Specific hazards occur in many work areas. These must first be evaluated as part of a risk assessment and eliminated at their source in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
In practice, however, this is often impossible, as hazards in everyday working life can never be eliminated one hundred percent. For this reason, the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health stipulates that occupational safety measures should be prioritized according to the TOP principle (Section 4 (2) BetrSichV).
The TOP principle describes a hierarchy of measures in occupational health and safety and defines a specific sequence of measures: technical protective measures are prioritized, followed by organizational measures and finally personal protective measures. It is a principle designed to help counter accidents and health hazards systematically and effectively.
The most important facts in brief
✓ The TOP principle in occupational health and safety prioritizes measures to minimize hazards: first technical, then organizational, and finally personal protective measures.
✓ Technical measures are the most effective as they tackle hazards at source, followed by organizational measures and PPE as the final protective barrier.
✓ The application of the TOP principle in the risk assessment ensures the systematic identification and implementation of suitable protective measures.
Basics of the TOP principle
TOP is an abbreviation and stands for technical, organizational and personal measures in occupational health and safety. Technical measures always have priority in the ranking, followed by organizational and then personal protective measures.
Technical measures: These include the use of technical aids or modifications to a work tool, machine or process in order to reduce hazards. Technical protective measures work autonomously, i.e. without the further intervention of people. The aim is not "only" to reduce the hazards, but to prevent them from becoming effective at all, e.g. by physically separating the source of the hazard from the person.
Organizational measures: These are changes in the organization of work or processes to protect employees.
Personal measures: If hazards cannot be sufficiently minimized by technical or organizational measures, personal protective equipment should be provided and worn by employees.
Special regulation: The so-called STOP principle applies when handling hazardous substances. The "S" stands for substitution and comes first in the hierarchy. This means that it must be checked whether hazardous substances can be replaced by less critical substances. The stop principle is therefore an extension.
Hierarchy of measures in the TOP principle: Why are technical measures better than organizational measures?
Technical measures are often more effective as they can combat hazards directly at the source. For example, protective devices on machines or the use of safe materials can significantly reduce the risk of injuries or accidents.
They are also considered more reliable and less prone to human error or negligence as they are already integrated into the equipment or working environment.
In practice, a combination of technical, organizational and personal measures is often used. This makes sense and helps to develop a comprehensive occupational health and safety program. However, the choice of measures always depends on the risk assessment and the specific requirements of the workplace.
Integration of the TOP principle into the risk assessment process
Integrating the TOP principle into the risk assessment process is an essential step in ensuring safety in the workplace. This process always takes place in the following 7 steps:
1. definition of work areas and activities: The first step is to define the work areas and activities in the company.
2. identification of the hazards: At the beginning of the risk assessment, all potential sources of danger and risks in the workplace are identified through observation, analysis of work processes and discussions with employees.
3. assessment of the hazards: In order to determine the possible severity of damage and the probability of occurrence (e.g. using the Nohl risk matrix), the hazard factors are subdivided into e.g. mechanical or electrical hazards.
4. definition of the protective measures: The hierarchy of protective measures is now applied in accordance with the TOP principle:
Technical measures (T): First of all, technical solutions are considered to eliminate or reduce hazards at their source.
Organizational measures (O): If technical measures are not sufficient or not possible, organizational protective measures are taken.
Personal measures (P): The use of personal measures is considered as a last resort.
5. implementation of the protective measures: The selected protective measures are put into practice. This may include procuring equipment, training employees and monitoring compliance with safety regulations.
6. review the effectiveness of the protective measures: The effectiveness of the implemented occupational health and safety measures must be reviewed and updated if necessary.
7. updating the risk assessment: The risk assessment is continuously updated and adapted to current circumstances.
You can find sample instructions for carrying out the risk assessment in this article.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): role in the TOP principle
Personal measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety shoes or helmets, are considered as the last step in occupational safety if technical or organizational measures are not feasible or if there is still a risk despite their implementation.
Protective clothing is considered a personal protective measure and is used to protect the torso, arms and legs from hazards at work. There are different types of protective clothing that are specially adapted to different hazards.
Suitable protective clothing is selected as part of the risk assessment, which determines the risks it is intended to protect against.
It should be noted that protective clothing in accordance with the TOP principle is only considered after technical and organizational measures have been examined.
Examples of protective measures according to the TOP principle
Examples of technical measures: Installation of railings and fall protection on construction sites, use of a dead man's switch or a personal emergency signal system.
Examples of organizational measures: Training company first aiders, operating instructions, monitoring the company's compliance with safety guidelines or avoiding lone working by setting a minimum number of employees for certain activities.
Examples of personal measures: Provision of safety harnesses, safety shoes, helmets, safety goggles or other protective equipment designed to protect the torso, arms and legs from hazards at work. Suitable hearing protection when working in noisy environments is also considered a personal protective measure in occupational safety.
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