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Hierarchy of Controls
Table of Contents
Remove the hazard first, then substitute, engineer, admin, PPE - in that order.
Key Concept
- Eliminate the hazard before warnings, admin, or PPE.
- Level 1: Remove the danger first - a guard rail beats a sign, and both beat helmets if you can fix the source.
- Level 2: Eliminate the hazard before warnings, admin, or PPE - like removing the pothole instead of posting a slow-down sign.
- Level 3: PPE is last because it depends on human compliance; elimination removes the risk at the root before anyone has to remember gear.
- Level 4: Ask whether you can eliminate or engineer out the hazard before you buy more signs and gloves.
- Level 5: Heed Every Near Miss feeds what to eliminate; admin controls and PPE are backups when the hazard cannot go away.
- Guard rails beat signs when you can remove the hazard instead.
- Named rollback is a control layer before irreversible harm.
Examples
- We removed the wet patch on the court instead of adding “slow down” signs - guard rails beat warnings; removing the hazard beats both.
- We taped down the rug corner instead of yelling “watch your step” every night - hierarchy of controls: eliminate first, then engineer, admin, PPE last.
Note Relationships
| Relationship | Wikilink | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| contradicts | Standard Operating Procedures | when the opposite frame fits better |
| extends | Eliminate Before Managing | Elimination tops the hierarchy - warnings come last |
| extends | Rollback Principle | Named rollback is a control layer before irreversible harm |
