page_title: Engineering controls
section_title: Other
hierarchical_section_title: Engineering controls / Chemical and biological hazards / Other
caption_attribution_description: English: A “sticky mat,” demonstrating the collection of dirt and debris from shoes in a nanomaterial production facility. The use of walk off sticky mats at exits can help to reduce potential tracking of nanoparticles outside of the facility. Ideally engineering controls should eliminate the amount of dust collecting on the floor and a well-controlled work environment should have minimal dust collected from the shoes unlike this example.
context_page_description: Engineering controls are strategies designed to protect workers from hazardous conditions by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard or by removing a hazardous substance through air ventilation. Engineering controls involve a physical change to the workplace itself, rather than relying on workers' behavior or requiring workers to wear protective clothing.
  Engineering controls is the third of five members of the hierarchy of hazard controls, which orders control strategies by their feasibility and effectiveness. Engineering controls are preferred over administrative controls and personal protective equipment because they are designed to remove the hazard at the source, before it comes in contact with the worker. Well-designed engineering controls can be highly effective in protecting workers and will typically be independent of worker interactions to provide this high level of protection. The initial cost of engineering controls can be higher than the cost of administrative controls or PPE, but over the longer term, operating costs are frequently lower, and in some instances, can provide a cost savings in other areas of the process.
context_section_description: Other non-ventilation engineering controls in general cover a range of control measures, such as guards and barricades, material treatment, or additives.  One example is placing walk-off sticky mats at room exits.  Antistatic devices can be used when handling particulates including nanomaterials to reduce their electrostatic charge, making them less likely to disperse or adhere to clothing.  Water spray application is also an effective method for reducing respirable dust concentrations.
caption: A sticky mat in a nanomaterials production facility. Ideally, other engineering controls should lessen the amount of dust collecting on the floor and being tracked onto the sticky mat, unlike this example.[13]
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