OHS practices - Work environment

Prevention and control

OHS protects employees from workplace hazards. Most workplace accidents and injuries are preventable. They can be prevented by using the following principles.

Eliminate the hazard

This is the ideal solution and can be achieved eg by:

• removal of a hazardous chemical from a process
• removal of a noisy machine from where people are doing quiet work.

Substitute the hazard

Thought should be given to not using hazardous substances at all, but should this not be possible then less hazardous substances or practices should be adopted, such as:

• substitute cancer causing glues with less hazardous solvents
• vacuum clean instead of sweeping to reduce dust
• use lifting equipment instead of manual handling.

Control the hazard

If the hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted, the next best method is to control the hazard at its source, eg:

• engineering can be introduced such as guards
• local exhaust ventilation
• automation.

Note: Personal protective equipment should be viewed as a last resort and only considered while investigation of more appropriate controls is undertaken.