What Is a Mitigating Control?

When most people think about risk controls, they immediately focus on prevention – how to stop something bad from happening in the first place. But what happens when prevention isn’t enough, or a failure slips through the cracks? That’s where mitigating controls come into play.

Mitigating controls are the unsung heroes in our risk management toolkit. They don’t stop an incident from occurring – instead, they reduce the impact if it does.

First responders and medical evacuation teams are powerful examples of mitigating controls – they reduce harm when incidents do occur.

Understanding Mitigating Controls in Simple Terms

Put simply, a mitigating control is something that minimises harm once the hazard has been triggered. Think of it like an airbag in a car. It doesn’t stop the crash, but it reduces the severity of injuries if one occurs.

In workplaces, mitigating controls are vital for managing residual risk – the level of risk that remains even after prevention efforts are in place. They form the second line of defence when your preventative measures fail or are bypassed.

Real-World Examples of Mitigating Controls

To help make it real, here are a few everyday examples:

Fire suppression systems in a commercial kitchen. They don’t stop the fire from starting, but they control it quickly to prevent catastrophic damage.
Emergency shutdown systems on machinery. If a critical fault occurs, these systems reduce harm by halting operations before it escalates.
First aid and medical response. You can’t undo an injury, but timely treatment can significantly reduce long-term harm or complications.
Spill containment kits. They don’t stop a spill from happening, but they help limit environmental and health impacts.
Rescue and emergency crews, as shown above – essential when time is critical.

How Are Mitigating Controls Different from Preventative Controls?

Let’s break it down:

Preventative controls aim to stop the hazard from becoming an incident.
Mitigating controls aim to reduce the consequences after the hazard has triggered the event.

Both are crucial, and most high-risk work environments need a layered approach with controls that prevent, detect, and respond.

Are Mitigating Controls Ever Critical Controls?

Absolutely. In high-consequence environments like mining, construction, or community services, mitigating controls can absolutely be critical. If a specific mitigating control is the only barrier between an event and serious harm – such as a fatality or major financial loss – it should be classified and treated as a critical control.

The key is to assess:

The consequence if the control fails
Whether there is anything else protecting you from harm

If the answer is “nothing else,” or “this is our last line of defence,” then it’s a good candidate for a critical control.

Why Do Mitigating Controls Get Overlooked?

In my experience, many businesses unintentionally over-focus on prevention and under-resource mitigation. There’s a common belief that if we just “do everything right,” we won’t need mitigation.

But this sets us up for failure when something does go wrong – and it certainly can.

A well-rounded risk program must accept that things can and do fail, and build resilience through smart, well-designed mitigating controls.

The Bottom Line

Mitigating controls might not stop the incident, but they play a critical role in limiting harm, protecting people, and supporting recovery. They are especially important in dynamic, high-risk, or complex environments – where prevention alone isn’t always enough.

If you're unsure which of your controls are preventative or mitigating – or whether they’re even controls at all – it’s time to take a closer look. Getting this right could mean the difference between a near miss and a life-altering event.

Need help reviewing or verifying your mitigating controls?

Book a Critical Control Verification Workshop or explore our tools for developing fit-for-purpose control performance standards today. Don’t wait until after an incident to find out your controls weren’t working.

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