A hierarchy-of-controls poster hangs in the break room, yet every hazard fix jumps straight to PPE raffles and giveaways. What does correct application of the hierarchy require?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
A poster of the hierarchy means nothing if every fix is a glove raffle. Climb the ladder from eliminate and engineer down—PPE is the last rung, not the prize table.
Full Explanation
Correct application of the hierarchy of controls requires working the order eliminate → substitute → isolate → engineered → administrative → PPE instead of defaulting to PPE raffles and giveaways whenever a poster hangs in the break room. Starting with PPE raffles to build culture, then considering engineering only if injuries continue, reverses the hierarchy and uses injuries as the gate for higher controls. Treating administrative memos and PPE as equal to elimination because all reduce risk somehow erases ordering by reliability and sustainability of control. Skipping elimination and substitution when PPE branding is already purchased for the year lets procurement sunk costs override risk logic. Posters can support awareness but are not evidence the hierarchy is being applied. Exam caveat: culture programs are valuable; they do not authorize PPE-first strategy when higher controls are feasible. Operational check: for each significant hazard, document which higher-order options were considered and why accepted or rejected, implement feasible elimination through engineering before PPE campaigns, use PPE as a residual layer, and audit corrective actions for hierarchy misordering across the civic operation.