Hazards control: administrative

The identification of hazards includes both a search for those hazards reduced or eliminated by inherently safer design, and a search for hazards controlled by instmmentation and administrative procedures. 

Hazard controls include engineering and administrative controls and PPE. Hazard characterization is a tool that is used to develop hazard controls and safe work practices and procedures and to make sure that the appropriate PPE is selected for each job. 

Hazard Controls—Design features operating limits and administrative or safety practices, processes, or procedures to prevent, control, or mitigate hazards. 

The control of chemical hazards at SNL is documented in the Primary Hazard Screen and Hazard Analysis process for every project or facility. Work-specific technical work documents provide more detailed chemical hazard controls. Hazard control is based on the hierarchy of controls engineering controls first, administrative controls next, and personal protective controls last. ES H subject matter experts provide input on appropriate controls to chemical users and their management. 

Hazard Control the management actions or physical measures taken to eliminate, limit, or mitigate hazards to workers, the public, or the enviromnent, including (1) physical, design, stmctural, and engineering features (2) safety programs and procedures (3) personal protective equipment and (5) administrative limits or operational restrictions. 

DOE O 440.1A, sec. 4(j)(4). 29CFR1910.120(g)(l) 29CFR1910.134(a) 29CFR1910.1450(i) 4.1.1.3 Hazard controls shall be selected using the following hierarchy (1) Elimination of the hazard through practices such as chemical substitution or process modification (2) Engineering controls (3) Work practices and administrative controls and (4) Personal protective equipment... 

Earlier chapters introduced us to the many types of hazards in the workplace. Controlling those hazards involves the recognition, evaluation, and elimination of the hazard in the woik-place. If the hazard cannot be eliminated, it must be minimized as much as possible. When hazards cannot be engineered out of the workplace, administrative controls are the next logical step in hazard reduction. Administrative controls are procedures put into place to limit employee exposure to hazards. Their function is to influence worker behavior to follow operational, safety, and environmental procedures. Enforcement of the procedures may have penalties that vary in severity but can include employee termination of employment. 

Administrative controls can be broken down into the two categories of programs and activities. We have just looked at some programs, which are the written documents that explain how hazards are to be controlled. Administrative activities are the programs put into action. Administrative hazard control activities can consist of any of the following ... 

T/F) When hazards cannot be engineered out of a workplace then administrative controls are the next logical step for hazard control. 

List five administrative hazard control activities. 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is last in the hierarchy of hazard control. PPE is less desirable than engineering and administrative controls for the control of hazards but is still critical. The appropriate PPE fitted correctly is a reliable barrier against known hazards. The biggest drawback against PPE is that some workers are careless about their selection of PPE for a job and choose ineffective PPE or they do not ensure that it is properly fitted and used. The function of PPE is to protect the user s entire body, including the respiratory system, eyes, hearing, head, hands, etc. 

Apply a precedence of controls to hazards starting with their elimination, designing to preclude hazards, and finally administrative controls. Administrative controls include signs, warnings, procedures, and training. (The lowest precedence are those controls that rely on people.)... 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations that are specific to construction operations and hazard controls. 

Controls (4) Hazard controls concentrate on engineering fixes with reinforced/enforced safe work procedures. (3) Controls based on priaity of engineering controls, work practices, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (in that order). (2) Hazard controls fuHy in place, but the order of priorities varies with situation. (1) Hazard controls generally in place, but priaities and completeness vary. (0) Hazard controls not incomplete, ineffective, or inappropriate in this workplace. 

A hazard control mentioned in several previous chapters is personal protective equipment. There are many activities requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) as a primary control. In the hierarchy of controls concept (Chapter 9), PPE is the last resort if one cannot eliminate or manage hazards. PPE applies when other engineering and administrative controls do not work and hazards remain. 

IH must convince the administration that hazard control expenses are worth every dime. 

A second approach is to control the hazard through administrative directives. This may be accomplished by rotating workers, which allows you to limit thdr exposure, or having workers only work in areas when no hazards exist during that part of their shift. This applies particularly to chemical exposures and repetitive activities that could result in ergonomically related incidents. Examples of administrative controls are... 

When employees must be present and engineering or administrative controls are not feasible, it will be essential to use PPE as an interim control and not a final solution. For example, safety glasses may be required in the work area. Too often, PPE usage is considered the last thing to do in the scheme of hazard control. PPE can provide added protection to the employee even when the hazard is being controlled by other means. However, there are drawbacks to the use of PPE, including... 

Hazard control Workforce exposure to all current and potential hazards should be prevented or controlled using engineering controls wherever feasible and appropriate, work practices and administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). 

The prevention and control of hazards can be accomplished in many ways. The primary way is through the reporting of hazards by employees and the correction of hazards by supervisors or other company qualified personnel. Second, employers can use preventive maintenance programs, special emphasis programs, training, workplace audits, engineering controls, administrative controls, and, as a last resort, personal protective equipment. 

A2. When the site selects hazard controls, does it follow the preferred hierarchy (engineering controls, administrative controls, work practice controls [e.g. lockout/tag out, bloodborne pathogens, and confined space programs], and personal protective equipment) to eliminate or control hazards ... 

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