Question

Explain why to control a hazard at the source than with a PPE; with an example

Answer 1

The PPE (Personal protective equipment) is the least effective way of controlling the hazard because if your equipment fails then the workers will be exposed to the hazards. PPE includes the eye protection, hearing protection, protective clothing and protective gloves. The reason why it is said ineffective because it cannot help in get rid of the hazards. Rather, they provide the protection from the hazards and might reduce the exposure, but the hazards still remains.

Example – the gloves with the metal mesh are the best way to protect the workers from the knife cuts, but the exposure of hazard from the sharpen knives is still present.

Engineering controls

The hazards should be always controlled at the source because it is one of the best strategies to control the hazards. The engineering controls focus on the workers that are exposed to the hazard. The concept behind the engineering controls is that the environment of work and job itself should be designed for the elimination of the hazards and to reduce the exposure of the hazards.