Hierarchy of Controls

An employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe system of work (The Health and Safety at Work etc. 1974 Act) and to carry out a risk assessment, with subsequent implementation of preventative and protective health and safety measures for staff (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999). Regulation 4 states that “Where an employer implements any preventive and protective measures he shall do so on the basis of the principles specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.”

A hierarchy of controls is used, in descending order, to reduce the risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by implementing appropriate preventative measures

The 5-stage sequence for the hierarchy of controls is:
1. Eliminate the risk by removing the hazard. This might mean questioning whether an activity has to be carried out.
2. Substitution of a process or material where elimination is not possible, for example, using a less hazardous material or process. This might also mean changing the functionality of an area to one which requires fewer maintenance activities.
3. Use engineering controls, which will typically mean ensuring adequate guards are in place to remove operator from the hazard, e.g. hot exhausts; moving parts. Can the use of robots or radio / wire controlled machines be used?
4. Administrative controls are then used to reduce the hazard, and this might mean changing working patterns to reduce fatigue or prohibiting the use of listening to music whilst operating machinery. Ensure safe systems of work are applied and risk assessments carried out and understood by operators. Appropriate training must also be given, and this may include refresher training.
5. Personal Protective Equipment: This is a last resort and where a risk still exists then appropriate PPE must be provided by an employer and worn by employees.