28 May The Hierarchy of Safety Controls
Written by Safety Professionals at SOS Safety Solutions, Tyler Friedline.
After identifying the root cause(s) of an incident, corrective actions should be developed to ensure safety controls are in place. The corrective actions should correct the root cause(s) of the incident and prevent the incident from recurring in the future. It is important to understand that not all corrective actions are created equal.
Some corrective actions will completely eliminate an exposure, while other corrective actions may rely on other factors or safe working behavior to be effective. Corrective actions are generally more effective when we focus on changing the work environment and management system, rather than focusing on the worker.
It is critical to consider the hierarchy of safety controls when developing corrective actions. Understanding this hierarchy will help you to consider all potential solutions and their effectiveness.
Check out the graphic below. Notice that the safety controls at the top of the inverted pyramid are more effective. The controls become less effective towards the bottom of the pyramid.
- Elimination: The most effective corrective action will completely eliminate a hazard. An example may be contracting out dangerous work to a more proficient group. For example, a corrective action to fix a leaking skylight may be to hire a contractor who is used to working on roofs. Another example would be holding virtual training sessions during a global pandemic. These examples eliminate the hazards.
- Substitution: Substitution is another effective way to reduce a hazard, but it is not as effective as elimination. An example of substitution may be to replace a flammable solvent used for cleaning purposes with a different cleaner with less hazardous properties.
- Engineering Controls: Engineering controls isolate workers from the hazard and are effective safety controls. Sometimes an engineering control can eliminate a hazard entirely, such as placing a fixed barrier guard around moving equipment so that workers cannot contact moving parts.
- Administrative Controls: Administrative controls usually entail changing procedures. Along with the new procedures, training is often required. In the safety field, we have a common saying, “If you don’t document it, it didn’t happen. An example of an administrative control may be retraining an employee on a specific task or requiring all visitors to be escorted through the facility.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE is the least effective control we can use. However, PPE is the last line of defense from a hazard. The downside to PPE is that its effectiveness is highly dependent upon the user donning the PPE appropriately. An example may be requiring all employees to wear surgical masks to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For additional resources, download our whitepaper: How to Determine the Root Causes of your Workplace Incidents.
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