Chapter 8 - Engineering control

Abstract

Engineering controls are the type of controls that protect workers by removing hazardous conditions or by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Facility designs (such as ventilation, fire protection, safety equipment), ergonomic considerations, periodic maintenance, and testing are all important constituents of engineering controls. Laboratory personnel must be aware of the maintenance and handling procedure of particular laboratory and analytical equipment. Basically, the purpose of engineering control is to eradicate the hazards by bringing changes in infrastructure and procedures and by substituting hazardous materials with less hazardous substances. Good facility design is important for the safety and protection of personnel's working either in the laboratory (i.e., academia and industries) or outside. Traffic flow and laboratory (i.e., academia and industries) design is critical in this respect. In the basic laboratory (i.e., academia and industries), work is done with viable agents, and it provides a feasible space to work. It is suitable to work with any potentially infectious agent when it lies under low hazard level and personnel's working follow their standard practices. Most of the works are conducted on benches; however, a number of operations also required safety cabinets even in laboratories. To carry out certain activities, conventional laboratory (i.e., academia and industries) designs are often sufficient. Animal rooms or wastage areas should not be present near or adjacent to the areas specified for research activities because they are sources of contamination. The laboratory (i.e., academia and industries) area must be separated from public areas and general offices. In the containment laboratory (i.e., academia and industries), hazardous substances can be handled easily without any risk for the workers, community, or the environment because it possesses an engineering design suitable to carry out such activities.