{"id":9743,"date":"2022-01-31T09:54:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T09:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/groupe-novallia.com\/blog\/the-3-levels-of-prevention\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T13:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T13:27:56","slug":"the-3-levels-of-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/groupe-novallia.com\/en\/blog\/the-3-levels-of-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 levels of prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Occupational risk prevention covers all measures taken to protect employee health and safety and improve working conditions.<\/p>

This is a statutory obligation, enshrined in the French Labor Code and taken up by the WHO.<\/p>

The 3 pillars of prevention<\/h2>

Prevention is divided into 3 pillars: primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.<\/p>

Primary prevention<\/h3>

combines actions taken upstream of the risk, acting on risk factors to combat the risk at source. It’s the most effective and indispensable! <\/p>

Secondary prevention<\/h3>

intervenes when risks are present and seeks to limit damage and eliminate risks<\/p>

Tertiary prevention<\/h3>

acts when the disease is already present, and is more curative than preventive. It is, however, less effective than primary prevention. <\/p>

The 9 general principles of prevention<\/h2>

The French Labor Code highlights 9 general prevention principles applicable to all risks, to guide action.<\/p>

1. AVOID RISKS :<\/h3>

eliminate the hazard or exposure to it.<\/p>

2. ASSESS UNAVOIDABLE RISKS :<\/h3>

assess their nature and importance in order to determine the actions to be taken to ensure the safety and health of workers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. COMBAT RISKS AT SOURCE :<\/h3>

integrate prevention into the design of workplaces, equipment and operating procedures. (e.g. acting as close as possible to the source of emissions). <\/p>

4. ADAPTING WORK TO PEOPLE :<\/h3>

adapt the design of workstations, the choice of equipment, work and production methods, to limit monotonous work and cadenced work.<\/p>

5. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE STATE OF THE ART :<\/h3>

keep abreast of technical and organizational developments.<\/p>

6. REPLACE<\/h3>

what is dangerous by what is not. Avoid using hazardous processes or products when the same result can be obtained with a less hazardous method (replacing a carcinogenic product with a less harmful one, or using solvent-free paints, for example). <\/p>

7. PLAN<\/h3>

prevention by integrating into a coherent whole, technology, work organization, working conditions, social relations and the influence of environmental factors, in particular the risks associated with moral harassment, as defined in article L.1152-1.<\/p>

8. TAKE COLLECTIVE PROTECTION MEASURES<\/h3>

giving them priority over individual protection measures. Personal protective equipment is only used to supplement collective protection if the latter proves insufficient. <\/p>

9. GIVE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS TO WORKERS :<\/h3>

by providing them with the information they need to carry out their tasks in optimum safety conditions. In particular, this means providing them with the information they need to fully understand the risks involved, and to involve them in the prevention process. <\/p>

Reminder of the French Labor Code article: REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS Article L. 4121-1: the employer takes the necessary measures to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of workers. Article L4121-2 and L. 4121-3: the employer assesses risks and implements measures based on the 9 FOLLOWING GENERAL PREVENTION PRINCIPLES (a method of analysis and action on occupational risks which must be followed by the company manager). <\/em><\/p>

A short film on the 9 general principles of prevention, by INRS<\/h2>