Hierarchy of Risk

Control Measures
HSE TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
 Definition of Hierarchy

The hierarchy of risk control is a

system for controlling risks
in the workplace.

The hierarchy of control is a

step-by-step approach to
eliminating or reducing
risks.

2
Hierarchy of Control Structure

3
 Elimination

Eliminating the hazard and risk is

the highest level of control
in the hierarchy.

Eliminate/ remove the hazard

completely if possible, but it is
not possible at most of the times.

4
 Substitution

Substitution: Replace a high-risk

hazard with a low risk hazard.

5
 Engineering Controls
Engineering Controls (Isolation):
Isolate people/workmen form the hazard
• Reduce the risks through engineering
changes or changes to system of work.
• Physically change the equipment or
work environment to separate workers
form the hazard.

6
 Administrative Controls

Administrative controls: Reduce

the risk using administrative control
measures like
• Using caution/sign boards to
warn people of a hazard.

• Developing procedures, safe

work systems, permit to work
system.

7
 Personal Protective Equipment's
(PPE’s)
PPE’s: Using administrative controls
and PPE’s to reduce risk, dose not
control the hazard at the source.

• Provide protective gear for workers to

wear as a last line of defense.

8
Risk Management (Video)

Play Video Here

(Risk Management by 3 years old kid)

9
 Choose Most Effective Controls

Consider various control options and

choose the controls that most effectively
eliminate the hazard or if elimination is not
reasonably practicable, minimize the risk
in the circumstances.

10
 Choose Most Effective Controls

Reducing the risk may involve

a single control measure or a
combination of different
controls that work together to
provide the highest level of
reasonably practicable
protection.

11
Let’s Take Some Examples
How Can Apply Hierarchy
Of Risk Control Measures

Example
#1
12
 Example #1- Electricity

Elimination:
• Avoid working on energized electrical equipment altogether unless
absolutely necessary.

13
 Example #1- Electricity

Substitution:
• Can use 110 volts supply portable
equipment's instead of 230 volts
• Temporary and hand held lighting can be
provided at 12, 24, 50 or 110 volts.
• 24 volts portable lighting is preferable
for confined space, plant
maintenance/shutdown operations.

14
 Example #1- Electricity

Engineering Controls (Isolation):

• Following Lock Out & Tag Out (LOTO) procedures
• Using circuit breakers to protect people and equipment

15
 Example #1- Electricity

Administration Controls:
• Implementing Permit to Work system (PTW)
• Display electrical precautions, caution boards etc.

16
 Example #1- Electricity

Administration Controls:
• Establishing Boundaries with Floor Marking

17
 Example #1- Electricity

Personal Protective Equipment's

(PPE’s):
• Use of electrical tested hand gloves
• Electrical safety shoes
• Safety helmet
• Arc flash suite
• Face shield etc.

18
Example #2

19
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Elimination:
• It requires physically removing the
hazard, Since Covid-19 can’t be
removed.
• Elimination is not possible in this
case.
• But can be done by stay at home,
work remotely and avoid public
areas.

20
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Elimination:
• Avoid use of shared equipment and
spaces
• Virtual appointments, meetings, site
visits, and training through the use of
web conferencing applications

21
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Substitution: means replacing the hazard or risk with a less hazardous

system. In this situation, it mean replacing the coronavirus with a virus that
is less deadly.

22
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Engineering Controls:
• Get vaccinated
• Thermal screening
• Physical barriers like sneeze guards, Plexiglas
screens

23
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Engineering Controls:
• Adjusting ventilation systems

24
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Engineering Controls:
• Modifying physical workspaces to increase the distance between
employees.
• Avoid shake hands

25
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Administrative Controls:
• Display awareness signs, posters, do’s & don’ts
• Ensuring to maintain physical distancing 6 feet between workers
• Conducting awareness programs (virtual)

26
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Administrative Controls:
• Providing IITS- Information, Instructions, Training and Supervision.
• Increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection within the work site,
offices.
• Record entry of visitors etc.

27
 Example #2- Covid-19 Pandemic

Personal Protective Equipment's (PPE’s):

• Mandatory use of nose mask/ face cover
• Use of hand gloves

28
Risk Management (Video)

Play Video Here

(COVID-19 Getting Back To

Work Hierarchy Of
Controls)

29
Example #3

30
 Example #3- Work at Height

Elimination:
• Avoid working at height wherever
possible
• Carry as much work as possible form
the ground, using extending tools
instead of ladder.

31
 Example #3- Work at Height

Substitution:
• Fixed or mobile scaffolds
• Suspended working platforms/gondola

32
 Example #3- Work at Height

Substitution:
• Scissor lifts, aerial lifts, boom lifts
• Mobile Elevated Working Plat forms (MEWP)

33
 Example #3- Work at Height

Engineering Controls
(Isolation):
• Provide passive fall protection
system like guard raining,
safety nets etc.

34
 Example #3- Work at Height

Administrative Controls:
• Typically change the behavior of people by
providing trainings
• Display caution boards
• Display Do’s & Don’ts of work activity
• Deploy competent workmen only

35
 Example #3- Work at Height

Administrative Controls:
• Temporary barriers / measures to prevent people from reaching the area
where a fall risk can occur.
• Implementing Permit to Work system
(PTW)
• Implementing SOP’s, work method
safe systems etc.

36
 Example #3- Work at Height

Personal Protective Equipment's (PPE’s):

• Providing safety harness
• Provision of lifelines etc.

37
Example #4

38
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Assume that a Diesel Generator (DG) placed very close to building/ at

ground floor of the office building. Causing more noise issues for the
office staff/employees.

39
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Elimination:
• Remove the DG completely by
taking electrical supply form local
electrical bodies
• Take supply by installing solar
system

40
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Elimination:
• Taking supply by installing solar system

41
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Substitution:
• Replace the normal DG with silent
power low noise Diesel Generator

42
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Engineering Controls (Isolation):

• Ensure proper ventilation or local exhaust ventilation system
• DG stack should be provided

43
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Engineering Controls (Isolation):

• Provide silencer to reduce noise
• Ensure sound absorbing materials/ walls/ industrial sound enclosures

44
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Administrative Controls:
• Adopting a program of regular DG
maintenance.
• Ensuring office staff working adjacent to
diesel exhaust emission areas are not
exposed
• Job rotation
• Scheduling work to minimize the
number of workers near the plant
while it is operating.
45
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Administrative Controls:
• Display caution boards, safety instructions etc.
• Provide necessary awareness training for
workmen.
• Introduce DG inspection check list with
frequent time interval.

46
 Example #4- Electricity- D G Placement

Personnel Protective Equipment's (PPE’s):

• Provide ear plugs/ ear muffs
• Provide tested electrical hand gloves
• Electrical safety shoes
• Provide respiratory protection

47
Example #5

48
 Example #5- Delivery Boy

Assume that a food delivery boy is associated risk with dogs at delivery
destination while on his regular duties.

49
 Example #5- Delivery Boy

Elimination:
• Eliminating the physical hazard by completely
remove the dog form streets

50
 Example #5- Delivery Boy
Substitution: means replacing the hazard or risk with a less/no hazardous.

51
 Example #5- Delivery Boy

Engineering Controls (Isolation):

Isolate people form hazards
• By chaining the dog
• Isolate it in a cage

52
 Example #5- Delivery Boy

Administrative Controls:
• Train the dog
• Install caution/warning boards to warn outsiders

53
 Example #5- Delivery Boy

Personal Protective Equipment's (PPE’s):

• PPE’s can use as last line of defense

54
Risk Management (Video)

Play Video Here

(Hierarchy of Controls- Food

Delivery Boy)

55
Example #6

56
 Example #6- Noise
• Noise is one of the most common occupational health hazards.
• Noise-induced hearing loss can’t be reversed, but it is 100%
preventable.

57
 Example #6- Noise

Elimination:
• Moving the noisy operations away from other work activities
• Avoiding the use of noisy processes or machinery

58
 Example #6- Noise

Substitution:
• Substitution is a process of replacing noisy machinery or equipment with
quieter alternatives.

59
 Example #6- Noise

Substitution:
• The use of welded instead of riveted construction in fabrications and the use of
hydraulic processes to bend material produces less noise than hammering.

60
 Example #6- Noise

Engineering Controls (Isolation): are all about making changes to

processes, machinery or equipment.
• Separating the noisy area from
other workspaces by a sound-
reducing partition
• Enclosure of noisy machinery
with sound-absorbing material

61
 Example #6- Noise
Engineering Controls (Isolation):
• Using conveyor belts rather than rollers
• Using acoustical silencers in intake and
exhaust systems
• Using rubber mounts to isolate vibrating
noise source to separate it from the surface
it’s mounted to

62
Example #6- Noise
Engineering Controls (Isolation):
• Using sound-absorbing material on
walls, ceiling and floors to reduce the
noise level due to reverberation
• Undertaking regular maintenance
on equipment
• Repairing and replacing loose
rotating parts, worn bearings and
gears

63
 Example #6- Noise

Administrative Controls: are the way work is organized to reduce the number
of workers exposed or the length of time they are exposed to noise
• Identifying hearing protection zones and
clearly sign-posting noisy areas
• Increasing the distance between noise
sources and workers

64
 Example #6- Noise

Administrative Controls:
• Limiting the time workers spend in noisy
areas by job design and job rotation.
• Providing rest breaks.
• Providing sufficient information, instructions
and training.

65
 Example #6- Noise

Personal Protective Equipment's (PPE’s): are the way work is organized

to reduce the number of workers exposed or the length of time they are exposed
to noise.
• Ear plugs
• Ear muffs etc.

66
Example
#7

67
 Example #7- Paints

Elimination:
• This is the most effective safety measure.
• It is achieved by ceasing to use the substance.

68
 Example #7- Paints

Substitution:
• Replacing a solvent-based paint with a water-based paint.
• Substitute the spraying process by rollers, brushes and dipping.

69
 Example #7- Paints
Engineering Controls: can minimize, suppress or contain the generation of
hazardous substances. Limit the area of contamination in the event of spills and
leaks.

70
Ventilation Spray booths
 Example #7- Paints

Administrative controls: Reducing exposure of employees to hazardous

substances
• Rotating shifts, scheduling breaks, etc.
• Training.
• Permit To Work System.
• Housekeeping etc.

71
 Example #7- Paints

Personal Protective Equipment's (PPE’s):

• Respirators and protective clothing

72
Thanks!

73