Which control method is the least effective in the Hierarchy of Controls?

The identification of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as the least effective control method in the Hierarchy of Controls is rooted in the fundamental principles of occupational health and safety. The Hierarchy of Controls prioritizes strategies for minimizing exposure to hazards, starting from the most effective (elimination of the hazard) to the least effective (PPE).

PPE is considered the least effective because it relies on human behavior and compliance. Even with proper training and availability of the equipment, there is still a risk that individuals may not use it consistently or correctly, which can lead to inadequate protection. In contrast, the higher-level controls such as elimination, substitution, or engineering controls aim to eliminate or reduce the hazard at the source, which directly prevents exposure rather than just managing it after the fact.

By acknowledging this structure, one can appreciate how eliminating the hazard or implementing engineering controls can drastically reduce risk and exposure without placing the burden on individual users to remember to use PPE properly. Thus, while PPE is crucial for situations where other controls cannot completely remove risk, it is not the most effective strategy within the framework of controlling workplace hazards.