{{Short description|Class of occupational hazard control}} {{About|the concept in occupational hazard control|the concept in information security|Information security#Security controls}} {{Broader|Hierarchy of hazard controls}} {{Occupational hazards}} thumb|Hierarchy of controls '''Administrative controls''' are modifications or changes to work practices or behaviors in order to reduce the severity of impact from hazards or hazardous operations. This category of control relies more on worker compliance (e.g., factory floor workers) and often does not offer permanent solutions to control hazards in workplaces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Administrative Controls |url=https://www.ualberta.ca/en/human-resources-health-safety-environment/environment-and-safety/hazard-management/hazard-controls/administrative-controls/index |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.ualberta.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2009 |title=Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology |url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-125/pdfs/2009-125.pdf |access-date=15 March 2017 |website=U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health}}</ref> [[File:DIN 4844-2 D-P009.svg|alt=A red no symbol over a hand reaching towards a bolt of electricity symbol|thumb|This electrical hazard safety sign used in Germany is an example of an administrative control.]]
In the hierarchy of hazard controls, administrative controls lies 4th below engineering controls and above personal protective equipment in terms of the effectiveness and efficiency of hazard controls ranking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/|title=Hierarchy of Controls|date=July 2016|website=U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|publisher=CDC|language=en-us|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> They should be used after elimination, substitution and engineering controls have already been implemented / considered or as an extra layer of protection from hazards. Some agencies add isolation as a step to their hierarchy of controls, with that level also needing consideration prior to administrative controls. The reasoning for lower effectiveness is that success in reducing hazards relies on individuals following rules, procedures, and/or training, all of which are still susceptible to human error, while levels above it reduce the impact of human error.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Administrative Hierarchy of Controls - |url=https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2024/10/21/The-Administrative-Hierarchy-of-Controls.aspx |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Occupational Health & Safety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Administrative controls are more effective than PPE because they involve some manner of prior planning and avoidance, whereas PPE 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy10/sh-20839-10/hierarchy_of_controls.pdf|title=Hierarchy of Controls|website=U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration|access-date=16 March 2017}}</ref> 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 outweigh the initial investments of the three more desirable hazard controls in the hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2014-102/|title=Nanomaterial Production and Downstream Handling Processes|date=November 2013|website=U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|language=en-us|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
Some key features of Administrative Controls include:
* Safety Policy<ref>{{Cite web |title=Safety Management - A safe workplace is sound business {{!}} Occupational Safety and Health Administration |url=https://www.osha.gov/safety-management |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024153005/https://www.osha.gov/safety-management |archive-date=2025-10-24 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.osha.gov |language=en}}</ref> * Safe work practices<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-16 |title=Safe Work Practices (SWP) |url=https://www.aiche.org/ccps/publications/safe-work-practices |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.aiche.org |language=en}}</ref> * Training<ref>{{Cite web |title=Training {{!}} Occupational Safety and Health Administration |url=https://www.osha.gov/training |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251024153052/https://www.osha.gov/training |archive-date=2025-10-24 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.osha.gov |language=en}}</ref> * Scheduling (Including maintenance) * Working alone protocol<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety |date=2025-08-28 |title=CCOHS: Working Alone - General |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/alone/workingalone.html |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.ccohs.ca}}</ref> (lone worker policy) * Emergency Management / Preparedness * Safety Signages<ref>{{Cite web |title=ANSI Z535 - 6 Part Standard for Safety Signs |url=https://www.bradyid.com/resources/ansi-z535-safety-signs-standard |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=www.bradyid.com |language=en-US}}</ref> & Documentation * Preventive health measures (Health checkup, Monitoring etc.) * Housekeeping
Some common examples of administrative controls include work practice controls such as prohibiting mouth pipetting and rotating worker shifts in coal mines to prevent hearing loss.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2017-100/pdf/2017-100.pdf|title=NIOSH Chemical Carcinogen Policy|date=December 2016|website=U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arlweb.msha.gov/s&hinfo/noisetoolboxes/Administrative%20Controls.ppt|title=Administrative Controls|website=U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration|access-date=14 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2a.cdc.gov/nioshtic-2/BuildQyr.asp?s1=20030605&PageNo=1&RecNo=1&View=f&|title=Administrative controls for reducing worker noise exposures|last1=Bauer|first1=ER|last2=Babich}}</ref> Other examples include hours of service regulations for commercial vehicle operators,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/administrativecontrols.html|title=Administrative Controls|date=25 July 2016|website=Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref> safety signage for hazards,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ehs.iu.edu/docs/LCSP-Part-06---2.0-Control-Measures.pdf|title=Control Measures|website=Environmental Health and Safety – Bloomington Indiana University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215075131/http://ehs.iu.edu/docs/LCSP-Part-06---2.0-Control-Measures.pdf|archive-date=2017-12-15|access-date=16 March 2017}}</ref> regular maintenance of equipment,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard_control.html|title=Hazard Control|date=17 March 2017|website=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> and incorporating stretching and short breaks to reduce ergonomic stressors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stretching and Injury Prevention {{!}} Risk Management & Insurance {{!}} Colorado State University |url=https://rmi.colostate.edu/ergonomics/injuries-and-injury-prevention/stretching-and-injury-prevention/ |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=rmi.colostate.edu}}</ref>
== COVID-19 == Administrative controls are used to limit the spread of COVID-19 by changing human habits and social organization.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sehgal |first1=Neil J. |last2=Milton |first2=Donald K. |date=2021-11-05 |title=Applying the Hierarchy of Controls: What Occupational Safety Can Teach us About Safely Navigating the Next Phase of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic |journal=Frontiers in Public Health |language=English |volume=9 |article-number=747894 |doi=10.3389/fpubh.2021.747894 |bibcode=2021FrPH....947894S |doi-access=free |issn=2296-2565|pmc=8602064 }}</ref> These include policies such as remote work, restriction on indoor gatherings, staggered schedules, enforcing masks in areas and mandating vaccination while reducing close contact and crowding. The effectiveness of these actions are highly dependent on human behavior, making them less reliable on their own, but when combined with engineering controls such as hard barricades for maintaining distance or limiting the entry by controlling doors, then they can be highly effective.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Benson |first1=Chizubem |last2=Obasi |first2=Izuchukwu Chukwuma |last3=Akinwande |first3=Damola Victor |last4=Ile |first4=Chinonso |date=2024-01-15 |title=The impact of interventions on health, safety and environment in the process industry |journal=Heliyon |volume=10 |issue=1 |article-number=e23604 |doi=10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23604 |bibcode=2024Heliy..1023604B |doi-access=free |issn=2405-8440}}</ref>
== History == The origin of administrative controls goes to the ancient governance systems where rulers used written rules and organized bureaucracies to maintain order and efficiency. Early examples can be found from Mesopotamia, China, and Egypt where officials managed labor, justice, and even the work schedules to reduce stress.
Administrative control methods were also used during the industrial revolution as a way to reduce growing injuries by setting up rules, supervision, and procedures. By the 20th century, administrative measures like work scheduling, training, and enforcing exposure limits became common for managing risk. The formation of OSHA and NIOSH in 1970 marked a major step in formalizing such controls in the US workforce over time, evolving to focus on systematic risk management, accountability and continuous improvement.
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Occupational safety and health}} {{Underwater diving|divsaf}}
Category:Industrial hygiene Category:Safety engineering Category:Occupational safety and health