Hierarchy of controls
A ranked order of measures for controlling hazards and risks, from most to least effective. Each jurisdiction's regulations endorse the hierarchy but may name the levels differently.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“hierarchy of controls”SharedThe Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (regulation 4 and Schedule 1) require employers to apply the general principles of prevention, which include avoiding risks, combating risks at source, adapting work to the individual, and giving collective protective measures priority over individual ones. COSHH 2002 (regulation 7) sets an explicit hierarchy for chemical exposure control: eliminate, substitute, enclose, ventilate, reduce exposure time, use personal protective equipment as a last resort.
Irish HSA
“hierarchy of controls”SharedThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 and the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 both set out hierarchies of control measures. The General Application Regulations implement the Framework Directive principles of prevention, which include avoiding risk, combating risk at source, and giving priority to collective measures.
US OSHA
“hierarchy of controls”SharedOSHA does not name a universal hierarchy of controls in a single general standard. The HazCom Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and specific substance standards such as 29 CFR 1910.1000 (Air Contaminants) require employers to use engineering and administrative controls before requiring personal protective equipment. The NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE) is widely endorsed in OSHA guidance but is not codified in a general regulation.
Practitioner note: Eliminate → Substitute → Engineer → Administer → PPE. PPE is always last resort. COSHH reg 7, MHSWR Schedule 1, and OSHA substance standards all embed this hierarchy.