What Do You Need To Know?

Read the Information Sheet 3.1 very well then find out how much you can
remember and how much you learned by doing Self-check 3.1.

Information Sheet 3.1

Controlling hazards and Risk

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;
h a za rd s a n d
 Use checklists to help you inspect your


workplace;
Learn the results of inspections that are done by
r i s k c o nt ro l
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

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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.

Methods of Control

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 the worker’s health and safety when work processes are still in the
planning stage. 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.

Where are controls used?

Controls are usually placed:

1. At the source (where the hazard "comes

from")
2. Along the path (where the hazard "travels")

Keep
3. At the worker

What is meant by elimination?

Safe
Elimination is the process of removing the hazard from the workplace. It is the most effective
way to control a risk because the hazard is no longer present. It is the preferred way to
control a hazard and should be used whenever possible.

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What is substitution?

Substitution occurs when a new chemical or substance is used instead of another chemical.
It is sometimes grouped with elimination because, in effect, you are removing the first
substance or hazard from the workplace. The goal,
obviously, is to choose a new chemical that is less
hazardous than the original.

Education and Training

Employee education and training on how to

conduct their work safely helps to minimize the risk of
S a f e t y F i r st exposure and is a critical element of any complete
workplace health and safety program. Training must
cover not only how to do the job safely but it must also ensure that workers understand the
hazards of their job. It must also provide them with information on how to protect themselves
and co-workers.

Good Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is essential to prevent the accumulation of hazardous or toxic materials

(e.g., build-up of dust or contaminant on ledges, or beams), or hazardous conditions (e.g.,
poor stockpiling).

Emergency Preparedness

Being prepared for emergencies means making sure that the necessary equipment and
supplies are readily available and that employees know what to do when something
unplanned happens such as a release, spill, fire, or injury. These procedures should be
written and employees should have the opportunity to practice their emergency response
skills regularly.

What should I know about personal protective equipment (PPE) as a hazard control
method?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes items such as respirators, protective clothing
such as gloves, face shields, eye protection, and footwear that serve to provide a barrier
between the wearer and the chemical or material.

It is the final item on the list for a very good reason. Personal protective equipment should
never be the only method used to reduce exposure except under very specific
circumstances because PPE may "fail" (stop protecting the worker) with little or no warning.
For example: "breakthrough" can occur with gloves, clothing, and respirator cartridges.

Why is it important to monitor and review your hazard control program and methods?

It is important to monitor both the hazard and the control method to make sure that the
control is working effectively and that exposure to the hazard is reduced or eliminated.

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Some tools include physical inspection, testing, exposure assessment, observations, injury
and illness tracking, employee feedback/input, occupational health assessment, and other
methods.

Be sure to answer the following questions:

 Have the controls solved the problem?

 Is the risk posed by the original hazard
contained?
 Have any new hazards been created?
 Are new hazards appropriately controlled?
 Are monitoring processes adequate?
 Have workers been adequately informed
about the situation?
 Have orientation and training programs
been modified to deal with the new


situation?
Are any other measures required? Effective Hazard
 Has the effectiveness of hazard controls
been documented in your committee
minutes?
Control Program
 What else can be done?

A review will identify areas that may need more

improvement or refinement. It is important to know if all workplace hazards are identified,
assessed, and appropriately controlled.

The workplace can be a dangerous place if various safety procedures are not properly
considered. Some precautions which can be taken to reduce
the risk of accidents are:

 Ensure there are no trailing wires across or around the

room which people could trip on.
 Power cables should be safely secured.
 Electrical sockets should not be overloaded.
 Electrical equipment should be safety tested at least
once a year.
 There should be adequate space around desks for
people to move.
 Bags and obstacles should be stored out of the way so
that people can't trip over them.


Food and drink should not be placed near a machine.
Heating and ventilation should be suitable for the
D o n ’ t F o rge t
working environment.
 Work desks should be strong enough to support
computers and equipment.
 Staff should follow the safety regulations.
 This is the science concerned with designing safe and comfortable machines for use
by people.
 This includes furniture design and the design of peripherals that you need to use,
such as mouse and keyboard.

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 Have a look at these top tips to ensure that you work safely and
comfortably:

1. The right lighting can reduce eyestrain, neck strain, and headaches. Sunlight is the
best light, but make sure it doesn't create glare on your computer screen.

2. The proper desk will let you find the perfect working position. It should be deep
enough to support your arms when you work at the computer.

3. Place your computer screen at eye-level or just below. For optimal comfort, set it
about 45 cm (18 in.) from your face.

4. Sit up straight in your chair. Keep your feet flat on the floor and your knees slightly
lower than your thighs.

5. Choose an office task chair that lets you tilt forward to reach objects in front of you
and backward to stretch your arms when you're tired.

6. When you type, hold your fingers, wrists, and lower arms in a straight line from
your keyboard.

7. Keep equipment that you use a lot, like your telephone and computer keyboard,
within a distance of about 75 cm (30 in.) when you're sitting at your desk. Keep other
storage and equipment farther away. This encourages you to change working
positions during the day.

Points to remember

1. Occupational hazards can be controlled by a variety of

methods.
2. The goal of controlling hazards is to prevent workers from
being exposed to occupational hazards.
3. 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.
4. It is important to recognize hazards and health and safety
problems in the workplace.
5. 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.
6. Personal protective equipment should be the last choice in
control measures.

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