Australia Model Code of Practice: Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry 2.3a: 2.3 Control risks: eliminate first, brainstorm, apply the hierarchy and avoid new hazards

Control risks as far as reasonably possible: eliminate where reasonably possible, for example stopping a task, removing a hazard or using automated dispensing technology in pharmacy, and otherwise minimise. Brainstorm all possible controls with workers and consider whether the work environment or systems can be redesigned, and add measures that make controls work or act as a back-up, such as a wheel maintenance program. Choose by the hierarchy of controls: elimination, then substitution, isolation and engineering controls (for example needle-free connection systems), then administrative controls such as training, supervision, procedures and signs, then PPE. Administrative controls and PPE rely on human behaviour and are least effective, acceptable as backup or as short-term interim or last resort measures. Full assessment may be skipped where well-known effective controls exist. Not all elimination is reasonable, for example where care must still be delivered or where the dignity of risk principle in the aged care standards applies, but the risk must still be minimised, for example with an insulated urn and two-handled mugs. Check that controls do not add hazards, for example a robot vacuum that is a trip hazard.