What does "engineering controls" refer to in workplace safety?

Engineering controls are a key component of workplace safety and refer specifically to physical modifications made to the work environment to reduce or eliminate hazards. This can include redesigning equipment, improving ventilation systems, installing safety guards, or implementing other structural changes that help minimize the risk of injury or exposure to hazards.

By focusing on altering the surroundings or equipment, engineering controls aim to provide a safer work environment without relying on worker behavior or personal protective equipment. This proactive approach is essential in creating a fundamentally safe workplace by removing hazards at their source, which is more effective than merely addressing the symptoms of those hazards through training or protective measures.

Other options such as training programs, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency procedures play important roles in an overall safety strategy but do not fall under the definition of engineering controls. These components support the workplace safety framework, but they do not involve the physical alterations of the environment that define engineering controls.