What Are the 5 Risk Control Measures? A Comprehensive Guide

What Are the 5 Risk Control Measures A Comprehensive Guide

Last Updated on September 9, 2022 by Ossian Muscad

Every organization faces different types of risks, which is why it’s important to have a plan in place for control measures. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a Hierarchy of Controls that can be used as a guide when formulating your control measures. This article will discuss the five risk control measures that should be included in every organization’s safety plan.

 

What are the 5 Risk Control Measures?

The 5 Risk Control Measures are a set of five control measures that should be included in every organization’s safety plan. They are:

  • Elimination
  • Substitution
  • Engineering Controls
  • Administrative Controls
  • PPE

 

Elimination is known as the most effective risk control measure. This control measure involves completely removing the hazard from the workplace. That way, workers will not be exposed to the hazard and will not be at risk for injury.

 

Substitution is the second most effective control measure, and it involves replacing the hazard with a safer, less dangerous alternative. For example, buying newer and updated equipment with better safety ratings than the one your workers are using now is considered a substitution.

 

Engineering controls refer to physically isolating people from the hazard if possible. This control measure is often used in combination with other control measures. For example, if you can’t eliminate or substitute the hazard, you might want to consider implementing engineering controls such as installing a ventilation system.

 

Administrative controls are control measures that involve changing the way people work to minimize exposure to the hazard. This control measure might involve changing work hours, implementing safety training, or providing workers with information about the hazard.

 

PPE, or personal protective equipment, is the last control measure on the list. This control measure should be used as a last resort when other control measures are not possible or have been ineffective. PPE includes items such as gloves, earplugs, safety glasses, and the like.

 

Keep in mind that control measures are not limited by this list. This is simply a guide to control measures that should be included in every organization’s safety plan. In addition, control measures will look different for every application or workplace.

 

Why Are the 5 Risk Control Measures Important?

The 5 risk control measures are important for various reasons. Here are some of them:

 

Effective Guides

They are a comprehensive guide to control measures used in any workplace. Since they are designed to control the risks associated with hazards in the workplace, they can be used as an effective guide to control measures.

 

Inclusiveness

The 5 risk control measures are inclusive of all types of control measures. That means they can be used in any workplace, regardless of the size or industry. However, it’s important to remember that control measures look different in every workplace.

 

Flexibility

Another reason why the 5 risk control measures are important is that they are flexible. They can be used in any workplace, and they can be customized to fit the specific needs of your workplace.

 

Safety

The 5 risk control measures are designed to protect workers from hazards in the workplace. Implementing these control measures can help reduce the risk of injury or death in the workplace. At the same time, you can also promote a workplace safety culture.

 

Productivity

In addition to promoting a safety culture, the 5 risk control measures can also help improve productivity in the workplace. By reducing the risk of injury, you can help workers stay healthy and productive.

 

Cost-Effectiveness

The 5 risk control measures can also help save money in the long run. Reducing the risk of injury can help reduce workers’ compensation costs and other costs associated with workplace accidents.

 

How To Implement the 5 Risk Control Measures

Now that you know the importance of the 5 risk control measures, you might wonder how to implement them in your workplace. Here are some tips:

 

Identify Hazards

The first step is to identify hazards in the workplace. You can do this by conducting a hazard assessment. Once you have identified the hazards, you can move on to the next step.

 

Assign Risk Ratings

The next step is to assign risk ratings to the hazards. This will help you determine which control measures need to be implemented.

 

List the 5 Risk Control Measures

Once you have identified the hazards and assigned risk ratings, you can start listing the 5 risk control measures. Again, this can be done by working through the hierarchy of controls.

 

Implement Control Measures

After identifying and listing the control measures, you can start implementing them in the workplace. For example, this might involve changing work hours, providing safety training, or implementing PPE.

 

Monitor and Evaluate

Finally, you need to monitor and evaluate the control measures. That way, you can determine whether or not they are effective. If they are ineffective, you might need to make changes or implement additional control measures.

 

Use DATAMYTE To Streamline Implementation of 5 Risk Control Measures

The most effective way to implement the 5 risk control measures is to create a streamlined and efficient workflow. DATAMYTE can help you do this by providing a software solution to streamline the implementation of control measures in your workplace.

The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a workflow automation software that lets you create workflows centered around control measures. You can create a workflow for each control measure and assign it to specific employees.

With the DataMyte Digital Clipboard, you’ll be able to implement the 5 risk control measures quickly and easily. Plus, with our easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, creating an entire workflow will be easy and convenient. Request a demo with us today to learn more about how we can help you streamline your control measure implementation process.

 

Conclusion

When it comes to control measures, it’s important to remember that no single control measure is 100% effective. That’s why it’s important to implement a combination of control measures to reduce the risk of injury in the workplace.

 

 

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