What is the difference between work practice controls and engineering controls?

What is the difference between work practice controls and engineering controls?

• A. Administrative controls involve procedural approaches.
• B. Engineering controls physically modify the environment to contain contaminants.
• C. Work practice controls are irrelevant.
• D. PPE and administrative controls are the same.

Answer: (B)

Engineering controls are about physically changing the workplace to reduce exposure. They act at the source or in the environment to prevent contaminants from reaching workers, such as installing ventilation to dilute airborne hazards, using sealed containment, or enclosing the process with a biosafety cabinet. Work practice controls, by contrast, are about how tasks are performed to minimize exposure. They rely on procedural actions, training, and proper handling techniques rather than altering the environment itself. Examples include following specific safe-handling procedures and performing tasks in a manner that reduces risk. So the option describes engineering controls as physically modifying the environment to contain contaminants, which is exactly the distinction: engineering controls change the surroundings to lower exposure, while work practice controls depend on how people perform the work. The other statements either describe administrative procedures, claim irrelevance, or equate PPE with administrative controls, none of which capture the fundamental difference.

Engineering controls are about physically changing the workplace to reduce exposure. They act at the source or in the environment to prevent contaminants from reaching workers, such as installing ventilation to dilute airborne hazards, using sealed containment, or enclosing the process with a biosafety cabinet.

Work practice controls, by contrast, are about how tasks are performed to minimize exposure. They rely on procedural actions, training, and proper handling techniques rather than altering the environment itself. Examples include following specific safe-handling procedures and performing tasks in a manner that reduces risk.

So the option describes engineering controls as physically modifying the environment to contain contaminants, which is exactly the distinction: engineering controls change the surroundings to lower exposure, while work practice controls depend on how people perform the work. The other statements either describe administrative procedures, claim irrelevance, or equate PPE with administrative controls, none of which capture the fundamental difference.