Hazard Control Management
This domain tests systematic hazard control: finding hazards, assessing risk, choosing controls, and verifying that controls work. It covers inspections, job hazard analysis, incident investigation, and change management.
Core rules
- Apply the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE. Document why lower-order controls were chosen when higher ones are feasible.
- Use a risk matrix that combines likelihood and severity. Reassess after controls; residual risk must be acceptable.
- Conduct job hazard analysis (JHA) by breaking tasks into steps and identifying hazards and controls at each step.
- Investigate incidents and near misses to root causes, not just proximate acts. Use timelines, interviews, and barrier analysis.
- Control energy and confined spaces through lockout/tagout, permit-to-work, atmospheric testing, and rescue planning.
- Manage change: new equipment, processes, or chemicals require updated hazard assessment and training.
Worked example
Maintenance reports repeated wet floors near an autoclave. Adding a wet-floor sign is not enough. The investigation finds a failed steam trap. Replace or repair the trap, adjust drainage, inspect adjacent units, and verify with a follow-up inspection. The reasoning: signage is administrative and does not remove the hazard; engineering correction addresses the source.
Traps
- Jumping to PPE or signage and calling the hazard controlled.
- Stopping at "employee error" without asking why the system allowed the error.
- Failing to verify control effectiveness or update the JHA.
- Ignoring near misses because no injury occurred.