Here in Canada, ensuring a safe elevated work environment can be a highly complex process: a fact that can be largely attributed to the country’s diverse climates and varying building architectures. The Hierarchy of Controls is an overarching occupational health and safety strategy that helps commercial building owners and property managers navigate these challenges in a considered, systematic manner. We explain this concept in detail in the following learning resource.
What is the Hierarchy of Controls?
The Hierarchy of Controls is a simple yet highly effective means of assessing and prioritizing control measures so you can take the most effective steps possible to protect not only your staff but also the many people who rely on the safety of your building.
It provides a consistent approach to safety management, helping key decision-makers select the most effective control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of hazards that are often identified in any proper risk assessment process. This means striking a balance between the level of risk and the measures needed to control that risk while taking into consideration time, money, and overall effort.
A Closer Look at the Hierarchy of Controls
At the heart of the Hierarchy of Controls is a systematic approach to risk mitigation. It achieves this by categorizing various control measures into the five distinct levels represented in the above diagram: an inverted pyramid. Each level builds upon the other, creating a comprehensive safety net for workers at heights. Let’s take a closer look at each of these levels and what they represent to those responsible for ensuring rooftop safety.
1. Elimination
The first, top level of the Hierarchy of Controls is defined as elimination. The fact is that the most definitive way to ensure height safety is to eliminate that hazard entirely, and should form your first preference wherever possible.
In the context of working on an elevated space, elimination measures include a number of examples. For instance, elimination could involve architectural designs that minimize the need for roof access. Alternatively, this could involve the use of technologies that monitor equipment remotely, thereby reducing the frequency and need for access to potentially high-risk environments. One can also place the HVAC units that support the cooling of the building on ground level, outside the building. Eliminating the need to maintain them while at dangerous heights.
2. Substitution
In many cases, elimination is simply not feasible. Where this is the case on your rooftop, substitution offers the next-best alternative. Fundamentally, this means replacing hazards with safer options.
There are a number of examples that come to mind. When focusing on roof access, a basic, non-compliant ladder could be replaced with a lifeline ladder, providing those accessing the roof with an extra layer of fall protection. Meanwhile, slippery surfaces or rungs can be replaced with slip-resistant materials that reduce the risk of a slip or a fall – particularly during adverse weather conditions.
3. Engineering Controls
When elimination or substitution are not viable, physical changes to the rooftop environment can reduce risk. This is where the Engineering Controls element of the Hierarchy of Controls comes into play.
Engineering controls involve altering the workplace to design out hazards. On rooftops, this could mean installing permanent guardrail systems around perimeters and openings or embedding safety features such as reinforced anchor points for fall arrest systems. Features like Skyline Group’s non-penetrating guardrails and walkway systems play a crucial role here, enhancing safety without compromising the roof’s structural integrity.
4. Administrative Controls
The fourth level of the Hierarchy of Controls addresses the fact that beyond physical modifications, administrative controls must be introduced to enhance height safety by focusing on work practices, height safety training and procedures.
In a nutshell, administrative controls modify how the range of tasks required on your rooftop are performed. This involves implementing comprehensive training programs that educate workers on the specific hazards associated with working at height and the proper use of safety equipment. It is also important to note that scheduling work for safer weather conditions also falls under this category, ensuring continual alignment with safety standards.
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is placed at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls because it should only be used as a last—and not a primary—line of defence.
For rooftop workers, this includes harnesses, helmets, and non-slip footwear. While essential, reliance on PPE alone is not sufficient; it must be integrated into a broader safety strategy that includes the higher-level of controls that come before it.
Beyond the Hierarchy of Controls
Implementing these controls in Canada presents unique challenges due to the country’s diverse climate conditions—from heavy snowfalls in the East to persistent rains in the West. Each geographic area requires tailored solutions to address local environmental factors effectively. Additionally, compliance with provincial regulations, which may vary significantly, requires that safety measures not only meet but exceed national standards to ensure comprehensive worker protection.
Skyline Group: Elevated Work, Elevated Safety
Here at Skyline Group, we combine decades of safety experience with a comprehensive industry to bring the levels of safety on your rooftop to new heights. To get started, browse our full selection of safety solutions. Alternatively, reach out to one of our experts for a consultation.
