Hierarchy of Control, what is it, and how do I apply it to my Apprenticeship? 

Working safely in the trades means more than following rules and knowing how to respond when something unexpected comes up. A framework for this is the hierarchy of control: a system that ranks safety measures from most to least effective, so you always know which solution to reach for first.  
 
Most Effective:  

1. Elimination, remove the hazard completely.  
Eg. doing a task on the ground instead of at height. 

2. Substitution, replacing something dangerous with something safer. 
Eg. swapping a hazardous chemical for a safer alternative. 

3. Isolation, Physically distancing people from hazard.
Eg. Using lockout locks to prevent access to hazardous areas or equipment

4. Engineering controls, change the work place itself.
Eg. Machine guards, ventilation, scaffolding instead of ladders. 

5. Administrative controls 
Eg. rules, training, supervision, and procedures - these all rely on people following them correctly. 

Last Resort:  
6. PPE, Helmets, gloves, and safety glasses ect.
PPE is important but only protects you if something goes wrong. 

A simple way to think about it 
Imagine a pipe is leaking at your work. The worst response is warning people to watch their step (administrative control), it does nothing to fix the actual problem. A bit better is catching the water in a bucket, but it doesn’t fix the hazard. The right approach is to fix or replace the pipe so that it doesn’t leak at all. Only if you genuinely can’t stop the leak, do you fall back on things like signage or PPE.  
 
The hierarchy works the same way on your worksite. PPE matters but it’s the last line of defence, not the first. 

As an apprentice, you are entitled to a safe workplace. If you’re unsure how a hazard should be controlled, or you’re being asked to work in a way that doesn’t feel safe, you don’t have to figure it out alone.  
 
Talk to your TAFE, ASO, Apprentice Helpdesk or your Union for more information regarding safety and for support.