Control Measures & Hierarchy of Controls

Control Measures & Hierarchy of Controls

Control measures are the actions, procedures, and equipment used to reduce identified risks to an acceptable level. NexusRMS enforces the HSE-standard Hierarchy of Controls at the model level, ensuring that all risk mitigation follows recognised best practice and that higher-order controls are always prioritised over lower-order ones.

Hierarchy of Controls

Rank	Type	Description	Example
1	Elimination	Physically remove the hazard entirely	Use ground-level alternatives instead of working at height
2	Substitution	Replace with something less hazardous	Use water-based paint instead of solvent-based
3	Engineering Controls	Isolate people from the hazard	Guard rails, barriers, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems
4	Administrative Controls	Change the way people work	Training, permits to work, signage, supervision protocols
5	PPE	Personal protective equipment (last resort)	Hard hat, safety harness, gloves, high-visibility clothing

The hierarchy rank is auto-assigned when a control measure is created, based on the selected control type. This ensures consistent ordering and prevents accidental misclassification.

Control Measure Fields

Each control measure record contains the following fields:

• Type — one of the five hierarchy levels (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE)
• Description — detailed explanation of the control measure and how it reduces the risk
• PPE Required — whether this control requires specific PPE items
• Training Required — whether personnel need specific training to implement this control
• Supervision Required — whether ongoing supervision is needed to maintain the control
• Cost Estimate — estimated cost of implementing the control measure
• Responsible Person — the individual accountable for ensuring the control is implemented

Validation Rules

The system enforces several validation rules to ensure robust risk mitigation:

• Controls must exist — every identified hazard must have at least one control measure assigned
• High-risk hazards need multiple controls — hazards rated High or Critical require more than one control measure
• Cannot rely solely on PPE — if the only controls are PPE (rank 5), the system raises a warning; higher-order controls should be considered first
• Hierarchy ordering — controls are displayed and evaluated in hierarchy order (rank 1 first, rank 5 last)

Smart Suggestions

The suggestControlsForHazard function analyses the hazard category and risk level to recommend appropriate control measures:

• High and Critical risks — suggestions focus on the top three hierarchy levels (elimination, substitution, and engineering controls)
• Medium risks — suggestions include engineering and administrative controls
• Low risks — administrative controls and PPE may be sufficient

Pre-Built Control Templates

The system includes pre-built control templates for common hazard categories, saving time during RAMS document creation:

• Working at Height — edge protection, harness systems, rescue plans, scaffolding inspection
• Manual Handling — mechanical aids, team lifts, load assessment, training
• Electrical — isolation procedures, RCD protection, PAT testing, competent persons
• Rigging — load calculations, secondary retention, inspection regimes, exclusion zones

Cost Tracking

The calculateControlCosts function aggregates cost estimates across all control measures for a given hazard. This provides visibility into the financial investment required for risk mitigation and supports budgeting decisions during project planning.

PPE Requirements Aggregation

Across all control measures within a RAMS document, the system automatically aggregates a unique list of PPE items required. This consolidated list appears in the PPE Requirements section of the document, ensuring that all necessary protective equipment is identified in a single reference without duplication.

Training Requirements Aggregation

Similarly, training requirements are aggregated across all control measures to produce a single comprehensive list of training needs. This enables project managers to verify that all crew members hold the required qualifications before work commences, and to arrange any additional training in advance of mobilisation.