Materials Science and Engineering

Health, Safety and Environment

Submitted By:
Afaq Ali
Registration No:
190301005
Submitted To:
Sir Abdul Wadood

17/10/2019
February 22, 2016
1
QUESTION:
Briefly explain how the administrative controls are effective in
improving the health/safety and environment in any
Industry/Institute/Lab/Traffic control etc. Select some case studies.
ANSWER:
Administrative controls are training, procedure, policy, or shift designs
that lessen the threat of a hazard to an individual. Administrative
controls typically change the behaviour of people (e.g., factory workers)
rather than removing the actual hazard or providing personal protective
equipment (PPE).
Administrative controls are fourth in larger hierarchy of hazard controls,
which ranks the effectiveness and efficiency of hazard
controls. Administrative controls are more effective than PPE because
they involve some manner of prior planning and avoidance, whereas
PPE only serves only as a final barrier between the hazard and worker.
Administrative controls are second lowest because they require workers
or employers to actively think or comply with regulations and do not
offer permanent solutions to problems. Generally, administrative
controls are cheaper to begin, but they may become more expensive over
time as higher failure rates and the need for constant training or re-
certification eclipse the initial investments of the three more desirable
hazard controls in the hierarchy. The U.S. National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health recommends administrative controls
when hazards cannot be removed or changed and engineering
controls are not practical. Administrative controls describe the way the
work is done and include other measures to reduce employee exposure
to hazards. Administrative controls do not remove hazards, but limit or
prevent exposure to the hazards.
Examples of administrative controls include written plans and standard
operating procedures, signs, labels, training, supervision, timing of
work, personnel substitutions, using a lab partner etc.

2
Administrative controls for reducing worker noise
exposures:
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be a concern for the
mining industry. A new noise standard (30 CFR 62) is aimed at reducing
NIHL in mining through engineering and administrative noise controls.
However, the difficulty and expense of implementing engineering
controls can make administrative controls an attractive alternative for
reducing worker noise exposure. Over the last 3 years, NIOSH has
conducted worker noise exposure surveys in underground and surface
coal mines and coal prep plants. The surveys have revealed many
possible administrative controls and an approach to implementation and
analysis. The surveys have shown that worker dosimeters, time-motion
studies, and equipment noise profiling are important aspects of
effectively using administrative controls. A description of the approach
for selecting, implementing, and evaluating administrative controls and a
list of administrative controls are reported. Noise-induced-hearing-loss;
Noise-exposure; Noise; Hearing-loss; Mining-industry; Underground-
mining; Surface-mining; Coal-mining; Engineering-controls;
Occupational-diseases; Occupational-health.

Improving safety culture through the health and

safety organization:
Safety Culture: