Identifying and Controlling Hazards
Course 101
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE FIVE: CONTROLLING HAZARDS

Engineering Controls

Barriers or Local Ventilation

When the potential hazard cannot be removed, replaced, or enclosed, the next best approach is a barrier to exposure or, in the case of air contaminants, local exhaust ventilation to remove the contaminant from the workplace.

This engineered control involves potential exposure to the worker even in normal operations. Consequently, it should be used only in conjunction with other types of controls, such as safe work practices designed specifically for the site condition and/or PPE.

Examples include:

• Ventilation hoods in laboratory work
• Machine guarding, including electronic barriers
• Isolation of a process in an area away from workers
• Baffles used as noise-absorbing barriers
• Nuclear radiation or heat shields.

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