Control hierarchies and minimising health risks

Controls hierarchies are intended to minimise risk as far as reasonably practicable - this latter consideration is dictated by individual jurisdictions. If for example a hazard is eliminated (such as removing a  reagent in a manufacturing process), then no further controls may be necessary. Elimination of a hazard is more desirable than substitution of another hazard PPE is a common control measure but its use should not preclude consideration of all other control measures. PPE has to be appropriate for the task in hand. For example latex is not suitable PPE for handling oil:oil will dissolve latex and moreover latex is a potent allergen. Masks must be carefully chosen: paper and cloth masks are entirely unsuitable protection against gases and vapours for example.  Hearing PE in the form of ear muffs or plastic pliable insertable plugs are ubiquitous due to the difficulty of implementing controls in some noisy environments, despite the fact that they are a control of last resort. Biological monitoring can in a few scenarios be implemented to measure the effectiveness of existing control measures, not as control measure itself. Elimination, substitution or segregation should be considered before ventilation as a control measure Biological monitoring can in a few scenarios be implemented to measure the effectiveness of existing control measures, not as control measure itself. Health considerations