What distinguishes engineering controls from administrative controls in ICRA?

What distinguishes engineering controls from administrative controls in ICRA?

• A. Administrative controls involve policies and workflows to reduce exposure.
• B. Engineering controls physically modify the environment to contain contaminants.
• C. Work practice controls are irrelevant.
• D. PPE is not part of controls.

Answer: (B)

Engineering controls distinguish themselves by physically altering the environment or equipment to reduce exposure to contaminants at the source. This includes changes like upgrading ventilation, creating negative-pressure containment, or installing physical barriers and containment devices that prevent spread of contaminants without relying on how people work. Administrative controls, in contrast, change how work is performed through policies, workflows, scheduling, training, and standard operating procedures to limit exposure. Work practice controls are a subset of these administrative measures. PPE is a protective layer used when other controls don’t fully eliminate exposure, sitting at the end of the defense hierarchy. So, the defining point is that engineering controls physically modify the environment to contain or reduce contaminants.

Engineering controls distinguish themselves by physically altering the environment or equipment to reduce exposure to contaminants at the source. This includes changes like upgrading ventilation, creating negative-pressure containment, or installing physical barriers and containment devices that prevent spread of contaminants without relying on how people work. Administrative controls, in contrast, change how work is performed through policies, workflows, scheduling, training, and standard operating procedures to limit exposure. Work practice controls are a subset of these administrative measures. PPE is a protective layer used when other controls don’t fully eliminate exposure, sitting at the end of the defense hierarchy. So, the defining point is that engineering controls physically modify the environment to contain or reduce contaminants.