Control Measures Can Avert Occupational Hazards

Control measures are put into place to help reduce the risk of exposure to occupational hazards. These controls can be placed into three categories: Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These three categories of controls are not mutually exclusive and are used in all aspects of safety – including, but not limited to, chemical safety, biosafety, radiation safety, engineering safety and laser safety.

Engineering Controls are the primary control measure and may also be the most expensive. They provide protection to all employees in the area and not just to the employee performing the function. Examples of "big ticket" engineering controls are room design, biosafety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, and vented balance enclosures. Engineering controls can also be smaller items, such as puncture resistant sharps containers, safety engineered sharps and in-line HEPA filters for aspiration units.

Administrative Controls are the second category of control measures. Manuals, signs, labels, and training are all examples of administrative controls. Training covered by the OSHA HazCom standard is a specific example of an administrative control that most of us are familiar with.

The third category of controls is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A PPE assessment is required whenever a new hazard or work practice is introduced to the facility. It is important to remember that not all PPE is created equal, and it should be selected based on an assessment of the occupational hazards present. Examples of PPE that may be selected based on assessment are gloves, lab coats, safety glasses, goggles and faceshields.

These controls, when used in combination with one another as part of a safety program, will provide employees with a reduced risk to occupational hazards. Take a look around your area -- What types of controls are in use at your facility?

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Safety Partners efficiently and cost-effectively implements hands-on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs at emerging life sciences companies. Safety Partners tailors its programs to each client's unique science, processes, procedures, and facilities, while reducing program implementation burdens. Its expertise is unmatched, clocking over 85,000 hours at over 120 New England life sciences firms.