Engineering controls are measures that have been implemented in the workplace to protect workers from occupational hazards or work-related musculoskeletal disorders.These measures help to minimize or remove occupational hazards or to restructure job activities to prevent injury. Occupational hazards may include carbon monoxide, aerosols, noise, asbestos, and lead. Engineering controls are designed to aid productivity while increasing safety.
In the hierarchy of control, which is the order in which hazards should be controlled, engineering controls are second to be considered after elimination or substitution. The next control measures are personal protective equipment and administrative controls. There are three fundamental types of engineering controls, they are process control, ventilation, and source enclosure or isolation. Engineering controls are typically more costly upfront to implement than other controls but are more cost-effective over the long term. They can either be placed where the hazard originates, along the path of the hazard, or where the worker is situated.
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