What do administrative controls aim to change?

Administrative controls focus on managing people's exposure to hazards by altering work processes or schedules rather than modifying the physical environment. In the context of noise exposure, they aim to implement strategies such as rotating workers, adjusting work hours, or staggering shifts to limit the time workers spend in noisy environments. This approach helps to reduce the overall noise exposure without requiring immediate changes to the physical space or equipment.

While other approaches, such as changing the physical environment or equipment design, may also be effective in reducing noise, administrative controls specifically deal with managing how and when workers interact with that environment and exposure. This can be particularly important in situations where engineering controls are not feasible or immediate, emphasizing operational strategies to protect workers' health over structural changes.