Assignment Prompt & Instructions
See Attached
**files (2)**
– ## UnitIVJournal.docx
– ## UnitIV.pdf
**## UnitIVJournal.docx**
Unit IV Journal
There are three parts to this journal. First, you will identify the most prevalent hazard at your current or former job site and the type of hazard control that you have applied or that has been applied by others to reduce the risk of your identified hazard.
Next, explain in detail what that control is, and describe where and how it fits within the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, or PPE).
Finally, explain how successful or unsuccessful it is at eliminating or reducing your risk while performing the job. Give one recommendation for an additional control that could be added (anywhere within the hierarchy of control) that would further reduce risk.
Your journal submission must be at least 500 words in length. No outside sources or APA Style is required.
**## UnitIV.pdf**
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
2. Identify occupational hazards commonly encountered in industry.
2.1 Discuss the principles of machine guarding.
3. Apply hazard identification and analysis techniques to workplace scenarios.
3.1 Use the hierarchy of controls concept to select appropriate hazard control strategies.
3.2 Explain the purpose and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 9: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 13: Machine Safeguarding
Unit Lesson
Unit III introduced the process of completing a job hazard analysis (JHA). The unit content described how a
JHA can be applied to identify the distinct types of hazards that a job scenario may present. Hazards with an
unacceptable level of risk must be mitigated with the application of hazard controls. These controls are
applied using a methodology commonly referred to as the hierarchy of controls. In this unit, the concept of
hazard controls and the application of the hierarchy of controls will be discussed in detail.
When applying the hierarchy of controls methodology, the first steps employed are elimination, then
substitution, as shown below. Initial attempts are made to eliminate workplace hazards or to substitute
another process, material, or chemical to reduce the risk of the hazard.
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Hazard Controls
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 2
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
If this is not possible, the methodology continues with a requirement to assess the hazard using engineering
controls to engineer out the hazard. This puts a physical, mechanical, or other method in place to isolate the
hazard, removing the employee’s exposure to it.
If this is ineffective or cannot be done, administrative controls are applied next. This is an attempt to manage
the employee’s exposure to the hazard through procedures and various communication methods such as
posting caution signs.
If all other methods are not possible or fail to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the last step in the
methodology is to apply personal protective equipment (PPE).
Once a hazard with an unacceptable level of risk has been identified, the process of identifying acceptable
controls can begin. The first step in defining the controls that should be applied is reviewing critical
information related to the process and equipment involved. This could include the Occupational Safety Health
Administration (OSHA) standards, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications, company-specific
safety and health requirements, and site-specific operating procedures. This information will provide a
baseline for the minimum level of controls that will be necessary to ensure compliance with both internal and
external requirements. This is a critical step; control methods must be, at a minimum, compliant with internal
and external standards.
For example, when attempting to apply controls to specific equipment such as a mechanical power press,
OSHA has standards under OSHA Laws and Regulations, 29 CFR § 1910.217 (1975) for mechanical power
presses, which list specific requirements. Any hazard control methodology must at least meet these minimum
requirements. In addition, the manufacturer of the mechanical power press will likely outline mandatory safety
and health requirements—such as guarding, operator training, and PPE—and provide them with the
The hierarchy of controls, represented by the above graphic, is used to determine
effective, feasible means for controlling or eliminating employee exposure to job hazards.
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 3
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
equipment. These requirements must be included in the control methodology as well. Finally, the organization
is likely to have its own safety and health requirements, either at an organizational or site-specific level, which
must also be addressed to maintain consistency. Non-mandatory information including industry consensus
standards, publications from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
information from professional organizations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) can
be used to identify additional options for controls.
The next step should be to discuss the hazard and the control options identified as part of the first step with
the employees performing the job. The employees will be able to provide input concerning whether or not the
required controls are currently in place and, if they are, whether or not they are effective. If these controls are
determined to be missing, they must be put into place immediately to ensure compliance with the internal and
external requirements. The employees should also be included in discussions regarding the feasibility of any
additional non-mandatory controls. The critical question to answer is whether these controls allow employees
to perform their job efficiently with an acceptable level of risk. If, at the end of this step, the hazard still has not
been reduced to an acceptable level of risk, additional controls must be identified by applying the hierarchy
of controls.
Assuming that all required controls are in place and the non-mandatory controls have been applied to the
extent feasible, it is now time to identify controls specific to the job scenario in order to obtain an acceptable
level of risk. The first question that must always be asked is: can the hazard be eliminated? In most cases,
the answer is no unless the process, equipment, materials, or chemicals causing the hazard can be removed.
The next option is to substitute a less hazardous process, equipment, material, or chemical. In many
cases, this can be done with the procurement of new equipment or through a change in design specifications
that would permit the use of less hazardous materials. If these options are not feasible, the focus should
then shift to isolating the hazard and eliminating employee exposure. This can include application of
engineering controls.
Employees performing jobs requiring hazard
controls are an excellent source of information
concerning whether controls are in place as
well as how effective any controls may be in
mitigating or eliminating hazards.
(Ahsan2018)
(Rossignol, 2017)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 4
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Click on each of the following links to see the images and access more information on each indicated topic
(these are also linked in the unit resource section).
• Type “A” Gate Operation—animated example of a mechanical interlock for which the guard is
interlocked to the press so that they operate in unison.
• “Two-Hand Trips”—an example of remote operating controls for which both hands must be used to
press two buttons, thereby ensuring that the employees’ hands are out of danger.
• Fixed Barrier Guard on a Power Press—animated example of applying physical barriers such as
guards.
• “What Can Be Done to Reduce the Hazard From Noise?”—discussion of controls and physical
methods to reduce noise.
If isolating the hazard through physical changes is not feasible, the next method is isolating the employee
from the hazard. This can be accomplished by reducing exposure through administrative controls.
The main difference between engineering and administrative controls is that engineering controls do not
rely on human performance to be effective, while administrative controls do. Administrative controls isolate
the employee from the hazard through standard operating procedures and signage in the workplace, both
of which must be followed by the employees to be effective. This requires that employees are properly
trained, can remember, and will always adhere to the requirements outlined in the procedures. Because
of this, administrative controls introduce
a higher likelihood of failure than
engineering controls.
If the level of risk is still unacceptable after
considering elimination and substitution
and applying engineering and
administrative controls, PPE should be
applied. PPE is the least desired control
method—through its application, it
indicates acceptance of the fact the
employees are being exposed to the
hazard, indicating that the hazard could not
be isolated.
For PPE to be effective, it must be the
appropriate type and be used correctly by
the employee. It is important to note that, in
most cases, more than one type of control
will be required to reach an acceptable
level of risk. In some cases, a combination
of engineering and administrative controls
can be applied, and PPE may still be
required in order to reduce the risk hazard.
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) is the
least effective control—
for example, these
safety glasses covered
in dust indicate that the
employees wearing
them were exposed to
the dust. Ideally, the
dust (hazard) should be
isolated before it
contacts and potentially
harms employees.
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 5
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
An example of this would be
implementation of a combination of
controls to reduce the risk of health
hazards from exposure to welding
fumes. It is possible that even after
substituting a less hazardous type of
welding material and applying
localized exhaust ventilation as
engineering controls, an
administrative control to reduce
exposure in the form of limiting how
long the employee can weld may
need to be applied. In addition,
PPE in the form of a respirator might
be needed.
When applying several types of
controls, you need to focus not only
on reducing the level of risk to the
employees performing the job, but
also on striving to ensure that a new
risk is not introduced for them or other
employees. An example of this would
be if the localized exhaust ventilation
applied in the welding example above vented the contaminated air into another environment where
employees were working, thereby exposing the other employees to the health hazards posed by that air.
Once controls are identified, a plan for implementation must be developed. The controls should be prioritized
based on the hazards they are addressing and the level of risk reduction that they offer, with the hazards
posing the highest risk getting priority. A schedule should be developed that allocates resources, assigns
responsibility, and sets a date for implementation. As mentioned previously, all mandatory controls must be
implemented immediately, along with those that would address any significant or serous risks.
After implementation, follow-up actions should be taken to ensure that the identified controls have been
implemented and are effective. For example, put preventative maintenance procedures into place for all
engineering controls in order to periodically test them and perform inspections. If they are controlling a health-
based risk, perform routine exposure assessments under the guidance of an industrial hygienist to ensure
that they are effectively reducing the risk. Assess training programs at some frequency to ensure that they are
up to date and contain the correct content for the established administrative controls. Conduct behavior-based
observations and field audits to determine the effectiveness of the training and to verify that the administrative
controls are being followed.
This unit addressed the process for recommending controls for workplace hazards. It explained the
importance of applying the controls required by internal and external standards as well as those required by
the OEM. The hierarchy of controls methodology was introduced, discussing the limitations that exist with the
lower levels, specifically administrative controls and PPE. An example of how numerous controls are often
used concurrently was provided using a job scenario that involved welding. It was also stressed that
recommended controls cannot introduce a new hazard. The critical nature of following up with controls in
order to ensure their effectiveness was discussed.
A combination of controls may sometimes be needed in order to
reduce health risks posed by exposure to weld fumes.
(Wright, 2016)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 6
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
References
Ahsan, S. (2018, July 6). Industry work [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/LymIqp2n7GQ
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (n.d.). Hierarchy of controls [Graphic]. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/images/HierarchyControls.jpg
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970). Occupational safety and health standards: Machinery
and machine guarding: Mechanical power presses (OSHA Standard No. 1910.217). United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.217
Rossignol, M. (2017, May 24). Working on car lock [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/hPu4m_Q4zKE
Wright, P. (2016, June 24). Two welders at work [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/n1RJ7pXgGTE
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Read pp. 20–23 in the following article.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Recommended practices for safety and health
programs (OSHA Report No. 3885).
https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf
The following four images are also listed in the unit lesson. They all come from OSHA’s Machine Guarding
eTool resources.
Review only the animated images on the following two webpages.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Type “A” gate operation [Animation]. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Fixed barrier guard on a power press [Animation].
United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-
guards
Review the image and explanation on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Two-hand trips. United States Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/presses/twohandtrips.html
Review the image labeled “Example of Engineering Controls” and the paragraph that begins “Engineering
controls” on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). What can be done to reduce the hazard from noise?
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html
ClickView Pty Limited (Producer). (2010). Take action in the workplace (Segment 4 of 7) [Video]. In
Workplace health and safety. Films on Demand.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla
ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283
For a transcript of this segment, click the Transcript link next to the video in the Films on Demand database.
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
[https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283](https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 7
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
OSHA has provided a consolidated page with relevant information on machine guarding, including links to
Standards, Hazard Recognition, Possible Solutions, and Additional Resources. It is recommended that you
review the information to see an example of what OSHA requires and what they recommend as best practice.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Machine guarding: Overview. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/
Some of the sections of OSHA’s Machine Guarding eTool site are listed in the Unit IV Required Unit
Resources, but reviewing the rest of the site will provide you with a wealth of information about machine
guarding as well as various types of saws, presses, and plastics machinery.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2014). Machine guarding etool. United States Department of
Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Review OSHA’s webpage, Occupational Noise Exposure: Exposure & Controls.
After reviewing the OSHA information, prepare a one-page summary describing how engineering and
administrative controls can be used to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Include the benefits,
limitations, and drawbacks of each type of control in your summary.
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html)
– Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
– Required Unit Resources
– Unit Lesson
– References
– Suggested Unit Resources
– Learning Activities (Nongraded)
**## UnitIV.pdf**
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
2. Identify occupational hazards commonly encountered in industry.
2.1 Discuss the principles of machine guarding.
3. Apply hazard identification and analysis techniques to workplace scenarios.
3.1 Use the hierarchy of controls concept to select appropriate hazard control strategies.
3.2 Explain the purpose and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 9: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 13: Machine Safeguarding
Unit Lesson
Unit III introduced the process of completing a job hazard analysis (JHA). The unit content described how a
JHA can be applied to identify the distinct types of hazards that a job scenario may present. Hazards with an
unacceptable level of risk must be mitigated with the application of hazard controls. These controls are
applied using a methodology commonly referred to as the hierarchy of controls. In this unit, the concept of
hazard controls and the application of the hierarchy of controls will be discussed in detail.
When applying the hierarchy of controls methodology, the first steps employed are elimination, then
substitution, as shown below. Initial attempts are made to eliminate workplace hazards or to substitute
another process, material, or chemical to reduce the risk of the hazard.
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Hazard Controls
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 2
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
If this is not possible, the methodology continues with a requirement to assess the hazard using engineering
controls to engineer out the hazard. This puts a physical, mechanical, or other method in place to isolate the
hazard, removing the employee’s exposure to it.
If this is ineffective or cannot be done, administrative controls are applied next. This is an attempt to manage
the employee’s exposure to the hazard through procedures and various communication methods such as
posting caution signs.
If all other methods are not possible or fail to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the last step in the
methodology is to apply personal protective equipment (PPE).
Once a hazard with an unacceptable level of risk has been identified, the process of identifying acceptable
controls can begin. The first step in defining the controls that should be applied is reviewing critical
information related to the process and equipment involved. This could include the Occupational Safety Health
Administration (OSHA) standards, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications, company-specific
safety and health requirements, and site-specific operating procedures. This information will provide a
baseline for the minimum level of controls that will be necessary to ensure compliance with both internal and
external requirements. This is a critical step; control methods must be, at a minimum, compliant with internal
and external standards.
For example, when attempting to apply controls to specific equipment such as a mechanical power press,
OSHA has standards under OSHA Laws and Regulations, 29 CFR § 1910.217 (1975) for mechanical power
presses, which list specific requirements. Any hazard control methodology must at least meet these minimum
requirements. In addition, the manufacturer of the mechanical power press will likely outline mandatory safety
and health requirements—such as guarding, operator training, and PPE—and provide them with the
The hierarchy of controls, represented by the above graphic, is used to determine
effective, feasible means for controlling or eliminating employee exposure to job hazards.
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 3
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
equipment. These requirements must be included in the control methodology as well. Finally, the organization
is likely to have its own safety and health requirements, either at an organizational or site-specific level, which
must also be addressed to maintain consistency. Non-mandatory information including industry consensus
standards, publications from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
information from professional organizations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) can
be used to identify additional options for controls.
The next step should be to discuss the hazard and the control options identified as part of the first step with
the employees performing the job. The employees will be able to provide input concerning whether or not the
required controls are currently in place and, if they are, whether or not they are effective. If these controls are
determined to be missing, they must be put into place immediately to ensure compliance with the internal and
external requirements. The employees should also be included in discussions regarding the feasibility of any
additional non-mandatory controls. The critical question to answer is whether these controls allow employees
to perform their job efficiently with an acceptable level of risk. If, at the end of this step, the hazard still has not
been reduced to an acceptable level of risk, additional controls must be identified by applying the hierarchy
of controls.
Assuming that all required controls are in place and the non-mandatory controls have been applied to the
extent feasible, it is now time to identify controls specific to the job scenario in order to obtain an acceptable
level of risk. The first question that must always be asked is: can the hazard be eliminated? In most cases,
the answer is no unless the process, equipment, materials, or chemicals causing the hazard can be removed.
The next option is to substitute a less hazardous process, equipment, material, or chemical. In many
cases, this can be done with the procurement of new equipment or through a change in design specifications
that would permit the use of less hazardous materials. If these options are not feasible, the focus should
then shift to isolating the hazard and eliminating employee exposure. This can include application of
engineering controls.
Employees performing jobs requiring hazard
controls are an excellent source of information
concerning whether controls are in place as
well as how effective any controls may be in
mitigating or eliminating hazards.
(Ahsan2018)
(Rossignol, 2017)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 4
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Click on each of the following links to see the images and access more information on each indicated topic
(these are also linked in the unit resource section).
• Type “A” Gate Operation—animated example of a mechanical interlock for which the guard is
interlocked to the press so that they operate in unison.
• “Two-Hand Trips”—an example of remote operating controls for which both hands must be used to
press two buttons, thereby ensuring that the employees’ hands are out of danger.
• Fixed Barrier Guard on a Power Press—animated example of applying physical barriers such as
guards.
• “What Can Be Done to Reduce the Hazard From Noise?”—discussion of controls and physical
methods to reduce noise.
If isolating the hazard through physical changes is not feasible, the next method is isolating the employee
from the hazard. This can be accomplished by reducing exposure through administrative controls.
The main difference between engineering and administrative controls is that engineering controls do not
rely on human performance to be effective, while administrative controls do. Administrative controls isolate
the employee from the hazard through standard operating procedures and signage in the workplace, both
of which must be followed by the employees to be effective. This requires that employees are properly
trained, can remember, and will always adhere to the requirements outlined in the procedures. Because
of this, administrative controls introduce
a higher likelihood of failure than
engineering controls.
If the level of risk is still unacceptable after
considering elimination and substitution
and applying engineering and
administrative controls, PPE should be
applied. PPE is the least desired control
method—through its application, it
indicates acceptance of the fact the
employees are being exposed to the
hazard, indicating that the hazard could not
be isolated.
For PPE to be effective, it must be the
appropriate type and be used correctly by
the employee. It is important to note that, in
most cases, more than one type of control
will be required to reach an acceptable
level of risk. In some cases, a combination
of engineering and administrative controls
can be applied, and PPE may still be
required in order to reduce the risk hazard.
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) is the
least effective control—
for example, these
safety glasses covered
in dust indicate that the
employees wearing
them were exposed to
the dust. Ideally, the
dust (hazard) should be
isolated before it
contacts and potentially
harms employees.
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 5
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
An example of this would be
implementation of a combination of
controls to reduce the risk of health
hazards from exposure to welding
fumes. It is possible that even after
substituting a less hazardous type of
welding material and applying
localized exhaust ventilation as
engineering controls, an
administrative control to reduce
exposure in the form of limiting how
long the employee can weld may
need to be applied. In addition,
PPE in the form of a respirator might
be needed.
When applying several types of
controls, you need to focus not only
on reducing the level of risk to the
employees performing the job, but
also on striving to ensure that a new
risk is not introduced for them or other
employees. An example of this would
be if the localized exhaust ventilation
applied in the welding example above vented the contaminated air into another environment where
employees were working, thereby exposing the other employees to the health hazards posed by that air.
Once controls are identified, a plan for implementation must be developed. The controls should be prioritized
based on the hazards they are addressing and the level of risk reduction that they offer, with the hazards
posing the highest risk getting priority. A schedule should be developed that allocates resources, assigns
responsibility, and sets a date for implementation. As mentioned previously, all mandatory controls must be
implemented immediately, along with those that would address any significant or serous risks.
After implementation, follow-up actions should be taken to ensure that the identified controls have been
implemented and are effective. For example, put preventative maintenance procedures into place for all
engineering controls in order to periodically test them and perform inspections. If they are controlling a health-
based risk, perform routine exposure assessments under the guidance of an industrial hygienist to ensure
that they are effectively reducing the risk. Assess training programs at some frequency to ensure that they are
up to date and contain the correct content for the established administrative controls. Conduct behavior-based
observations and field audits to determine the effectiveness of the training and to verify that the administrative
controls are being followed.
This unit addressed the process for recommending controls for workplace hazards. It explained the
importance of applying the controls required by internal and external standards as well as those required by
the OEM. The hierarchy of controls methodology was introduced, discussing the limitations that exist with the
lower levels, specifically administrative controls and PPE. An example of how numerous controls are often
used concurrently was provided using a job scenario that involved welding. It was also stressed that
recommended controls cannot introduce a new hazard. The critical nature of following up with controls in
order to ensure their effectiveness was discussed.
A combination of controls may sometimes be needed in order to
reduce health risks posed by exposure to weld fumes.
(Wright, 2016)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 6
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
References
Ahsan, S. (2018, July 6). Industry work [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/LymIqp2n7GQ
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (n.d.). Hierarchy of controls [Graphic]. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/images/HierarchyControls.jpg
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970). Occupational safety and health standards: Machinery
and machine guarding: Mechanical power presses (OSHA Standard No. 1910.217). United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.217
Rossignol, M. (2017, May 24). Working on car lock [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/hPu4m_Q4zKE
Wright, P. (2016, June 24). Two welders at work [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/n1RJ7pXgGTE
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Read pp. 20–23 in the following article.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Recommended practices for safety and health
programs (OSHA Report No. 3885).
https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf
The following four images are also listed in the unit lesson. They all come from OSHA’s Machine Guarding
eTool resources.
Review only the animated images on the following two webpages.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Type “A” gate operation [Animation]. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Fixed barrier guard on a power press [Animation].
United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-
guards
Review the image and explanation on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Two-hand trips. United States Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/presses/twohandtrips.html
Review the image labeled “Example of Engineering Controls” and the paragraph that begins “Engineering
controls” on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). What can be done to reduce the hazard from noise?
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html
ClickView Pty Limited (Producer). (2010). Take action in the workplace (Segment 4 of 7) [Video]. In
Workplace health and safety. Films on Demand.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla
ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283
For a transcript of this segment, click the Transcript link next to the video in the Films on Demand database.
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
[https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283](https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 7
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
OSHA has provided a consolidated page with relevant information on machine guarding, including links to
Standards, Hazard Recognition, Possible Solutions, and Additional Resources. It is recommended that you
review the information to see an example of what OSHA requires and what they recommend as best practice.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Machine guarding: Overview. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/
Some of the sections of OSHA’s Machine Guarding eTool site are listed in the Unit IV Required Unit
Resources, but reviewing the rest of the site will provide you with a wealth of information about machine
guarding as well as various types of saws, presses, and plastics machinery.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2014). Machine guarding etool. United States Department of
Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Review OSHA’s webpage, Occupational Noise Exposure: Exposure & Controls.
After reviewing the OSHA information, prepare a one-page summary describing how engineering and
administrative controls can be used to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Include the benefits,
limitations, and drawbacks of each type of control in your summary.
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html)
– Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
– Required Unit Resources
– Unit Lesson
– References
– Suggested Unit Resources
– Learning Activities (Nongraded)
**## UnitIVJournal.docx**
Unit IV Journal
There are three parts to this journal. First, you will identify the most prevalent hazard at your current or former job site and the type of hazard control that you have applied or that has been applied by others to reduce the risk of your identified hazard.
Next, explain in detail what that control is, and describe where and how it fits within the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, or PPE).
Finally, explain how successful or unsuccessful it is at eliminating or reducing your risk while performing the job. Give one recommendation for an additional control that could be added (anywhere within the hierarchy of control) that would further reduce risk.
Your journal submission must be at least 500 words in length. No outside sources or APA Style is required.
**## UnitIV.pdf**
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
2. Identify occupational hazards commonly encountered in industry.
2.1 Discuss the principles of machine guarding.
3. Apply hazard identification and analysis techniques to workplace scenarios.
3.1 Use the hierarchy of controls concept to select appropriate hazard control strategies.
3.2 Explain the purpose and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 9: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 13: Machine Safeguarding
Unit Lesson
Unit III introduced the process of completing a job hazard analysis (JHA). The unit content described how a
JHA can be applied to identify the distinct types of hazards that a job scenario may present. Hazards with an
unacceptable level of risk must be mitigated with the application of hazard controls. These controls are
applied using a methodology commonly referred to as the hierarchy of controls. In this unit, the concept of
hazard controls and the application of the hierarchy of controls will be discussed in detail.
When applying the hierarchy of controls methodology, the first steps employed are elimination, then
substitution, as shown below. Initial attempts are made to eliminate workplace hazards or to substitute
another process, material, or chemical to reduce the risk of the hazard.
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Hazard Controls
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 2
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
If this is not possible, the methodology continues with a requirement to assess the hazard using engineering
controls to engineer out the hazard. This puts a physical, mechanical, or other method in place to isolate the
hazard, removing the employee’s exposure to it.
If this is ineffective or cannot be done, administrative controls are applied next. This is an attempt to manage
the employee’s exposure to the hazard through procedures and various communication methods such as
posting caution signs.
If all other methods are not possible or fail to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the last step in the
methodology is to apply personal protective equipment (PPE).
Once a hazard with an unacceptable level of risk has been identified, the process of identifying acceptable
controls can begin. The first step in defining the controls that should be applied is reviewing critical
information related to the process and equipment involved. This could include the Occupational Safety Health
Administration (OSHA) standards, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications, company-specific
safety and health requirements, and site-specific operating procedures. This information will provide a
baseline for the minimum level of controls that will be necessary to ensure compliance with both internal and
external requirements. This is a critical step; control methods must be, at a minimum, compliant with internal
and external standards.
For example, when attempting to apply controls to specific equipment such as a mechanical power press,
OSHA has standards under OSHA Laws and Regulations, 29 CFR § 1910.217 (1975) for mechanical power
presses, which list specific requirements. Any hazard control methodology must at least meet these minimum
requirements. In addition, the manufacturer of the mechanical power press will likely outline mandatory safety
and health requirements—such as guarding, operator training, and PPE—and provide them with the
The hierarchy of controls, represented by the above graphic, is used to determine
effective, feasible means for controlling or eliminating employee exposure to job hazards.
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 3
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
equipment. These requirements must be included in the control methodology as well. Finally, the organization
is likely to have its own safety and health requirements, either at an organizational or site-specific level, which
must also be addressed to maintain consistency. Non-mandatory information including industry consensus
standards, publications from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
information from professional organizations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) can
be used to identify additional options for controls.
The next step should be to discuss the hazard and the control options identified as part of the first step with
the employees performing the job. The employees will be able to provide input concerning whether or not the
required controls are currently in place and, if they are, whether or not they are effective. If these controls are
determined to be missing, they must be put into place immediately to ensure compliance with the internal and
external requirements. The employees should also be included in discussions regarding the feasibility of any
additional non-mandatory controls. The critical question to answer is whether these controls allow employees
to perform their job efficiently with an acceptable level of risk. If, at the end of this step, the hazard still has not
been reduced to an acceptable level of risk, additional controls must be identified by applying the hierarchy
of controls.
Assuming that all required controls are in place and the non-mandatory controls have been applied to the
extent feasible, it is now time to identify controls specific to the job scenario in order to obtain an acceptable
level of risk. The first question that must always be asked is: can the hazard be eliminated? In most cases,
the answer is no unless the process, equipment, materials, or chemicals causing the hazard can be removed.
The next option is to substitute a less hazardous process, equipment, material, or chemical. In many
cases, this can be done with the procurement of new equipment or through a change in design specifications
that would permit the use of less hazardous materials. If these options are not feasible, the focus should
then shift to isolating the hazard and eliminating employee exposure. This can include application of
engineering controls.
Employees performing jobs requiring hazard
controls are an excellent source of information
concerning whether controls are in place as
well as how effective any controls may be in
mitigating or eliminating hazards.
(Ahsan2018)
(Rossignol, 2017)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 4
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Click on each of the following links to see the images and access more information on each indicated topic
(these are also linked in the unit resource section).
• Type “A” Gate Operation—animated example of a mechanical interlock for which the guard is
interlocked to the press so that they operate in unison.
• “Two-Hand Trips”—an example of remote operating controls for which both hands must be used to
press two buttons, thereby ensuring that the employees’ hands are out of danger.
• Fixed Barrier Guard on a Power Press—animated example of applying physical barriers such as
guards.
• “What Can Be Done to Reduce the Hazard From Noise?”—discussion of controls and physical
methods to reduce noise.
If isolating the hazard through physical changes is not feasible, the next method is isolating the employee
from the hazard. This can be accomplished by reducing exposure through administrative controls.
The main difference between engineering and administrative controls is that engineering controls do not
rely on human performance to be effective, while administrative controls do. Administrative controls isolate
the employee from the hazard through standard operating procedures and signage in the workplace, both
of which must be followed by the employees to be effective. This requires that employees are properly
trained, can remember, and will always adhere to the requirements outlined in the procedures. Because
of this, administrative controls introduce
a higher likelihood of failure than
engineering controls.
If the level of risk is still unacceptable after
considering elimination and substitution
and applying engineering and
administrative controls, PPE should be
applied. PPE is the least desired control
method—through its application, it
indicates acceptance of the fact the
employees are being exposed to the
hazard, indicating that the hazard could not
be isolated.
For PPE to be effective, it must be the
appropriate type and be used correctly by
the employee. It is important to note that, in
most cases, more than one type of control
will be required to reach an acceptable
level of risk. In some cases, a combination
of engineering and administrative controls
can be applied, and PPE may still be
required in order to reduce the risk hazard.
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) is the
least effective control—
for example, these
safety glasses covered
in dust indicate that the
employees wearing
them were exposed to
the dust. Ideally, the
dust (hazard) should be
isolated before it
contacts and potentially
harms employees.
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 5
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
An example of this would be
implementation of a combination of
controls to reduce the risk of health
hazards from exposure to welding
fumes. It is possible that even after
substituting a less hazardous type of
welding material and applying
localized exhaust ventilation as
engineering controls, an
administrative control to reduce
exposure in the form of limiting how
long the employee can weld may
need to be applied. In addition,
PPE in the form of a respirator might
be needed.
When applying several types of
controls, you need to focus not only
on reducing the level of risk to the
employees performing the job, but
also on striving to ensure that a new
risk is not introduced for them or other
employees. An example of this would
be if the localized exhaust ventilation
applied in the welding example above vented the contaminated air into another environment where
employees were working, thereby exposing the other employees to the health hazards posed by that air.
Once controls are identified, a plan for implementation must be developed. The controls should be prioritized
based on the hazards they are addressing and the level of risk reduction that they offer, with the hazards
posing the highest risk getting priority. A schedule should be developed that allocates resources, assigns
responsibility, and sets a date for implementation. As mentioned previously, all mandatory controls must be
implemented immediately, along with those that would address any significant or serous risks.
After implementation, follow-up actions should be taken to ensure that the identified controls have been
implemented and are effective. For example, put preventative maintenance procedures into place for all
engineering controls in order to periodically test them and perform inspections. If they are controlling a health-
based risk, perform routine exposure assessments under the guidance of an industrial hygienist to ensure
that they are effectively reducing the risk. Assess training programs at some frequency to ensure that they are
up to date and contain the correct content for the established administrative controls. Conduct behavior-based
observations and field audits to determine the effectiveness of the training and to verify that the administrative
controls are being followed.
This unit addressed the process for recommending controls for workplace hazards. It explained the
importance of applying the controls required by internal and external standards as well as those required by
the OEM. The hierarchy of controls methodology was introduced, discussing the limitations that exist with the
lower levels, specifically administrative controls and PPE. An example of how numerous controls are often
used concurrently was provided using a job scenario that involved welding. It was also stressed that
recommended controls cannot introduce a new hazard. The critical nature of following up with controls in
order to ensure their effectiveness was discussed.
A combination of controls may sometimes be needed in order to
reduce health risks posed by exposure to weld fumes.
(Wright, 2016)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 6
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
References
Ahsan, S. (2018, July 6). Industry work [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/LymIqp2n7GQ
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (n.d.). Hierarchy of controls [Graphic]. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/images/HierarchyControls.jpg
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970). Occupational safety and health standards: Machinery
and machine guarding: Mechanical power presses (OSHA Standard No. 1910.217). United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.217
Rossignol, M. (2017, May 24). Working on car lock [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/hPu4m_Q4zKE
Wright, P. (2016, June 24). Two welders at work [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/n1RJ7pXgGTE
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Read pp. 20–23 in the following article.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Recommended practices for safety and health
programs (OSHA Report No. 3885).
https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf
The following four images are also listed in the unit lesson. They all come from OSHA’s Machine Guarding
eTool resources.
Review only the animated images on the following two webpages.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Type “A” gate operation [Animation]. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Fixed barrier guard on a power press [Animation].
United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-
guards
Review the image and explanation on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Two-hand trips. United States Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/presses/twohandtrips.html
Review the image labeled “Example of Engineering Controls” and the paragraph that begins “Engineering
controls” on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). What can be done to reduce the hazard from noise?
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html
ClickView Pty Limited (Producer). (2010). Take action in the workplace (Segment 4 of 7) [Video]. In
Workplace health and safety. Films on Demand.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla
ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283
For a transcript of this segment, click the Transcript link next to the video in the Films on Demand database.
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
[https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283](https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 7
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
OSHA has provided a consolidated page with relevant information on machine guarding, including links to
Standards, Hazard Recognition, Possible Solutions, and Additional Resources. It is recommended that you
review the information to see an example of what OSHA requires and what they recommend as best practice.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Machine guarding: Overview. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/
Some of the sections of OSHA’s Machine Guarding eTool site are listed in the Unit IV Required Unit
Resources, but reviewing the rest of the site will provide you with a wealth of information about machine
guarding as well as various types of saws, presses, and plastics machinery.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2014). Machine guarding etool. United States Department of
Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Review OSHA’s webpage, Occupational Noise Exposure: Exposure & Controls.
After reviewing the OSHA information, prepare a one-page summary describing how engineering and
administrative controls can be used to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Include the benefits,
limitations, and drawbacks of each type of control in your summary.
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html)
– Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
– Required Unit Resources
– Unit Lesson
– References
– Suggested Unit Resources
– Learning Activities (Nongraded)
**## UnitIVJournal.docx**
Unit IV Journal
There are three parts to this journal. First, you will identify the most prevalent hazard at your current or former job site and the type of hazard control that you have applied or that has been applied by others to reduce the risk of your identified hazard.
Next, explain in detail what that control is, and describe where and how it fits within the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, or PPE).
Finally, explain how successful or unsuccessful it is at eliminating or reducing your risk while performing the job. Give one recommendation for an additional control that could be added (anywhere within the hierarchy of control) that would further reduce risk.
Your journal submission must be at least 500 words in length. No outside sources or APA Style is required.
**## UnitIV.pdf**
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
2. Identify occupational hazards commonly encountered in industry.
2.1 Discuss the principles of machine guarding.
3. Apply hazard identification and analysis techniques to workplace scenarios.
3.1 Use the hierarchy of controls concept to select appropriate hazard control strategies.
3.2 Explain the purpose and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 9: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 13: Machine Safeguarding
Unit Lesson
Unit III introduced the process of completing a job hazard analysis (JHA). The unit content described how a
JHA can be applied to identify the distinct types of hazards that a job scenario may present. Hazards with an
unacceptable level of risk must be mitigated with the application of hazard controls. These controls are
applied using a methodology commonly referred to as the hierarchy of controls. In this unit, the concept of
hazard controls and the application of the hierarchy of controls will be discussed in detail.
When applying the hierarchy of controls methodology, the first steps employed are elimination, then
substitution, as shown below. Initial attempts are made to eliminate workplace hazards or to substitute
another process, material, or chemical to reduce the risk of the hazard.
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Hazard Controls
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 2
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
If this is not possible, the methodology continues with a requirement to assess the hazard using engineering
controls to engineer out the hazard. This puts a physical, mechanical, or other method in place to isolate the
hazard, removing the employee’s exposure to it.
If this is ineffective or cannot be done, administrative controls are applied next. This is an attempt to manage
the employee’s exposure to the hazard through procedures and various communication methods such as
posting caution signs.
If all other methods are not possible or fail to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the last step in the
methodology is to apply personal protective equipment (PPE).
Once a hazard with an unacceptable level of risk has been identified, the process of identifying acceptable
controls can begin. The first step in defining the controls that should be applied is reviewing critical
information related to the process and equipment involved. This could include the Occupational Safety Health
Administration (OSHA) standards, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications, company-specific
safety and health requirements, and site-specific operating procedures. This information will provide a
baseline for the minimum level of controls that will be necessary to ensure compliance with both internal and
external requirements. This is a critical step; control methods must be, at a minimum, compliant with internal
and external standards.
For example, when attempting to apply controls to specific equipment such as a mechanical power press,
OSHA has standards under OSHA Laws and Regulations, 29 CFR § 1910.217 (1975) for mechanical power
presses, which list specific requirements. Any hazard control methodology must at least meet these minimum
requirements. In addition, the manufacturer of the mechanical power press will likely outline mandatory safety
and health requirements—such as guarding, operator training, and PPE—and provide them with the
The hierarchy of controls, represented by the above graphic, is used to determine
effective, feasible means for controlling or eliminating employee exposure to job hazards.
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 3
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
equipment. These requirements must be included in the control methodology as well. Finally, the organization
is likely to have its own safety and health requirements, either at an organizational or site-specific level, which
must also be addressed to maintain consistency. Non-mandatory information including industry consensus
standards, publications from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
information from professional organizations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) can
be used to identify additional options for controls.
The next step should be to discuss the hazard and the control options identified as part of the first step with
the employees performing the job. The employees will be able to provide input concerning whether or not the
required controls are currently in place and, if they are, whether or not they are effective. If these controls are
determined to be missing, they must be put into place immediately to ensure compliance with the internal and
external requirements. The employees should also be included in discussions regarding the feasibility of any
additional non-mandatory controls. The critical question to answer is whether these controls allow employees
to perform their job efficiently with an acceptable level of risk. If, at the end of this step, the hazard still has not
been reduced to an acceptable level of risk, additional controls must be identified by applying the hierarchy
of controls.
Assuming that all required controls are in place and the non-mandatory controls have been applied to the
extent feasible, it is now time to identify controls specific to the job scenario in order to obtain an acceptable
level of risk. The first question that must always be asked is: can the hazard be eliminated? In most cases,
the answer is no unless the process, equipment, materials, or chemicals causing the hazard can be removed.
The next option is to substitute a less hazardous process, equipment, material, or chemical. In many
cases, this can be done with the procurement of new equipment or through a change in design specifications
that would permit the use of less hazardous materials. If these options are not feasible, the focus should
then shift to isolating the hazard and eliminating employee exposure. This can include application of
engineering controls.
Employees performing jobs requiring hazard
controls are an excellent source of information
concerning whether controls are in place as
well as how effective any controls may be in
mitigating or eliminating hazards.
(Ahsan2018)
(Rossignol, 2017)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 4
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Click on each of the following links to see the images and access more information on each indicated topic
(these are also linked in the unit resource section).
• Type “A” Gate Operation—animated example of a mechanical interlock for which the guard is
interlocked to the press so that they operate in unison.
• “Two-Hand Trips”—an example of remote operating controls for which both hands must be used to
press two buttons, thereby ensuring that the employees’ hands are out of danger.
• Fixed Barrier Guard on a Power Press—animated example of applying physical barriers such as
guards.
• “What Can Be Done to Reduce the Hazard From Noise?”—discussion of controls and physical
methods to reduce noise.
If isolating the hazard through physical changes is not feasible, the next method is isolating the employee
from the hazard. This can be accomplished by reducing exposure through administrative controls.
The main difference between engineering and administrative controls is that engineering controls do not
rely on human performance to be effective, while administrative controls do. Administrative controls isolate
the employee from the hazard through standard operating procedures and signage in the workplace, both
of which must be followed by the employees to be effective. This requires that employees are properly
trained, can remember, and will always adhere to the requirements outlined in the procedures. Because
of this, administrative controls introduce
a higher likelihood of failure than
engineering controls.
If the level of risk is still unacceptable after
considering elimination and substitution
and applying engineering and
administrative controls, PPE should be
applied. PPE is the least desired control
method—through its application, it
indicates acceptance of the fact the
employees are being exposed to the
hazard, indicating that the hazard could not
be isolated.
For PPE to be effective, it must be the
appropriate type and be used correctly by
the employee. It is important to note that, in
most cases, more than one type of control
will be required to reach an acceptable
level of risk. In some cases, a combination
of engineering and administrative controls
can be applied, and PPE may still be
required in order to reduce the risk hazard.
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) is the
least effective control—
for example, these
safety glasses covered
in dust indicate that the
employees wearing
them were exposed to
the dust. Ideally, the
dust (hazard) should be
isolated before it
contacts and potentially
harms employees.
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 5
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An example of this would be
implementation of a combination of
controls to reduce the risk of health
hazards from exposure to welding
fumes. It is possible that even after
substituting a less hazardous type of
welding material and applying
localized exhaust ventilation as
engineering controls, an
administrative control to reduce
exposure in the form of limiting how
long the employee can weld may
need to be applied. In addition,
PPE in the form of a respirator might
be needed.
When applying several types of
controls, you need to focus not only
on reducing the level of risk to the
employees performing the job, but
also on striving to ensure that a new
risk is not introduced for them or other
employees. An example of this would
be if the localized exhaust ventilation
applied in the welding example above vented the contaminated air into another environment where
employees were working, thereby exposing the other employees to the health hazards posed by that air.
Once controls are identified, a plan for implementation must be developed. The controls should be prioritized
based on the hazards they are addressing and the level of risk reduction that they offer, with the hazards
posing the highest risk getting priority. A schedule should be developed that allocates resources, assigns
responsibility, and sets a date for implementation. As mentioned previously, all mandatory controls must be
implemented immediately, along with those that would address any significant or serous risks.
After implementation, follow-up actions should be taken to ensure that the identified controls have been
implemented and are effective. For example, put preventative maintenance procedures into place for all
engineering controls in order to periodically test them and perform inspections. If they are controlling a health-
based risk, perform routine exposure assessments under the guidance of an industrial hygienist to ensure
that they are effectively reducing the risk. Assess training programs at some frequency to ensure that they are
up to date and contain the correct content for the established administrative controls. Conduct behavior-based
observations and field audits to determine the effectiveness of the training and to verify that the administrative
controls are being followed.
This unit addressed the process for recommending controls for workplace hazards. It explained the
importance of applying the controls required by internal and external standards as well as those required by
the OEM. The hierarchy of controls methodology was introduced, discussing the limitations that exist with the
lower levels, specifically administrative controls and PPE. An example of how numerous controls are often
used concurrently was provided using a job scenario that involved welding. It was also stressed that
recommended controls cannot introduce a new hazard. The critical nature of following up with controls in
order to ensure their effectiveness was discussed.
A combination of controls may sometimes be needed in order to
reduce health risks posed by exposure to weld fumes.
(Wright, 2016)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 6
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Title
References
Ahsan, S. (2018, July 6). Industry work [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/LymIqp2n7GQ
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (n.d.). Hierarchy of controls [Graphic]. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/images/HierarchyControls.jpg
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970). Occupational safety and health standards: Machinery
and machine guarding: Mechanical power presses (OSHA Standard No. 1910.217). United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.217
Rossignol, M. (2017, May 24). Working on car lock [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/hPu4m_Q4zKE
Wright, P. (2016, June 24). Two welders at work [Photograph]. Unsplash.
https://unsplash.com/photos/n1RJ7pXgGTE
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Read pp. 20–23 in the following article.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Recommended practices for safety and health
programs (OSHA Report No. 3885).
https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf
The following four images are also listed in the unit lesson. They all come from OSHA’s Machine Guarding
eTool resources.
Review only the animated images on the following two webpages.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Type “A” gate operation [Animation]. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Fixed barrier guard on a power press [Animation].
United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-
guards
Review the image and explanation on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Two-hand trips. United States Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/presses/twohandtrips.html
Review the image labeled “Example of Engineering Controls” and the paragraph that begins “Engineering
controls” on the following webpage.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). What can be done to reduce the hazard from noise?
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html
ClickView Pty Limited (Producer). (2010). Take action in the workplace (Segment 4 of 7) [Video]. In
Workplace health and safety. Films on Demand.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPla
ylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283
For a transcript of this segment, click the Transcript link next to the video in the Films on Demand database.
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/docs/OSHA_SHP_Recommended_Practices.pdf)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/a-b-gates)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/barrier-guards)
[https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips](https://www.osha.gov/etools/machine-guarding/presses/two-hand-trips)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/reduce_noise.html)
[https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283](https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=129322&loid=459283)
OSH 2301, Introduction to Workplace Safety 7
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OSHA has provided a consolidated page with relevant information on machine guarding, including links to
Standards, Hazard Recognition, Possible Solutions, and Additional Resources. It is recommended that you
review the information to see an example of what OSHA requires and what they recommend as best practice.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Machine guarding: Overview. United States
Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/
Some of the sections of OSHA’s Machine Guarding eTool site are listed in the Unit IV Required Unit
Resources, but reviewing the rest of the site will provide you with a wealth of information about machine
guarding as well as various types of saws, presses, and plastics machinery.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2014). Machine guarding etool. United States Department of
Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Review OSHA’s webpage, Occupational Noise Exposure: Exposure & Controls.
After reviewing the OSHA information, prepare a one-page summary describing how engineering and
administrative controls can be used to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Include the benefits,
limitations, and drawbacks of each type of control in your summary.
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html)
[https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/evaluation.html)
– Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
– Required Unit Resources
– Unit Lesson
– References
– Suggested Unit Resources
– Learning Activities (Nongraded)