Agenda - 09-06-2022; 8-l - Orange County Transportation Services - Agency Safety Plan Update

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24 Orange County Transportation Services Agency Safety Plan IX. Risk Reduction Program Risk Reduction Program and Control Process The Risk Reduction Program and Control Process involves the analysis and corrective action taken to reduce the risk associated with an identified hazard to the lowest practical level. Using the assessment and evaluation results, hazards are mitigated to an acceptable level by one or more of the below described methods, also known as the hierarchy of controls: Design for Elimination or Minimum Risk: Where possible, hazards will be eliminated through design. In many cases, hazards are inherent and cannot be eliminated through design. In other cases, eliminating the hazard is not practical or financially feasible. If the hazard cannot be eliminated, it will be reduced to an acceptable level by incorporating the principles of system safety, using fail-safe devices and principles in design, incorporating high-reliability system components, and using redundant or backup hardware and software devices. Utilize Safety Devices: Hazards that cannot be eliminated or controlled through design selection shall be controlled to an acceptable level using fixed, automatic, or other protective safety design features or devices. These are permanent system design features that improve safety by automatically controlling the risk of hazard without human interaction. Provisions shall be made for periodic functional checks of safety devices. Install Warning Devices:When either design or safety devices cannot effectively eliminate or control an identified hazard,warning devices can be used to detect the hazardous condition and to generate an adequate warning signal to correct the hazard or provide for personnel evacuation. Warning devices should be standardized to minimize the probability of incorrect reaction of personnel to these warning signals. Develop Procedures and Instruction: When it is impossible or impractical to eliminate hazards through design selection or adequately reduce its associated risks through safety or warning devices, then approved procedures and training programs must be used. However, this is the lowest level of control, and relies on training to recognize the hazard and personnel actions to avoid the hazard. Procedures may include the use of personal protective equipment. Precautionary notations and warning signs must be standardized. Hazard resolution often requires a combination of the methods of control. The use of warning, caution and other forms of written advisories alone to control undesirable risks will be carefully reviewed to ensure that no other additional measures are possible. Hazards classified as "unacceptable" are not permissible.