Which risk control method is considered the most effective in reducing electrical hazards?

The most effective risk control method for reducing electrical hazards is elimination. This approach involves completely removing the hazard from the workplace, thereby preventing any chance of exposure. When a hazard is eliminated, there is no risk associated with it because workers are not exposed to potentially dangerous electrical conditions in the first place. This is a fundamental principle in occupational safety, emphasizing that the best way to protect workers is to eliminate the source of danger entirely.

In contrast, substitution may reduce the risk but does not remove the hazard completely, as it involves replacing a more dangerous element with a less hazardous one. Engineering controls provide physical modifications to the workplace and can effectively mitigate risks, but they still require the hazard to exist in some form. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is important for protecting workers when they are in proximity to electrical hazards, yet it only serves as a last line of defense and does not eliminate the hazard itself.

Thus, the elimination of the hazard stands out as the most effective method in risk management, aligning with the hierarchy of controls aimed at maximizing safety in the workplace.