In risk management controls, which option is the first line of defense?

• A. Elimination of hazard
• B. PPE
• C. Design and engineering solutions
• D. Administrative controls

Answer: (C)

Engineering controls address hazards at the source by changing the design or setup of a system to reduce or eliminate exposure. They are the most reliable way to prevent incidents because they work without depending on people to behave in a certain way. By incorporating guards, interlocks, ventilation, or redesigning components, the risk is lowered before any actions by workers are even needed. If a hazard can’t be removed through design, other layers like administrative controls or PPE come in, but they rely more on human behavior and compliance. So the first line of defense in risk management controls is the design and engineering solution.