Control banding is a system that categorizes hazards into bands with associated controls to reduce the likelihood of work injuries. It was first used in the pharmaceutical industry and can be applied to any type of hazard. Governments provide recommendations for control bands to ensure worker safety.
Control banding is a technique used to provide a clearly defined set of safety measures for virtually any work environment. The system uses categories known as bands, which are essentially a graded set of severity levels for a given type of hazard. Each band also has an associated control, which can be used to reduce the likelihood of a hazard causing a work injury. Companies can use these bands and controls to easily assess any potential dangers in the workplace and then take the necessary precautions. Control tendering is typically regulated by government agencies, as each country has its own way of dealing with occupational safety.
The first industry where the control band was used was pharmaceuticals, although it has spread to other areas as well. As the pharmaceutical industry often works with chemicals that have not yet been fully tested, a technique was needed to govern the handling procedures. By placing known chemicals in cable ties and then applying a uniform set of handling procedures to new compounds with similar properties, it has become possible to provide workers with a sufficient level of safety.
There are several ways to configure gang control systems, although they all work on the same basic principles. One way is to create a series of different gangs, each referring to a particular level of danger and a method of dealing with it. An example is an airborne chemical that can be grouped into bands based on how many parts per million (PPM) are in the air. At a low concentration the control band may require ventilation, while a higher band may require the chemical to be placed in a sealed environment so it cannot mix with the air breathed by workers.
Control bands can also be addressed by creating a matrix composed of danger levels and how easily workers could be exposed to them. Low gravity and low exposure might require basic ventilation, while other locations in the matrix might require various controls or even isolation of the substance. These same processes can be applied to virtually any type of hazard, as control banding is not limited to chemical exposure.
To ensure worker safety, many governments provide companies with recommendations or requirements for control bands. The technique can be especially useful for small businesses, as they often lack the resources that larger companies have to do their own research. By examining the relevant bands, a small business can easily identify the proper controls needed to ensure employee safety.
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