The hierarchy of control

What is the hierarchy of control?

The hierarchy of control is a system for controlling risks in the workplace. The hierarchy of control is a step-by-step approach to eliminating or reducing risks and it ranks risk controls from the highest level of protection and reliability through to the lowest and least reliable protection.

Eliminating the hazard and risk is the highest level of control in the hierarchy, followed by reducing the risk through substitution, isolation and engineering controls, then reducing the risk through administrative controls. Reducing the risk through the use of protective personal equipment (PPE) is the lowest level of control.

The following element shows the structure of the hierarchy of control, from most effective control to least effective.

Employer duties

As an employer you have a duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, you must reduce those risks, so far as is reasonably practicable.

The hierarchy of controls helps employers fulfill their OHS Act responsibilities. In line with the OHS Act, the hierarchy of control first instructs employers to eliminate hazards and risks. If employers cannot eliminate hazards and risks, then they must work through the hierarchy and select controls that most effectively reduce the risk.

Reducing the risk may involve introducing a single risk control or a combination of two or more different controls. For example, protecting employees and others from flying debris when using a concrete cutting saw may involve isolating the work area, guarding the saw blade and using PPE such as face shields.

When determining the most effective and reasonably practicable risk control, consider the time needed to introduce the control and whether it is necessary to introduce temporary risk control measures while preparing the preferred control. In some cases it might be necessary to stop the activity until you can put an appropriate risk control measure in place.

The following steps, based on information from Safe Work Australia, explain each stage of the hierarchy of control, from most effective control measures to the least effective:

Using the hierarchy of control

1. Eliminate the risk

The most effective control measure involves eliminating the hazard and its associated risk. The best way to eliminate a hazard is to not introduce the hazard in the first place. For example, you can eliminate the risk of a fall from height by doing the work at ground level.

Eliminating hazards can be cheaper and more practical at the design or planning stage of a product, process or workplace. In these early stages, there is more scope to design to eliminate hazards or to include risk control measures that are compatible with the requirements of the original design and function.

Employers can also eliminate hazards and risks by removing the hazard completely. For example, removing trip hazards on the floor or disposing of unwanted chemicals eliminates the risks they create.

It may not be possible to eliminate a hazard if doing so means you are unable to make the end product or deliver the service. If it is not possible to eliminate the hazard, then you must eliminate as many of the risks associated with the hazard as possible.

2. Reduce the risk through substitution, isolation or engineering controls

If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the hazards and associated risks, minimise the risks by:

Substitution

Substitute the hazard with something safer. For example:

• use a scourer, mild detergent and hot water instead of caustic cleaners for cleaning
• use a cordless drill instead of an electric drill if the power cord is in danger of being cut
• use water-based paints instead of solvent-based paints

Isolation

Isolate the hazard. For example:

• use concrete barriers to separate pedestrians and employees from powered mobile plant
• use remote controls to operate machines
• install guard rails around holes

Engineering controls

An engineering control is a control measure that is physical in nature, including a mechanical device or process. Examples of engineering controls include:

• mechanical devices such as trolleys or hoists to move heavy loads
• guards around moving parts of machinery
• pedestrian-sensing systems
• speed-governing mechanisms

3. Reduce the risk using administrative controls

Administrative controls are work methods or procedures designed to minimise exposure to a hazard. In most cases, administrative controls use systems of work to control the risk. For example:

• developing procedures on how to operate machinery safely
• limiting exposure time to a hazardous task
• using signs to warn people of a hazard

4. Reduce the risk using personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE refers to anything employees use or wear to minimise risks to their health and safety. PPE includes but is not limited to the following:

• ear muffs and earplugs
• goggles
• respirators
• face masks
• hard hats
• safety harnesses
• gloves
• aprons
• high-visibility clothing
• protective eyewear
• body suits
• safety footwear
• sunscreen

PPE limits exposure to the harmful effects of a hazard but only if employees wear and use the PPE correctly.

Using administrative controls and PPE to reduce risks does not control the hazard at the source. Administrative controls and PPE rely on human behaviour and supervision and, used on their own, tend to be least effective in minimising risks.

Use administrative controls and PPE only:

• as last resorts when there are no other practical control measures available
• as an interim measure until introducing a more effective way of controlling the risk
• to increase the effectiveness of higher-level control measures

Choose the most effective controls

Consider various control options and choose the controls that most effectively eliminate the hazard or, if elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risk in the circumstances. Reducing the risk may involve a single control measure or a combination of different controls that work together to provide the highest level of reasonably practicable protection.

As an employer you must consult your employees and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if there are any, when deciding on risk controls.

Safe Work Australia has provided much of the information on this page. See more advice on the hierarchy of controls from Safe Work Australia in Related information, below.