Which of the following is an engineering control in ICRA?

• A. Staff hand hygiene training
• B. PPE usage like N95
• C. Installing negative pressure ventilation and physical barriers
• D. Visitor restriction policy

Answer: (C)

Engineering controls are physical changes to the environment that reduce exposure without relying on people to change behavior. Installing negative pressure ventilation creates a pressure differential that keeps contaminated air from escaping the room, while physical barriers confine and direct airflow to limit contaminant spread. These environmental modifications tackle the hazard at its source and along its transmission path, which is the essence of an engineering control. The other options relate to behavior, access, or personal protection rather than altering the environment: training staff in hand hygiene is administrative/educational, PPE usage is protective equipment worn by individuals, and a visitor restriction policy governs access rather than the environment itself. Therefore, the described ventilation and barriers best fit an engineering control.