International
Labour Organization

Your health and safety at work

CONTROLLING HAZARDS

Goal of the Module

This Module provides trainees with information on various methods that can be used to control workplace hazards. Topics discussed include: eliminating hazards, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, how to choose control measures, and the role of the health and safety representative in using control methods to reduce occupational hazards.

Objectives

At the end of this Module, trainees will be able to: (1) describe at least three methods of control; (2) suggest several methods of preventing and controlling hazards in their own workplaces.

What is in this Module

I. Introduction II. Methods of control A. Elimination B. Substitution C. Engineering controls 1. Enclosure 2. Isolation 3.Ventilation D. Administrative controls E. Personal protective equipment F. Other methods of control 1. General cleanliness 2. Personal hygiene III. Choosing methods of control IV. Role of the health and safety representative V. Summary Exercise 1 Machine guarding case-study Exercise 2. Control methods Check-list on control methods Appendix I. List of extremely hazardous chemicals Appendix II. How to find out whether a certain chemical is banned, withdrawn or severely restricted by any government Appendix III. How to find a safer alternative to a dangerous chemical Appendix IV. Basic information on first-aid stations

I. Introduction

All workplace hazards (chemical, physical, etc.) can be controlled by a variety of methods. The goal of controlling hazards is to prevent workers from being exposed to occupational hazards. Some methods of hazard control are more efficient than others, but a combination of methods usually provides a safer workplace than relying on only one method. Some methods of control are cheaper than others but may not provide the most effective way to reduce exposures.

The most effective method of controlling hazards is to control at the source  by eliminating the hazard or by substituting a hazardous agent or work process with a less dangerous one.

Before thinking about what control measures are needed, first you need to know whether there are health and safety problems in your workplace, and if so, what they are.

How can you identify health and safety problems?

Here are some of the ways you can identify health and safety problems:

• observe your workplace;
• investigate complaints from workers;
• examine accident and near-miss records;
• examine sickness figures;
• use simple surveys to ask your co-workers about their health and safety concerns;
• use check-lists to help you inspect your workplace;
• learn the results of inspections that are done by the employer, the union or anyone else;
• read reports or other information about your workplace.

Once you recognize a hazard, then you can determine which measure will correct the problem most effectively. Generally, there are five major categories of control measures: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Eliminating a hazard means removing it completely; substitution is replacing one hazardous agent or work process with a less dangerous one. An engineering control may mean changing a piece of machinery (for example, using proper machine guards) or a work process to reduce exposure to a hazard; working a limited number of hours in a hazardous area is an example of an administrative control (for example, job rotation); and personal protective equipment (PPE) includes ear and eye protection, respirators, and protective clothing.

Remember: it is always better to control the hazard as close to the source as possible. Using personal protection is the least acceptable and least effective of all control measures.

Points to remember

Occupational hazards can be controlled by a variety of methods. The goal of controlling hazards is to prevent workers from being exposed to occupational hazards. The most effective control measure is to control hazards at the source by eliminating the hazard or by substituting a hazardous chemical, machine, work process, etc., with a less dangerous one. It is important to recognize hazards and health and safety problems in the workplace. There are five general categories of control measures: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. A combination of methods usually provides a safer and healthier workplace than relying on only one method. Personal protective equipment should be the last choice in control measures.

II. Methods of control

A. Elimination

Elimination of a specific hazard or hazardous work process, or preventing it from entering the workplace, is the most effective method of control.

Eliminate hazards at the “development stage”

It is important to consider worker health and safety when work processes are still in the planning stages. For example, when purchasing machines, safety should be the first concern, not cost. Machines should conform to national safety standards — they should be designed with the correct guard on them to eliminate the danger of a worker getting caught in the machine while using it. Machines that are not produced with the proper guards on them may cost less to purchase, but cost more in terms of accidents, loss of production, compensation, etc. Unfortunately, many used machines that do not meet safety standards are exported to developing countries, causing workers to pay the price with accidents, hearing loss from noise, etc.

	Point to remember about elimination
Eliminating a specific hazard is the most effective method of control. It is easier to eliminate hazards while a work process is still in the development stages.

Continue to Section B: Substitution