Which of the following is an engineering control to reduce inhalation exposure?

• A. Local exhaust ventilation
• B. Personal protective equipment
• C. Administrative controls
• D. Job rotation

Answer: (A)

Engineering controls reduce inhalation exposure by removing or isolating the hazard at the source. Local exhaust ventilation does this by capturing airborne contaminants as they’re generated and transporting them away from the breathing zone through ductwork to be exhausted outside the workspace. This lowers the concentration of the hazard in the air workers inhale, without relying on workers to change behavior or apply protective gear.

Protective equipment, such as respirators, provides a barrier but relies on proper use and fit and doesn’t reduce the hazard at its source. Administrative controls, including work practices or rotating tasks, change how the work is done or how long workers are exposed, but they don’t lower the contaminant concentration in the breathing zone. Job rotation is a type of administrative control that reduces exposure duration rather than removing the source of exposure.