Which of the following is NOT listed as an example of workplace controls?

• A. Hand washing
• B. Gloves
• C. Sharps disposal
• D. Cough etiquette

Answer: (D)

Workplace controls are the measures put in place in the work environment to directly reduce exposure to hazards, especially for infection prevention. Hand washing, wearing gloves, and proper sharps disposal are classic examples of these controls because they modify the workplace processes or PPE to lower risk of contact with contaminated materials.

Cough etiquette, while important for preventing respiratory transmission, is considered more of a general infection-prevention practice or administrative behavior rather than a specific workplace-control measure. It’s about how individuals act to limit spread, rather than a physical or procedural control implemented in the work setting. That’s why it’s not listed as a workplace control in this context, even though it remains important in overall safety.