What is hierarchy of control

Question

Accepted Answer

Hierarchy of control is a system used to prioritize safety measures to eliminate or reduce risks in the workplace.

Hierarchy of control involves eliminating hazards at the source, implementing engineering controls, utilizing administrative controls, and providing personal protective equipment.
The goal is to first eliminate the hazard if possible, then move down the hierarchy to lower levels of control.
For example, if there is a risk of falling from a height, the hierarchy of control would involve installing guardrails (engineering control) before implementing a policy requiring workers to wear safety harnesses (administrative control).