The 5 categories to control hazard and risks are:
1. Elimination: This involves eliminating the hazard from the workplace completely, or reducing its potential to harm. This is the most effective way to control risk as it removes the hazard altogether. Examples of this include replacing hazardous materials with non-hazardous ones, using engineering controls such as isolators or guards to reduce exposure to hazards, or providing personal protective equipment (PPE).
2. Substitution: This involves replacing a hazardous material, process or activity with a less hazardous one. For example, replacing a hazardous chemical with a less hazardous one, or replacing a manual handling process with a mechanised one.
3. Engineering Controls: This involves controlling exposure to a hazard by using physical or engineering controls such as isolators, guards, enclosures, ventilation systems or machine guards.
4. Administrative Controls: This involves controlling exposure to a hazard by implementing administrative measures such as developing safe work procedures, providing training, or implementing a permit-to-work system.
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This involves using suitable protective clothing and equipment to protect personnel from hazards. Examples include gloves, eye protection, respirators, hearing protection and protective clothing. PPE should only be used as a last resort after other control measures have been considered.