MODULE 5: HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL

Management Controls

This second strategy describes control measures aimed at reducing employee exposure to hazards, generally by designing safe work practices and procedures and through scheduling and job enrichment. Management controls should be used in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, more effective or reliable engineering controls. This is because they are susceptible to human error. The controls first must be designed from a base of solid hazard analysis. While management controls are a necessity and can work very well, they are only as good as the management systems that support them. Safe procedures and practices must be accompanied by good worker training and effective consequences.

Safe Procedures. Work procedures that are conducted in a safe manner are extremely important in preventing injuries. Job hazard analysis is an excellent tool to make sure job tasks and procedures are free from the risk of exposure to hazards. Safe procedures include:

• lockout/tagout procedures
• chemical spill procedures
• retooling procedures
• confined space entry procedures
• maintenance procedures
• vehicle inspection procedures

Safe Practices. Some of these practices are very general in their applicability. They may be a very important part of a single job procedure or applicable to many jobs in the workplace. Safe practices include general activities such as:

• Removal of tripping, blocking, and slipping hazards
• Removal of accumulated toxic dust on surfaces
• Wetting down surfaces to keep toxic dust out of the air
• Using personal protective equipment
• Using safe lifting techniques
• Maintaining equipment and tools in good repair

Other safe work practices apply to specific jobs in the workplace and involve specific procedures for accomplishing a job. To develop safe procedures, you conduct a job hazard analysis (JHA). If, during the JHA, you determine that a procedure presents hazards to the worker, you would decide that a training program is needed. We recommend using the JHA as a tool for training your workers in the new procedures. A training program may be essential if your employees are working with highly toxic substances or in dangerous situations.