Managing risks on a construction site is an important part of keeping your workers safe in a dangerous environment. Not to mention, these measures also help to protect the local community and surrounding environment.
Following the hierarchy of control is an important approach for implementing effective risk control measures on site. Here’s how it works.
What is the hierarchy of control?
The hierarchy of control is a system used to minimise or eliminate exposure to hazards. It’s a fundamental principle in occupational health and safety management.
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must apply the hierarchy of risk control, starting with trying to eliminate the risk first. Under the work health and safety (WHS) Regulations, a PCBU must take active steps to control risks in a certain order (known as the hierarchy of control measures).
The hierarchy of control is typically represented as an upside-down pyramid, with the most effective control measures at the top and the least effective at the bottom. The aim is to start with the most effective control measures and work your way down the pyramid, applying the least effective measures last. A single control measure typically isn’t enough to minimise exposure to potential risks on site, so you’ll often find you need to apply several different control measures to provide adequate protection.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the different levels from Most Effective to Least Effective:.
Elimination
Elimination aims to completely remove the hazard from the workplace. Eliminating the risk entirely is the most effective control measure. In most cases, it’s not possible to eliminate the risk completely, which is where the following control measures come into play.
Substitution
Substitution involves replacing the hazard with a less hazardous one. For example, using a less toxic chemical in place of a more dangerous one. Alternatively, you may choose to substitute a quieter piece of equipment to help reduce hazardous noise on site.
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls aim to isolate people from the hazard using physical means. Common examples include cutting stations, ventilation systems and noise barriers.
Once substitution and engineering controls have been implemented, you should aim to reduce the risk further by using administrative controls.
Administrative Controls
Administrative controls change the way people work. This includes implementing policies, procedures, training and scheduling to reduce exposure to hazards.
From here, it’s important to ensure workers have the right PPE to control the impact of any remaining risks.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Provide personal protective equipment to workers to reduce exposure to hazards. PPE is the least effective control measure because it relies on proper usage by individuals.
These control measures should be applied in sequence, starting with the most effective. If a hazard can’t be eliminated, then substitution should be considered, followed by engineering controls, administrative controls, and, lastly, PPE. In many cases, the best form of action is to implement a combination of different control measures to minimise risk on site.
Hierarchy of control examples
With so many different types of control measures that can be used to reduce exposure to risks on construction sites, we’ve pulled together a few examples of common control measures.
| Elimination | – Design the construction project to avoid hazardous tasks altogether. For example, prefabricate components off-site to reduce the need to work at heights. – Remove trip hazards from the site entirely, including unnecessary materials or equipment. |
| Substitution | – Use non-toxic paints and solvents instead of more hazardous chemicals. – Replace manual lifting tasks with mechanical lifting devices like cranes or forklifts. |
| Engineering | – Install guardrails or edge protection to prevent falls from heights. – Use portable cutting stations to protect workers from dust and noise. – Implement ventilation systems to remove dust and fumes from enclosed spaces. |
| Administration | – Develop and enforce safe work procedures, such as proper lifting techniques and confined space entry procedures. – Schedule high-risk tasks, like work in extreme temperatures, during safer times of the day. – Provide training and supervision to ensure workers understand and follow safety procedures. – Rotate workers to limit exposure to repetitive tasks and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. |
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) | – Provide appropriate PPE such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, high-visibility clothing and hearing protection. – Ensure workers use fall arrest systems when working at heights. – Supply respiratory protection for tasks that generate dust or fumes. |
Steps for managing risks
When it comes to managing WHS risks, Safe Work Australia has outlined a step-by-step approach that should be taken, including:
- Identify hazards,
- Assess risks,
- Control risks, and
- Review control measures.
Consulting with workers and their health and safety representatives at each step of the process is essential. Construction workers are at the coalface and have knowledge, experience and ideas that can help you effectively manage WHS risks on-site.
Step 1: Identify hazards
The first step in the risk management process is to identify potential hazards. Hazards are things and situations that could harm a person. With this in mind, you’ll need to identify what could cause harm on your construction site.
Step 2: Assess risks
Once you’ve identified potential hazards, you’ll need to complete a risk assessment. A risk assessment involves looking at what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of it happening.
Assessing risks can help you to understand:
- The severity posed by a risk,
- Whether or not your control measures are effective,
- What action you should take to control the risk, and
- How urgently you’ll need to take action.
In some cases, you might not need to complete a risk assessment if the hazards, risks and control measures are well-known.
Step 3: Control risks
Next, you’ll need to control the risks. This is where the hierarchy of control comes into play. Complete elimination is the best way to manage risks. Where this isn’t possible, the next step is to minimise risks so far as reasonably practicable. Follow the control measures from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest.
Step 4: Review control measures
Lastly, review your control measures to make sure they work as planned. You can monitor and review your controls by completing:
- Physical workplace inspections,
- Testing,
- Exposure assessments,
- Injury and illness tracking,
- Medical assessments,
- Accident/incident investigation reports, and
- Employee feedback and input.
Control Hire is Australia’s one-stop shop for all your construction site hazard equipment needs. Explore our range of leading dust, noise, fume and ventilation control solutions for your next construction project.