To control hazards and risks at the workplace is a top priority for any organization to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees. To achieve this, it is essential to identify, assess, and control hazards and risks at workplace. Hazards are potential sources of harm while risks refer to the probability and potential consequences of that harm occurring. Organization can protect their employees, reduce workplace accidents and injuries, and promote overall well-being if they control hazards and risks at the workplace effectively.
Hierarchy Control Measures
The hierarchy of control measures is a widely recognized framework that guides the selection and implementation of measures to control hazards and mitigate risks in the workplace. It establishes a systematic approach that prioritizes the most effective and least effective control measures based on their ability to eliminate or reduces hazards.
How to Control Hazards at Workplace
- Elimination
This involves removing the hazard from the workplace or the process altogether. Elimination ensures that the risk is eliminated, providing the highest level of protection.
- Substitution
If complete elimination is not feasible, the next approach is to substitute the hazard or equipment with a safer alternative. This involves replacing hazardous materials with less hazardous ones to reduce the risks.
- Engineering Controls
It’s a physical modification to the work environment or equipment that isolates workers from hazards. This may include maintaining an isolation room with proper ventilation and physical barriers to prevent the spread of any chemicals and safeguarding the workers from big machinery equipment.
- Administrative Controls
In this stage, its implementing safety policies, procedures, training, and warnings. It aims to change behavior and promote safe practices to the workers.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
It should be used in combination with other control measures in the hierarchy to provide risk reduction and ensure the safety and well-being of workers.
Below are the following examples of PPE to control and risks at the workplace:
Control hazards and risks at workplace browse our safety equipment products, offering numerous choices to enhance safety measures and mitigate the risk in the workplace.
Source:
https://www.hsa.ie/eng/topics/hazards/
https://blog.storemasta.com.au/control-chemical-hazards-workplace
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Hierarchy_of_Controls_02.01.23_form_508_2.pdf