Control of Work: Bringing the Hierarchy of Controls to Life

In high-risk environments, effective safety management is really about creating a culture of prevention. Consider these three companies that got it right:

• A precision parts manufacturer in the Midwest eliminated a longstanding ergonomic hazard by redesigning operator stations on the assembly line, fully removing the need for repetitive manual handling, a textbook case of elimination, the top rung in the hierarchy of controls.
• A construction firm in the UAE swapped out a hazardous chemical bonding agent for a safer, eco-certified alternative, leveraging substitution to minimize respiratory risks on site.
• An oil and gas operator in Europe introduced automated valve shut-off systems to engineer out human exposure during pressure release events, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of incidents.

What ties these examples together? A rigorous and proactive approach to Control of Work, built on the foundational principles of the Hierarchy of Controls.

Understanding Control of Work and Its Impact on Safety Management

Control of Work (CoW) refers to the integrated systems, processes, and procedures that ensure work activities (especially high-risk or non-routine tasks) are planned, authorized, and executed safely. It encompasses everything from work permitting (or Permit to Work) and risk assessments to isolations, training, and job safety analysis.

At the heart of effective CoW lies the Hierarchy of Controls, a safety framework that ranks control measures based on effectiveness:

• Elimination – Physically remove the hazard (most effective)
• Substitution – Replace the hazard with something less dangerous
• Engineering Controls – Isolate people from the hazard
• Administrative Controls – Change how people work (procedures, training, scheduling)
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Last line of defense (least effective)

Why the Hierarchy Matters

The further up the hierarchy you go, the less reliant you are on human behavior, supervision, or protective gear. Elimination and substitution are proactive and preventive, whereas PPE and administrative controls are reactive and require constant enforcement.

That’s why Control of Work systems should be designed to prioritize higher-order controls wherever possible and to document, monitor, and enforce lower-order controls effectively when unavoidable.

Embedding the Hierarchy of Controls in Your Control of Work Process

Here’s how companies can integrate the hierarchy into their CoW system:

• Risk Assessment: Use structured templates to identify which level of control applies; Aim for elimination or substitution first.
• Permit-to-Work (PTW): Ensure permits prompt users to consider higher-level controls before approving work.
• Digital Workflows: Automate the tracking of engineering and administrative controls through a centralized system.
• Training: Educate frontline workers and supervisors on the hierarchy to encourage the right control decisions.
• Continuous Review: Use data from inspections, incidents, and near-misses to revisit and improve controls.

How ComplianceQuest EHS Makes It Easier to Implement Safety Controls

ComplianceQuest’s cloud-based EHS platform embeds the Hierarchy of Controls into everyday safety workflows:

• Smart risk assessments that guide users to prioritize higher-order controls
• Integrated Permit-to-Work and Isolation Management systems
• AI-powered insights that flag control gaps and improvement opportunities
• Centralized control tracking across safety, maintenance, and operations

Whether it’s a confined space entry, hot work, or equipment maintenance, CQ EHS ensures every work activity is governed by a Control of Work system that’s intelligent, compliant, and most importantly, preventive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)