Engineering Controls

Engineering controls are used to remove a hazard or place a barrier between the worker and the hazard. This is the preferred method of mitigating hazards, since it the most effective, and usually requires the least amount of effort from the user. Examples of engineering controls are:

1.	Fume Hoods
		Fume hoods will be covered in a separate document
2.	Glove Boxes
		Glove boxes are usually used for handling chemicals that are sensitive to air. The air in the glove box is usually replaced with an inert gas. It is important to be sure that the inert gas being used is inert to the materials being used.
3.	General Laboratory Ventilation
		For many chemicals, general laboratory ventilation is sufficient to maintain a concentration in the air that is below an action level. Dilute solutions of many reagents fall into this category. If there is any doubt, a fume hood should be used.
4.	Blast Shields
		Blast shields can be used in cases where an energetic reaction is being performed. They are also useful for operations that could produce a significant splash.
5.	Remote Controls
		Remote controls allow an experiment to be performed from a safe area that is separated from the experiment. As an example, the accelerator at PRIME Lab can be operated by computer control which is isolated from any radiation being produced by the experiment.