Every safety professional knows this upside-down pyramid. If you had a hard time reading my drawing then I’ve provided a better view below:
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Elimination
If we eliminate the hazard then no risk right? It’s not always easy to eliminate a hazard without consequences. Sometimes it’s impossible to eliminate which is where…
Substitution
Alright, so you went to your boss and asked to just eliminate the hazard.. but he says no. Now we have to substitute it with something less hazardous. Most times these will be chemicals, for example: Green Chemistry. Whoops, EPA wants to ban dichloromethane (DCM), well lets look at some other common solvents like ethyl acetate.
Engineering Controls
If you’ve worked in any laboratory, you’ve probably seen those funky setups with a window. Well that’s called a fume hood and sometimes they go by exposure control devices. Fume hoods job is to isolate YOU and the HAZARD. Simple solution, but they can be costly.
Administrative Controls
This one can be tricky, but it can be very effective. Examples are:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Trainings
- Work schedules
This can be one of the hardest to implement because most people do not like trainings and they don’t necessarily follow everything in the SOP.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The final defense! PPE comes in all sorts of flavors and sizes. We’ve got eyewear, clothing, helmets, shoes, and gloves.
If you work in a lab then most likely they’ll tell you to wear your safety glasses, lab coat, and gloves.
Make sure to wear lab appropriate clothing! Long pants, close toed shoes or steel tipped shoes depending on your environment.
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