---
title: Hierarchy of Controls | one to ONE Holdings
description: The Hierarchy of Controls framework prioritizes hazard control, from eliminating risks to using PPE as a last resort, for a safer workplace.
image: https://www.o2oh.com/hubfs/o2Oh_18mm.jpg
---

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# Glossary

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# Hierarchy of Controls

A core principle in safety management, the Hierarchy of Controls provides a systematic approach to risk mitigation. It ranks control measures from the most effective to the least effective, guiding a systematic approach to risk mitigation.

The hierarchy consists of:

1. Elimination & Substitution: Removing the hazard or replacing it with a safer alternative.
2. Engineering Controls: Physically isolating people from the hazard.
3. Administrative Controls: Changing how people work (e.g., procedures, training).
4. [Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/ppe): A last-resort barrier between the worker and the hazard.

An effective [Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/occupational-health-and-safety-ohs) program always prioritizes controls at the top of this hierarchy, viewing PPE as the final line of defense, not the primary solution.

![This image displays the "Hierarchy of Controls," a fundamental concept in occupational safety and health used to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards, as presented by the CDC/NIOSH. The hierarchy is visually represented as an inverted pyramid or a triangle, with the most effective controls at the top and the least effective at the bottom.  The five levels, from Most effective (top, blue) to Least effective (bottom, red), are:  Elimination (Blue): Physically remove the hazard.  Substitution (Green): Replace the hazard.  Engineering Controls (Yellow): Isolate people from the hazard.  Administrative Controls (Orange): Change the way people work.  PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) (Red): Protect the worker with Personal Protective Equipment.  A color gradient scale on the left visually reinforces the effectiveness level, transitioning from blue/green (Most effective) to red (Least effective). The graphic emphasizes that elimination and substitution are the preferred methods for hazard control.](https://www.o2oh.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CDC.png?width=1200&height=675&name=CDC.png)

 

The hierarchy of controls should be applied sequentially, starting from the most effective measure and working down (Source: CDC)

### RELATED WORDS

---

- [Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/human-in-the-loop-hitl)
- [Human-centric Manufacturing](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/human-centric-manufacturing)
- [HILP](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/hilp)
- [Hard-to-Abate Sectors](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/hard-to-abate-sectors)
- [Hexavalent Chromium](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/hexavalent-chromium)
- [Hydrogen Reduction Steelmaking (HRS)](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/hydrogen-reduction-steelmaking-hrs)
- [HID attacks](https://www.o2oh.com/glossary/hid-attacks)

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