as it consists of replacing a hazard with a less hazardous version of it. For example, if a facility is using a dangerous chemical in their operations and there is a less hazardous version available that can still fill the role needed, then replacing this chemical with the less hazardous version would be utilizing the substitution control method effectively.
- Engineering - Engineering controls are controls that isolate workers from a hazard. Well designed engineering controls can be highly effective in protecting workers and will usually be independent of worker interactions to provide this high level of protection. An example of engineering controls would be installing machine guards on a machine to shield the worker. This helps isolate the worker from the intended hazard and reduces the likelihood of injury.
- Administrative - Administrative controls are next on the hierarchy of controls. This method of controls effectively changes the way people work to reduce risks. Common examples of administrative controls include proper safety training, signage of the hazard, and regular maintenance of equipment.
- PPE - PPE stands for personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is designed to protect workers from an intended hazard. Examples of the PPE control method include requiring slip-resistant footwear in areas where slip hazards may be present or providing safety glasses to protect workers from flying debris.
There are many ways to protect workers against hazards to reduce the likelihood and severity of workplace injuries. The Hierarchy of Controls is a proven way to identify the most effective and feasible ways to prevent workplace injuries, and the proper combination of these control methods for your organization can keep workers safe and reduce potential risks in your workplace. Combining different control methods from the hierarchy of controls is the most effective way to reduce hazard risk. If you have any questions about how your organization can utilize the Hierarchy of Controls for your specific needs, please contact one of our loss control representatives:
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