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You must always aim to eliminate the risk, which is the most effective control. If this is not reasonably practicable, you must minimise the risk by working through the other alternatives in the hierarchy. The lower levels in the hierarchy are less effective because controls that change the hazard or minimise exposure to the hazard can only minimise the risk. You cannot eliminate the risk without eliminating the hazard. Administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) are the least effective at minimising risk because they do not control the hazard at the source and rely on human behaviour and supervision. These control measures should only be used: to supplement higher level control measures (as a back-up) as a short-term interim measure until a more effective way of controlling the risk can be used, or when there are no other practical control measures available (as a last resort). Elimination The most effective control measure involves eliminating the hazard and associated risk. The best way to do this is by, firstly, not introducing the hazard into the workplace. For example, you can eliminate the risk of a fall from height by doing the work at ground level. Eliminating hazards is often cheaper and more practical to achieve at the design or planning stage of a product, process or place used for work. In these early phases, there is greater scope to design out hazards or incorporate risk control measures that are compatible with the original design and functional requirements. For example, not using a noisy machine will be more effective than providing workers with personal hearing protectors. You can also eliminate risks by removing an existing hazard, for example, by removing trip hazards on the floor, disposing of unwanted chemicals, or not working in an isolated or remote area. It may not be reasonably practicable to eliminate a hazard if doing so means that you cannot make the end product or deliver the service. If you cannot eliminate the hazard, then you must minimise as many of the risks associated with the hazard as reasonably practicable. Substitution, isolation and engineering controls If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the hazards and associated risks, you must minimise the risks using one or more of the following approaches, so far as is reasonably practicable. Substitute the hazard with something safer For instance, replace solvent-based paints with water-based ones or allow workers to have more control of line speed instead of pacing line work by computer. Isolate the hazard from people This involves physically separating the source of harm from people by distance or using barriers. For instance, install guardrails around exposed edges and holes in floors; use remote control systems to operate machinery; store chemicals in a fume cabinet; place barriers between workers and customers where there is a risk of assault. Use engineering controls An engineering control is a control measure that is physical in nature, including a mechanical device or process. For instance, use mechanical devices such as trolleys or hoists to move heavy loads; place guards around moving parts of machinery; install residual current devices (electrical safety switches); set work rates on a production line to reduce fatigue; install sound dampening measures to reduce exposure to unpleasant or hazardous noise. Administrative controls If risks remain, they must be minimised by implementing administrative controls, so far as is reasonably practicable. Administrative controls include work methods or procedures that are designed to minimise exposure to a hazard as well as the information, training and instruction needed to ensure workers can work safely. For instance, develop procedures on how to operate machinery safely, provide training and support to managers and workers to identify and manage health and safety risks, implement anti-bullying policies, limit exposure time to a hazardous task, and/or use signs to warn people of a hazard. Some administrative measures will be necessary to ensure substitution, isolation and engineering controls are implemented effectively, for example, following safe work procedures when using equipment. See section 4.2 below for information on implementing control measures. Personal protective equipment Any remaining risks must be minimised with suitable PPE. Examples of PPE include ear muffs, respirators, face masks, hard hats, gloves, aprons and protective eyewear. PPE limits exposure to the harmful effects of a hazard but only if workers wear and use the PPE correctly. WHS Regulation 44 Provision to workers and use of personal protective equipment If PPE is to be used at the workplace, you must ensure the equipment is: selected to minimise risk to health and safety, including by ensuring that the equipment is suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work and is of suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the worker who is to use or wear it maintained, repaired and replaced so that is continues to minimise risk to the worker who uses it, including by ensuring that the equipment is clean and hygienic, and in good working order. If you direct the carrying out of work, you must provide the worker with information, training and instruction in the proper use and wearing of PPE, and the storage and maintenance of PPE. A worker must, so far as reasonably able, use or wear the PPE in accordance with any information, training or reasonable instruction and must not intentionally misuse or damage the equipment. How to develop and implement control options Information about suitable controls for many common hazards and risks can be obtained from: codes of practice and guidance material manufacturers and suppliers of plant, substances and equipment used in your workplace, or industry associations and unions. In some cases, published information will provide guidance on the whole work process. In other cases, the guidance may relate to individual items of plant or how to safely use specific substances. You may use the recommended control options if they suit your situation and eliminate or minimise the risk. Developing specific control measures You may need to develop specific control measures if the available information is not relevant to the hazards and risks or circumstances at your workplace. This can be done by referring to the chain of events that were recorded during the risk assessment. For each of the events in the sequence, ask: ‘What can be done to stop or change the event occurring?’ An example of this approach is shown in Appendix C. Working through the events in the sequence will give you ideas about possible ways to eliminate or minimise the risk. There may be more than one solution for each of the events. The control option you choose should be: one or more controls that provide the highest level of protection for people and is the most reliable—that is, controls located towards the top of the hierarchy in Figure 2 available—that is, it can be purchased, made to suit or be put in place, and suitable for the circumstance in your workplace—that is, it will work properly given the workplace conditions, work process and your workers. Where the hazard or risk has the potential to cause death, serious injury or illness, more emphasis should be given to those controls that eliminate or reduce the level of harm, than those that reduce the likelihood of harm occurring. Make sure that your chosen solution does not introduce new hazards. If this is not possible, any new hazards or risks introduced will also need to be managed. You may prepare a risk register that identifies the hazards, what action needs to be taken, who will be responsible for taking the action and by when. An example is provided at Appendix D. Cost of control measures All risks can be controlled and it is always possible to do something, such as stopping the activity or providing instructions to those exposed to the risk. There will normally be a number of different options between these two extremes. Cost (in terms of time and effort as well as money) is just one factor to consider when determining the best control option. The cost of controlling risk may be taken into account in determining what is reasonably practicable, but cannot be used as a reason for doing nothing. The greater the likelihood of harm occurring or the greater the extent of that harm, the less weight should be given to the cost of controlling the hazard or risk. If two control measures provide the same level of protection and are equally reliable, you can adopt the less expensive option. Cost cannot be used as a reason for adopting controls that rely exclusively on changing people’s behaviour or actions when there are more effective controls available that can change the risk through substitution, engineering or isolation. For further information, see the Interpretive Guideline: The meaning of ‘reasonably practicable’. Implementing controls The control measures you put into operation will usually require changes to the way work is carried out, for example, working with new or modified equipment or processes, new or different chemicals or new personal protective equipment. In these situations, it is necessary to support the control measures with the following. Work procedures Develop a safe work procedure that describes the task, identifies the hazards and documents how the task is to be performed to minimise the risks.