Which practice is considered less effective than PPE in the hierarchy of risk control methods?

The practice considered less effective than personal protective equipment (PPE) within the hierarchy of risk control methods is safety by design. Safety by design focuses on incorporating safety features and considerations during the design phase of equipment or processes. While this approach can certainly enhance safety, it generally does not provide the same level of protection as PPE when hazards are still present.

In the hierarchy of controls, elimination, substitution, and engineering controls are all considered more effective means of reducing risk. These methods focus on removing the hazard altogether, replacing it with a less hazardous option, or implementing controls that modify the process or environment to minimize exposure to hazards. These approaches aim to address the source of the danger directly, leading to a more substantial reduction in risk compared to relying solely on PPE, which only provides a barrier between the worker and the hazard.

By understanding this hierarchy, it becomes clear that while safety by design is an important component of overall safety strategies, it is less effective than the more proactive measures that eliminate, substitute, or engineer out hazards in the first place.