Hazards in everyday work can never be completely eliminated. To reduce the risk of work-related injuries or illnesses for employees, so-called safety measures are implemented. But how can occupational safety measures be prioritized? The TOP principle explained quickly and easily.
Hazards must always be eliminated directly at the source – this is stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Since this is not always smoothly implementable in practice, the Industrial Safety Regulation (§ 4 Abs. 2 BetrSichV) provides a hierarchy of protective measures to be taken. Three different measures are distinguished:
- technical measures
How can hazards at the source be eliminated?
Examples: ergonomic workstations, slip-resistant flooring, or the installation of barriers, railings, and safety nets - organizational measures
How can the exposure of employees be kept as short as possible, or how can as few people as possible be exposed to a safety risk?
Examples: job rotation, additional personnel deployment, adjustment of break regulations, or the restriction of hazardous areas for unauthorized personnel - personal (individual) measures
Can the first two measures be (not) implemented? Is there a residual risk?
Examples: safety shoes or safety helmets as part of personal protective equipment (PPE)
And what does the STOP principle state?
When working with hazardous substances, the so-called (S)TOP principle applies. The "S" stands for substitution. The principle suggests replacing hazardous substances with other means whenever possible, before applying other protective measures.
One measure alone is often not enough
In everyday business operations, it is common to have a bundle of action packages in which various measures are combined for implementation. Individual risk assessments help to evaluate hazards in advance and define appropriate measures.
Source:
- The TOP principle explains: Measures in occupational safety (haufe.de, Article from 05/23/2023)
- Operational Safety Regulation - BetrSichV) § 4 Grundpflichten des Arbeitgebers (Detail view)