Principles of control
Learning outcomes
1. describe the general principles of control and a basic
hierarchy of risk reduction measures that encompass
technical, behavioural and procedural controls.
2. describe what factors should be considered when
developing and implementing a safe system of work.
3. explain the role and function of a permit-to-work
system
4 . explain the need for emergency procedures and the
arrangements for contacting emergency services
5. describe the requirements for, and effective provision
of, first aid in the workplace.
General control measures
 Avoidance
of
risks
by
elimination
or
substitution
 The best and most effective way of reducing risks
is by avoiding a hazard and its associated risks.
 Substitution describes the use of a less
hazardous form of a substance or process.
Reduced time exposure
This involves reducing the time during the
working day that the employee is exposed to the
hazard, by giving the employee either other work
or rest periods.
General control measures
 Isolation/Segregation
 Controlling risks by isolating them or
segregating people and the hazard is an effective
control measure and used in many instances.
Engineering controls
 This describes the control of risks by means of
engineering design rather than a reliance on
preventative actions by the employee. There are
several ways of achieving such controls:
1. Control the risks at the source
2. Control the risk of exposure
Proper control of gases and vapours in a laboratory.
General control measures
 Safe systems of work
 The development of safe operating procedures
should address the hazards that have been
identified in the risk assessment.
Training
 Training helps people acquire the skills,
knowledge and attitudes to make them
competent in the health and safety aspects of
their work.
1- specific safety training
2- planned training, such as general safety training
General control measures
 Information
 Organizations need to ensure that they have effective
arrangements for identifying and receiving relevant health
and safety information from outside the organization.
 Information to be provided for people in a workplace
include:
 who is at risk and why
 how to carry out specific tasks safely
 correct operation of equipment
emergency action
 accident and hazard reporting procedures
the safety responsibilities of individual people.
General control measures
 Safety signs
 All general health and safety signs used in the
workplace must include a pictorial symbol
categorized by shape, colour and graphic image.
 Personal protective equipment
 Personal protective equipment (PPE) should
only be used as a last resort.
The most important limitations are that PPE:
 only protects the person wearing the
equipment, not others nearby
General control measures
 relies on people wearing the equipment at all times
 must be used properly
 must be replaced when it no longer offers the
correct level of protection.
The benefits of PPE are:
 it gives immediate protection
 in an emergency it can be the only practicable way
of effecting rescue or shutting down plant in
hazardous atmospheres
 it can be used to carry out work in confined spaces
where alternatives are impracticable. But it should
never be used to allow people to work in dangerous
atmospheres
Examples of fire action signs.
Examples of first-aid signs
Color categories and shapes of signs
Fragile roof sign
General control measures
Examples of warning, mandatory and prohibition signs
General control measures
Toxic
Corrosive
Wet floor signs.
Examples of chemical warning signs
Fire exit
Examples of fire safety signs
General control measures
Smokefree – no-smoking sign.
LPG sign.
General control measures
Welfare
 Welfare facilities include general workplace
ventilation, lighting and heating and the provision of
drinking water, sanitation and washing facilities.
There is also a requirement to provide eating and
rest rooms. Risk control may be enhanced by the
provision of eye washing and shower facilities for use
after certain accidents.
 Monitoring and supervision
 All risk control measures must be monitored for their
effectiveness with supervision to ensure that they
have been applied correctly.
General control measures
 Competent people who have a sound knowledge of
the equipment or process should undertake
monitoring.
 Checklists are useful to ensure that no significant
factor is forgotten.
 Any statutory inspection or insurance company reports
should be checked to see whether any areas of
concern were highlighted and if any recommendations
were implemented.
 Details of any accidents, illnesses or other incidents
will give an indication on the effectiveness of the risk
control measures.
 Any emergency arrangements should be tested during
the monitoring phase including first-aid provision.
Emergency planning procedures
 Emergency procedures are about control procedures
and equipment to limit the damage to people and
property caused by an incident. Local fire and rescue
authorities will often be involved and are normally
prepared to give advice to employers.
Although fire is the most common emergency likely
to be faced, there are many other possibilities, which
should be considered including:
 gas explosion
 electrical burn or electrocution
 escape of toxic gases or fumes discovery of dangerous
dusts like asbestos in the atmosphere
Emergency planning procedures
 terrorist threat
aircraft crash if near a flight path
 spread of highly infectious disease
 severe weather with high winds and flooding.
Emergency services at work
Emergency planning procedures
 Supervisory duties
They should ensure that the following precautions are
taken:
 Everyone on site can be alerted to an emergency.
 Everyone on site knows what signal will be given for
an emergency and knows what to do.
 Someone who has been trained in what to do is on
site and ready to co-ordinate activities.
 Emergency routes are kept clear, signed and
adequately Lit.
Emergency planning procedures
There are arrangements for calling the fire and
rescue services and to give them special information
about high-hazard work, for example, in tunnels or
confined spaces.
 There is adequate access to the site for the
emergency services and this is always kept clear.
 Suitable arrangements for treating and recovering
injured people are set up.
 Someone is posted to the site entrance to receive
and direct the emergency services.
Emergency planning procedures
Assembly and roll call
 Assembly points should be established for use in the
event of evacuation.
 It should be at a position, preferably undercover, which
is unlikely to be affected at the time of emergency.
 In the case of small sites, a complete list of the names
of all staff should be maintained so that a roll call can be
made if evacuation becomes necessary.
 In those premises where the number of staff would
make a single roll call difficult, each area warden should
maintain a list of the names of employees and contractors
in their area.
First aid at work
 First aid at work (FAW) covers the arrangements
employers must make to ensure this happens. It can save
lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.
 The minimum first-aid provision on any work site is:
 a suitably stocked first-aid box
 an appointed person to take charge of first-aid
arrangements.
(Left) First-aid and stretcher sign; (Right) First-aid sign.
First aid at work
Impact on first-aid provision if risks are significant
First-aiders may need to be appointed if risks are
significant.
This will involve a number of factors which must be
considered, including:
 training for first aiders
 additional first-aid equipment and the contents of the
first-aid box;
siting of first-aid equipment to meet the various
demands in the premises.
 informing local medical services of the site and its risks
 any special arrangements that may be needed with the
local emergency services.
Contents of the first-aid box
First aid at work
Appointed persons
 An appointed person is someone who is appointed by
management to:
 take charge when someone is injured or falls ill. This
includes calling an ambulance if required
 look after the first-aid equipment, for example
keeping the first-aid box replenished
keeping records of treatment given.
Remember that an appointed person should be
available at all times when people are at work on site –
this may mean appointing more than one. The training
should be repeated every 3 years to keep up-to-date.
A first aider
 A first aider is someone who has undergone an HSE
approved training course in administering FAW and holds
a current FAW certificate.
 The training should be repeated every 3 years to maintain
a valid certificate and keep the first aider up-to-date.
 It is not possible to give hard and fast rules on when or
how many first aiders or appointed persons might be
needed. Employees must be informed of the first-aid
arrangements .
 Putting up notices telling staff who and where the first
aiders or appointed persons are and where the first-aid
box is will usually be enough.
 Special arrangements will be needed for employees with
reading or language difficulties.
Suggested numbers of first aiders to be available all the times at work