HIERACHY OF

CONTROL
BASIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
IN THE WORKPLACE

CATHY MAE M. GARCIA, RMT

ARRANGE THE HIERACHY OF
CONTROL
MOST

PPE
EFFECTIVE
1
ADMISTRATIVE CONTROL 2
ENGINEERING CONTROL 3
SUBSTITUTION 4
ELIMINATION
LEAST EFFECTIVE
5
 GENERAL HIERARCHY OF
CONTROLS

Controlling exposures to hazards in the workplace is vital to

protecting workers. The hierarchy of controls is a way of
determining which actions will best control exposures. The
hierarchy of controls has five levels of actions to reduce or
remove hazards. The preferred order of action based on
general effectiveness is:
ELIMINATION

Elimination removes the hazard at the source.

This could include changing the work process to
stop using a toxic chemical, heavy object, or
sharp tool. It is the preferred solution to protect
workers because no exposure can occur.
Example of elimination

 Purchasing equipment that is not noisy.

 Using a reach pole, where feasible, for window
washing to eliminate working from heights.
 Removing and properly disposing of products that are
stored in the workplace and are no longer being used.
SUBSTITUTION

 Substitution is using a safer alternative to the source

of the hazard. An example is using plant-based
printing inks as a substitute for solvent-based inks.
 When considering a substitute, it’s important to
compare the potential new risks of the substitute to
the original risks. This review should consider how the
substitute will combine with other agents in the
workplace. Effective substitutes reduce the potential
for harmful effects and do not create new risks.
ELIMINATION AND SUBSTITUTION

Can be the most difficult actions to adopt into an existing

process. These methods are best used at the design or
development stage of a work process, place, or tool. At the
development stage, elimination and substitution may be
the simplest and cheapest option. Another good
opportunity to use elimination and substitution is when
selecting new equipment or procedures.
Prevention through Design is an approach to proactively
include prevention when designing work equipment, tools,
operations, and spaces.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS

 reduce or prevent hazards from coming into contact

with workers. Engineering controls can include
modifying equipment or the workspace, using
protective barriers, ventilation, and more.
 Engineering controls can cost more upfront than
administrative controls or PPE. However, long-term
operating costs tend to be lower, especially when
protecting multiple workers. In addition, engineering
controls can save money in other areas of the work
process or facility operation.
The most effective engineering controls:
 are part of the original equipment design
 remove or block the hazard at the source before it
comes into contact with the worker
 prevent users from modifying or interfering with the
control
 need minimal user input for the controls to work
 operate correctly without interfering with the work
process or making the work process more difficult
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

Administrative controls establish work practices

that reduce the duration, frequency, or intensity
of exposure to hazards. This may include:
 work process training
 job rotation
 ensuring adequate rest breaks
 limiting access to hazardous areas or machinery
 adjusting line speeds
PPE

PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards.

Examples of PPE include gloves, safety glasses, hearing
protection, hard hats, and respirators. When employees
use PPE, employers should implement a PPE program.
While elements of the PPE program depend on the work
process and the identified PPE, the program should
address:
 workplace hazards assessment
 PPE selection and use
 inspection and replacement of damaged or worn-out PPE
 employee training
 program monitoring for continued effectiveness
Employers should not rely on PPE alone to control
hazards when other effective control options are
available. PPE can be effective, but only when
workers use it correctly and consistently. PPE
might seem to be less expensive than other
controls, but can be costly over time. This is
especially true when used for multiple workers on
a daily basis.
When other control methods are unable to reduce
the hazardous exposure to safe levels,
employers must provide PPE. This includes:
 while other controls are under development
 when other controls cannot sufficiently reduce the
hazardous exposure
 when PPE is the only control option available
LABORATORY HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

Engineering
Controls
Administrativ
e
Work
practices
PPE
 A. ENGINEERING CONTROLS

- Are those that involve making changes to the

work environment to reduce work-related
hazards.
- Examples include:
 Chemical Fume Hoods; and
 Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs)
 B. Administrative controls
- Are those that modify worker’s work schedules
and tasks in ways that minimize their exposure to
workplace hazards.
- Examples include:
 Developing a Chemical Hygiene
Plan; and
 Developing Standard Operating
Procedures for chemical handling
 C. WORK PRACTICES

- Are procedures for safe and proper work that are

used to reduce the duration, frequency or
intensity of exposure to a hazard.
- Examples include:
 No mouth pipetting; and
Chemical substitution where feasible (e.g.,
selecting a less hazardous chemical for a
specific procedure)
 D. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

- is protective gear needed to keep workers safe while performing

their jobs.
- Examples of PPE include respirators (for example, N95), face
shields, goggles and disposable gloves.
- It is important that PPE be:
 Selected based upon the hazard to the worker;
Properly fitted and in some cases periodically refitted (e.g.,
respirators);
Conscientiously and properly worn;
Regularlymaintained and replaced in accord with the
manufacturer’s specifications;
Properly removed and disposed of to avoid contamination
of self, others or the environment;
If reusable, properly removed, cleaned, disinfected and
stored.
END OF TOPIC ONE
 CHEMICAL HAZARDS

Hazardous laboratory chemicals present

physical and/or health threats to workers in
clinical, industrial, and academic laboratories.
 HAZARD PICTOGRAMS
NFPA Hazard Rating System

- a safety standard put forth by the National Fire

Prevention Association (NFPA.)
 LABORATORY STANDARD

 The Laboratory standard consists of five

major elements:
1. Hazard identification
2. Chemical Hygiene Plan
3. Information and training
4. Exposure monitoring
5. Medical consultation and
examinations
 1. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

1. HAZARD
IDENTIFICATIO
- Each laboratory must identify which
N hazardous chemicals will be encountered
by its workers. All containers for chemicals
must be clearly labeled.
- Labels on chemical containers must not
be removed or defaced.
- Employers must have Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) in the workplace for each hazardous chemical
in use.
- MSDS sheets must contain:

1. Name of the chemical;

2. Manufacturer’s information;
3. Hazardous ingredients/identity information;
4. Physical/chemical characteristics;
5. Fire and explosion hazard data;
6. Reactivity data;
7. Health hazard data;
8. Precautions for safe handling and use; and
9. Control measures
2. Chemical Hygiene Plan
- The purpose is to provide guidelines for prudent
practices and procedures for the use of
chemicals in the laboratory.

The following information must be included in each CHP:

a. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

b. Criteria for Exposure Control Measures

c. Adequacy and Proper Functioning of Fume Hoods
and other Protective Equipment
d. Information and Training
e. Requirement of Prior Approval of Laboratory
Procedures
f. Medical Consultations and Examinations
g. Chemical Hygiene Officer Designation
 Specific Chemical Hazard
- Chemicals commonly used in laboratories
include: toluene, xylene, and acrylamide.
- Employers must provide the
following to workers to prevent
exposure:
Appropriate PPE
Acceptable eyewash facilities within the
immediate work area for emergency use
latex Click icon to add picture
- A plant protein, one of the most
common chemicals that laboratory
workers are exposed to.
- The most common cause of latex
allergy is direct contact with latex, a
natural plant derivative used in
making certain disposable gloves and
other products.
Latex-free gloves, glove
liners, powder-free gloves, or
other similar alternatives are
obtainable and must be readily
accessible to those workers
who are allergic to latex gloves
or other latex-containing.
- Latex allergy should be suspected in workers who
develop certain symptoms after latex exposure,
including:
Nasal, eye, or sinus irritation
Hives or rash
Difficulty breathing
Coughing

Wheezing

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea
 Biological Hazards

Biological Agents (other than Blood borne

Pathogens) and Biological Toxins
- These are federally regulated biological agents
(e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and
prions) and toxins that have the potential to pose a
severe threat to public health and safety, to animal or
plant health, or to animal or plant products
a. Anthrax c. Avian flu

b. Botulism d. Food Borne disease

e. Hantavirus g. Molds and
Fungi

f. Legionnaires’ Disease h. Plague

i. Ricin k. Smallpox

j. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

l. Tularemia n. Pandemic Influenza

m. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHFs)

 the most serious infections are hepatitis B
virus(HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Fortunately, the risk of
acquiring any of these infections is low. HBV is the
most infectious virus of the three viruses listed
above.
 For an unvaccinated healthcare worker, the risk of
developing an infection from a single needle stick or
a cut exposed to HBV-infected blood ranges from 6-
30%.

 After a needle stick/cut exposure to HCV-

contaminated blood, 98.2% of individuals do not
become infected, while after a similar exposure to
HIV-contaminated
blood, 99.7% of individuals do not become infected.
 Employers must ensure that workers are
trained and prohibited from engaging in
the following activities:

 Mouth pipetting/suctioning of blood and other body

fluids.
 Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip
balm, or handling contact lenses in work areas where
there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational
exposure to blood or other body fluids.
 Storage of food or drink in refrigerators, freezers,
shelves, cabinets or on countertops or benchtops
where blood or body fluids are present.
 Employers must ensure that the
following are provided:

 Appropriate PPE for workers if blood or body fluids

exposure is anticipated.
 Effective engineering and work practice controls to help
remove or isolate exposures to blood and blood borne
pathogens.
 Hepatitis B vaccination (if not declined by a worker) under
the supervision of a physician or other licensed
healthcare professional to all workers who have
occupational exposure to blood or body fluids.
Labels
Engineering Controls and Work
Practices for All HIV/HBV Laboratories

Employers must ensure that:

 All activities involving blood/bodyfluis are conducted in
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) or other physical
containment devices;
 Certified BSCs or other appropriate combinations of
personal protection or physical containment devices,
such as special protective clothing, respirators,
centrifuge safety cups, sealed centrifuge rotors, and
containment caging for animals, be used for all
activities with blood/body fluids that pose a threat of
exposure to droplets, splashes, spills, or aerosols.
 Each laboratory contains a facility for hand washing
and an eyewash facility which is readily available
within the work area,
 Each work area contains a sink for washing hands
and a readily available eyewash facility. The sink
must be foot, elbow, or automatically operated and
must be located near the exit door of the work area.
END OF TOPIC 2
Physical hazards

 These include, but are not limited to Ergonomic Hazards, slips,

trips, and falls, sharps, compressed gases, pressurized
equipment, electrical equipment, lasers, radiation, mechanical
hazards, noise, and thermal hazards.
 It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator or laboratory
supervisor to ensure that staff and students in laboratories are
provided with adequate training and information specific to the
physical hazards found within their laboratories.
 A. Ergonomic Hazard

Laboratory workers are at risk for repetitive motion injuries during

routine laboratory procedures such as pipetting, working at
microscopes, operating microtomes, using cell counters and
keyboarding at computer workstations.

Employers Should Train Workers to Be Aware of Their Posture

oUse a chair that provides good back support and sit
against the back of the chair.
oTilt the seat forward or use a seat wedge when working
in a forward posture; do not jut their chin forward when
working. Adjust the position of their work, the work
surface, or the chair so that they sit in an upright,
 o Always try to work at a bench cut out; cut outs can help workers get close to their
work while sitting against the back of their chair.
o Use supportive shoes and cushioned mats if required to stand for long periods.
o Keep frequently used trays and supplies within close reach.

Employers Should Train Workers to Avoid Ergonomic-Related Risk Factors When Using a
Microscope
oSit close to the work surface.
oAvoid leaning on hard edges
oPad forearms and edges.
oKeep elbows close to their sides
 oAdjust chair, workbench, or microscope as needed to maintain an upright
head position.

oElevate, tilt or move the microscope close to the edge of the counter to
avoid bending their neck.
oUse adjustable eyepieces or mount your microscope on a 30° angle stand
for easier viewing.
oKeep scopes repaired and clean.
oSpread microscope work throughout the day and share it with several
people, if possible.
oTake short breaks. Every 15 minutes, close the eyes or focus on something
 B. TRIPS, SLIPS AND FALLS

Worker exposure to wet floors or spills and clutter can lead to

slips/trips/falls and other possible injuries
1. Preparation
-The implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) will provide the “How to” guide of dealing with a chemical
spill. And this SOPs should be stored in an easily accessible location in
the laboratory.
-An essential step in preparation is ensuring that all
laboratory personnel have received the required training in the correct
handling and storage of all chemicals used in the lab.
-Finally, the laboratory should be stocked with a spill
kit which contains the appropriate equipment and
reagents for cleaning up chemical spills. The kits
should contain absorbents, neutralizer compounds,
PPE, waste disposal bags and/or bins.
2. ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPILL
-Chemical spills can be classified as either:

Minor spill– where the chemical does not pose

an immediate risk to health and does not involve
chemical contamination to the body.
Major spill-where the chemical potentially poses
an immediate risk to health (toxicity or
corrosiveness), or a high risk of fire or explosion
(including reactivity to air or water).
 3. COMMUNICATION

-First and foremost, it is important to remain calm and

ensure that all laboratory personnel are moved away from
the area while the appropriate response is determined.
-(Minor chemical spill) laboratory personnel in the
immediate area of the spill should be alerted.
-(Major chemical spill) the laboratory and/or building
should be evacuated, and emergency services notified.
-laboratory personnel were contaminated the nearest
emergency eyewash or safety shower needs to be located,
any contaminated clothing removed, and all areas of the
body flushed with copious amounts of water.
4. Control and Containment of Spill

-Before commencing the clean-up of a chemical

spill, all personnel must be wearing the
appropriate PPE including safety goggles, gloves
and long-sleeve lab coats.
The source of the spill should be
identified and contained
5. CLEAN-UP

-clean-up of minor spills can be handled using the appropriate

spill kit or absorbent material .
-The residue should be collected and placed in the appropriate
chemical waste disposal container.

Acid/Bases
-. Acids can be neutralized with soda ash or sodium
bicarbonate
-whereas bases can be neutralized with citric acid or
ascorbic acid.
-Following Neutralization, the spill can be mopped up and
rinsed down the drain.
Biological Spills

-The appropriate PPE is particularly important when cleaning up

biological spills to prevent contact with contaminated surfaces and
protect from exposure to splattered materials.
1. The spill is covered with paper towels or absorbent pads.
2. Decontaminate using a freshly prepared 10% (vol./vol. w/water)
dilution of household bleach or hospital-grade disinfectant- careful to
avoid splashing.
3. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
4. Use paper towels or other absorbent material to wipe up the spill.
5. Further clean the spill area with fresh towels soaked in disinfectant.
6. Dispose of the towels and/or absorbent material in the
biohazardous waste container.
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

-Before handling, it is important to ensure the

removal of all potential sources of ignition.
-are best cleaned-up with the use of spill pads
that are backed with a vapor barrier.

-All absorbent materials used in the clean-up should

be disposed of in heavy-duty poly bags, which are
Mercury Spills

-considered minor, nonhazardous spills

-The area where the mercury spill has occurred should be
cordoned off to prevent further dispersal of the spill.
-The mercury spill can be cleaned-up using a special absorbent
that amalgamates the smaller mercury droplets.
-How do you clean up a mercury spill?
Sprinkle sulfur powder over the contaminated area and rub it
gently all over the surface and into the cracks with a paper
towel. Sulfur powder binds with mercury. Use a paper towel
dampened with water followed by wiping with another damp paper
towel to clean up the sulfur and mercury.
RADIOACTIVE SPILLS

-Absorbent material (such as paper towels) should

be placed over the radioactive spill. Using forceps, the
contaminated towels can be gathered and placed in
a radioactive waste disposal bag. The spill area, hands,
shoes and other PPE should be monitored for
contamination with a Geiger counter.
VOLATILE TOXIC COMPOUND

The use of spill pillows or similar absorbent

material are usually the preferred method for
cleaning up. Place all used absorbent materials in
heavy-duty poly bags, which are sealed and
labelled.
6. DISPOSAL

The neutralized spill residue or the absorbent should

be scooped or swept and placed into a plastic bucket or
other container. The residues from dry powders or liquids
which have absorbed should be double bagged. Following
cleaning up the chemical spill, the residues/wastes should
be placed in the appropriate hazardous waste bin. All
clean-up materials must be separate from normal trash.
Descriptive labels outlining the type of waste should be
placed on each container.
7.DECONTAMINATION

For most chemical spills, conventional cleaning products will be able to

provide adequate decontamination. Specialized laboratory detergents are
available that provide a higher level of decontamination and
cleaning. In addition, ventilation of the area where the spill occurred may
be necessary.

8.Documentation and Feedback

After the chemical spill has been cleaned-up and the area
decontaminated, incident documentation should be completed. All
personnel involved in the spill and clean-up should be debriefed, lessons
learned identified and procedures reviewed and improved.
C. SHARPS

 Sharps are objects that can penetrate a worker’s skin,

such as needles, scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes
and the exposed ends of dental wires. If blood or other
potentially infectious materials are present or may be
present on the sharp, it is a contaminated sharp and
appropriate personal protective equipment must be
worn.
 Careful handling of contaminated sharps can
prevent injury and reduce the risk of infection.
1. Safer Medical devices
2. PROMPT DISPOSAL


If recapping, bending, or removal is necessary,
employers must ensure that workers use either a
mechanical device or a one-handed technique.
 The cap must not be held in one hand while guiding
the sharp into it or placing it over the sharp. A one-
handed “scoop” technique uses the needle itself to
pick up the cap, and then the cap is pushed against a
hard surface to ensure a tight fit onto the device. Also,
the cap may be held with tongs or forceps and placed
over the needle.
3. Sharp Containers

 Punctured-resistant
 leak proof
 Color-coded (red) /labeled
 Must be closable
 Must be replaced routinely and not be overfilled

4. Handling Containers
D. Electrical

 including electric shock, electrocutions, fires and

explosions.
 The potential for possible electrocution or electric shock or
contact with electrical hazards can result from a number of
factors, including the following:
- Faulty electrical equipment/instrumentation or
wiring;
- Damaged receptacles and connectors;
- Unsafe work practices.