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

The hierarchy of controls is fundamental to workplace safety. It’s at the core of health, environment, and safety programs used by companies of all kinds, sizes, and industries. It is so popular because it works simply and effectively. It can be used to eliminate or minimize practically any kind of hazard which helps to save countless lives and incalculable sums of money.

The hierarchy of controls is an approach to workplace safety that structures protective measures into 5 stages. These are, from most effective to least effective:

  1. Elimination—physically remove the hazard
  2. Substitution—replace the hazard
  3. Engineering controls—isolate people from the hazard
  4. Administrative controls—change the way people work 
  5.  personal protective equipment (PPE)—protect the worker with PPE



  • Elimination—physically remove the hazard

The best way to improve safety in your workplace is to eliminate the hazard.

Eliminating hazards can be cheaper and more practical at the planning or design stage of a product, process, or workplace. There is more scope to design to eliminate hazards or to include risk control in this early stage.

Employers can also eliminate hazards and risks by removing the hazard completely. For example, Eliminate chemicals that may cause a dangerous respiratory problem or skin reaction. Sometimes, It may not be possible to eliminate a hazard, If it is not possible to eliminate the hazard, then you must eliminate as many of the risks associated with the hazard as possible. For example, you can eliminate the risk of a fall from height by doing the work at ground level.

  • Substitution—replace the hazard

If you’re unable to eliminate the hazard at its source, see if you can substitute it with a safer option. It means replacing the hazardous thing or way of operating with something else—something non-hazardous or less hazardous. Maybe you replace a piece of cutting equipment with one that has fewer exposed sharp edges, for instance or switch from a hazardous cleaning chemical to one that doesn’t produce toxic fumes.

For Example, Substitute a toxic chemical with a non-toxic solution (i.e., low-VOC paints).


  • Engineering controls—isolate people from the hazard

Engineering controls are the third highly effective stage of safety control that protect workers by physically separating employees from hazards, many organizations favor engineering controls to remove the hazard at the source, rather than after an employee comes into contact with a hazard. 

It’s important to note that engineering controls can sometimes be costly to implement, the initial cost of engineering controls can be higher than the cost of administrative controls or PPE, but over the longer term, operating costs are frequently lower, and in some instances, can provide cost savings in other areas of the process.

For Example, limiting exposure to hazardous chemicals via ventilation, using portable air conditioners to combat heat stress, and installing noise absorption panels to dampen high noise levels.


  • Administrative controls—change the way people work 

Administrative controls, or changes to the way employees work and perform particular processes, are the fourth stage of safety control. Administrative controls limit workers' exposures by scheduling shorter work times in contaminant areas or by implementing other rules, policies, and signage. Administrative controls are low-cost in nature, but not much effective because it does not eliminate exposures; they only reduce exposure time.


For example, Giving workers longer rest periods or shorter work shifts to reduce exposure time; Moving a hazardous work process to an area where fewer people will be exposed; Changing a work process to a shift when fewer people are working.


  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—protect the worker with PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective helmet clothing, goggles, or other equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, chemicals, electrical, heat, and biohazards. PPEs can include items such as:-

  • safety helmets
  • ear protection
  • high visibility clothing
  • safety footwear and safety harnesses
  • thermal, weather, and waterproof clothing
  • respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

The purpose of personal protective equipment is to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering controls and administrative controls are not feasible or effective to reduce these risks to acceptable levels. PPE has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at the source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails.


Consider various control options and choose the most effective controls that help to eliminate the hazard or, if elimination is not possible, minimize 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 protection.