750 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene

Controlling Hazards

Exposure Controls

The final three HOC strategies focus on reducing the probability of exposure by controlling the risk of employee exposure to acceptable levels.

Greater awareness is gained by using signs, alarms, signals, labels, placards, cones, and other methods. Although ANSI/ASSP Z10 categorizes warnings as a separate control strategy, many safety professionals believe warnings should be categorized as an administrative control because they rely on worker compliance with the warnings to prevent exposure to a hazard. Examples include:

• Posting OSHA-compliant safety signs (Danger, Warning, Caution, Notice) in hazardous areas
• Installing flashing warning lights for machinery start-up or in noisy environments
• Using audible alarms such as horns, whistles, buzzers, or klaxons to alert workers
• Applying floor markings, cones, or barricades to indicate restricted or hazardous zones
• Providing tactile feedback such as vibrating alarms for workers in loud or visually limited areas
• Attaching labels or placards to containers with chemical hazard information (e.g., GHS labels)

Administrative/Work Practice Controls Administrative and work practice controls eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards by developing and implementing effective mandatory training, policies, procedures, safe work practices, and rules. Examples include:

• Scheduling production tasks during cooler times of the day to minimize heat stress
• Rotating employees to limit time spent in high-noise or high-exposure areas
• Restricting access to hazardous areas to only trained and authorized personnel
• Developing and enforcing Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) for all high-risk tasks
• Conducting regular housekeeping to keep floors clear of spills, debris, and obstacles
• Mandating proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures for equipment servicing
• Providing rest breaks in low-exposure areas to reduce fatigue and recovery time
• Documenting and reinforcing safe work practices through training and supervision

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE reduces exposure to hazards by establishing a personal barrier between the worker and the hazard. The use of PPE is generally required in conjunction with other control strategies when higher-level methods are not feasible or do not fully reduce exposure. Examples include:

• Hand protection: gloves designed for chemical resistance, heat resistance, or cut resistance
• Eye and face protection: safety goggles, face shields, or welding helmets
• Head protection: hard hats to prevent injury from falling objects
• Foot protection: steel-toe safety shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles
• Body protection: chemical-resistant suits, flame-resistant clothing, or insulated jackets
• Respiratory protection: disposable dust masks, half-mask respirators, or full-face respirators
• Hearing protection: foam earplugs, custom-molded plugs, or earmuffs

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