Administrative controls play a crucial role in chemical safety by helping to manage and reduce the risks associated with the handling, storage, and use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. As part of the Hierarchy of Control, administrative controls are an essential safety measure to help organisations reduce risk. While these admin controls can be suitable for all types of hazards, this post will be focused on how developing the right kind of administrative controls can bolster chemical safety in your business.
Administrative controls are an essential part of the Hierarchy of Control.
The Hierarchy offers a systematic way to control workplace hazards by providing 5 different tiers of controls, starting with the most effective and ending with the least effective.
Illustrated in an upside pyramid model, the Hierarchy involves the following steps:
Administrative controls are the fourth tier of the Hierarchy of Controls pyramid, falling after the implementation of engineering controls. Often, the engineering controls effectiveness are bolstered by the administrative procedures developed to assist staff with ensuring chemical safety.
Some general examples of administrative controls include policies, procedures, training and management practices that can help workplaces in controlling chemical hazards.
IMPORTANT: Control measures are used to control hazards, to create a compliant and safe environment for people, as well as place and environment. Controlling hazards are essential for maintaining compliance and safety, as per the WHS laws in your region.
In every workplace (and in fact, any type of environment) there are hazards that can pose risk.
Due to these risks, there is the necessity to identify and assess the situation, while them selecting the most suitable and effective control measure to mitigate risk.
Risk in the workplace must be controlled.
Furthermore, the maintenance and ongoing inspection and assessment of the control measures ensures that safety is still provided as the workplace changes. Remember, risk management is not a one-off project; it’s a continual circular cycle that responds to the everchanging factors in a workplace, such as new staff, different work tasks, increased quantities of certain chemicals, environmental conditions and more.
INTERESTED IN RISK MANAGEMENT? For a comprehensive guide to risk management, including details about applying the Hierarchy of Control to your operations, you can download our free eBook which will lead you step by step through the process.
When thinking about dangerous goods management and chemical safety as an ongoing process that involves multiple levels of controls, it’s essential to realise the significance of each tier on the Hierarchy of Control.
Without one tier, the other control measures won’t be effective.
There are a multitude of reasons why administrative controls are important for chemical safety, including:
By incorporating administrative controls into a comprehensive dangerous goods management strategy, you can promote a culture of safety, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and protect the well-being of workers, the community and surrounding environment where hazardous chemicals are present.
When working with any kind of dangerous goods, it’s important to understand how administrative controls can help your team control risks.
Some types of administrative controls that may assist this process include:
Workplace Policies and Procedures: Establishing and enforcing policies and procedures related to the handling, storage, and use of chemicals. This may include guidelines on proper storage practices, handling procedures, and emergency response protocols.
Standard Operating Procedures: Providing clear and written instructions for tasks involving hazardous chemicals. This may include detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) that outline step-by-step instructions for work tasks as well as how to use and maintain chemical storage and handling equipment. SOPs in conjunction with regular training can help raise the awareness of staff so that human error is reduced.
Training and Education: Providing employees with comprehensive training on the hazards of chemicals in the workplace, safe handling practices, and emergency response procedures. Training helps ensure that workers are knowledgeable about the risks associated with their tasks and are equipped to perform their jobs safely.
Segregating dangerous goods that are incompatible is made easier when administrative controls, such as standard operating procedures for DG storage. are in place.
Administrative controls are a critical component of an effective chemical safety program. They complement other control measures and contribute to a comprehensive risk management approach aimed at reducing the risks associated with dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
If you’d like to learn more about the steps involved with the control of dangerous goods and hazardous substances in the workplace, why not access a copy of Storemasta's eBook. This resource will give you the tools to identify, assess and control potential chemical hazards in your own business.