Abstract for Short Course 2.3

 

 

Engineering controls for exposure reduction

Chris Packham
Enviroderm Services, UK

Once our risk assessment has indicated an unacceptable level of risk, then we need to consider how the exposure that is generating this risk can best be controlled.

Ideally this should be by means of technical measures that are both independent of the worker and fail to safe. Not only is this generally the most secure method of control but in many countries it is a legal requirement. Only when all such control methods have been evaluated and, where appropriate, implemented, may one then resort to other methods, such as the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment.

In this short course a strategy for exposure reduction will be introduced. The benefit of engineering controls will be demonstrated by a series of case studies that not only indicate how simple, relatively low cost, measures can achieve a high degree of exposure reduction, but how, in many cases, this resulted also in an improvement in productivity or a reduction in actual operating costs (or both)!

Participants will then be invited to consider five situations where control is obviously required and to propose methods by which the necessary exposure reduction could be achieved. (Gloves etc. not permitted!)

The various options will then be discussed and the course leader will explain, if appropriate, what was actually done.

The aim of the course is to provide participants with a concept for engineering control that can be applied in any workplace and to create a framework within which teamwork in an organisation can achieve the necessary results.

Content last modified: 9 June 2005

Return