Which statement best reflects the goal of hazard controls in the hierarchy?

• A. Elimination is the goal and the only control
• B. PPE is the most effective standalone control
• C. Administrative controls are always sufficient
• D. Elimination is the goal, but not the sole control; a combination may be used

Answer: (D)

In the hazard controls hierarchy, you aim to reduce risk by using the most effective controls first, and elimination sits at the top. The best statement reflects this layered approach: eliminating the hazard is the ideal objective, but you don’t rely on elimination alone; in practice you combine multiple controls to reduce exposure to an acceptable level. PPE, for example, is important but serves as a last line of defense and isn’t sufficient by itself. Administrative controls or relying solely on PPE can leave gaps if the other controls aren’t in place or fail, so an effective safety strategy uses a mix of measures—often including elimination, engineering controls, and administrative strategies—to create strong, layered protection.