MODULE 5: HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL

Engineering Controls

These controls focus on the source of the hazard, unlike the other two control strategies that generally focus on the employee exposed to the hazard. The basic concept behind engineering controls is that, to the extent feasible, the work environment and the job itself should be designed to eliminate hazards or reduce exposure to hazards. While this approach is called engineering controls, it does not necessarily mean that an engineer is required to design the control.

Why engineering controls?

Engineering controls are considered top priority because they may effectively employ redesign, enclosure, substitution or replacement to completely eliminate the hazard, itself. The effective use of engineering controls not only eliminates the hazard, it also eliminates the need to manage human behavior using administrative controls to reduce exposure. No hazard...no exposure...no accident.

Engineering controls can be very simple in some cases. They are based on the following broad principles:

1. If feasible, design the facility, equipment, or process to remove the hazard and/or substitute something that is not hazardous or is less hazardous;
2. If removal is not feasible, enclose the hazard to prevent exposure in normal operations; and
3. If complete enclosure is not feasible, establish barriers or local ventilation to reduce exposure to the hazard in normal operations.