Risk Management (RM) For Small Unit Leaders (SULs) Practice Test

The control measure hierarchy is the order of effectiveness used to reduce risk, starting from the most preventive to the most dependent on people. First, eliminate the hazard from the system if possible, or substitute a less hazardous option. If you can’t remove or substitute the hazard, use engineering controls that remove or reduce exposure at the source, such as guards or ventilation. When engineering controls aren’t enough or feasible, apply administrative controls that change how people work—policies, procedures, training, and scheduling. PPE sits last, as a final barrier when other controls can’t fully mitigate the risk. This ordering matters because it prioritizes fixes that reduce risk without relying on people’s behavior or compliance. It ensures the most robust protection is pursued first. So the best statement describes the sequence as eliminate hazard, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE.