Chemical Hazard Control Strategies
Hazardous substances can be used safely in workplaces if adequate control strategies are used to prevent exposure to those chemicals.
Traditionally, a prioritized "Hierarchy of Controls" (HOC) is used for implementing feasible and effective controls to safeguard workers. We encourage the use of the HOC as described within the ANSI/ASSP Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, to control hazards. The six strategies are discussed below.
The first three strategies are given top priority because they focus on directly reducing exposure to the hazard.
- Elimination: The best solution is to totally eliminate hazardous substances in the workplace.
- Substitution: If you can't remove toxic substances, you may be able to replace them with substances that are less toxic.
- Engineering Controls: Redesign or modify processes that use toxic chemicals to eliminate or reduce exposure to the hazard.
The remaining three strategies aim to manage employee actions to minimize exposure to hazards.
- Warnings: This strategy aims to influence behavior through heightened hazard awareness. Examples are signs, barriers, and alarms that alert employees to lead hazards.
- Work Practice Controls: Work practice controls aim to safeguard employees by implementing safe procedures. To achieve this, the employer can develop mandatory procedures and rules to reduce exposure.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Each employee can be protected when their exposure to chemicals cannot be engineered completely out of normal operations or maintenance work, and when safe work practices and other controls cannot provide sufficient additional protection.
Remember, the first question you want to ask is, "How can I eliminate, reduce, or engineer out the hazard?" Hopefully you'll be able to eliminate the hazard or reduce it to the point where safe behaviors or PPE won't be necessary.
Interim Measures
Using a lower priority hazard control method over another higher priority control strategy may be appropriate for providing interim (temporary) protection until the hazard is abated permanently. If you can't eliminate the hazard entirely, the interim control measures likely involve a combination of control methods. OSHA believes that feasible interim measures are always available when higher-level control methods are not possible.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-6. Under the Hierarchy of Controls, why are elimination, substitution, and engineering controls given higher priority?
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