Stop Work
Every employee has the authority to stop work when an unsafe condition or act could result in an undesirable event or when the health, safety and environmental risk is not clearly established or understood. Employees will not be reprimanded for issuing a Stop Work. Examples of Stop Work include, but not limited to:
- Unsafe Conditions
- Significant Near Miss
- Emergency Situations
- Chand in Conditions
- Employees/Environment at Risk
- Unsafe Actions or Behaviors
- Incident Occurs
- Alarms
- Changes in scope of work
- Equipment not fully working properly or malfunctioning
If an employee does not feel comfortable, feels as though it is not the right thing to do, or is not properly trained to perform that task, the employee has the right to Stop work. Management, safety and foreman will support the decision of the employee performing the Stop Work. Work will not continue until a plan is in place in order to properly and safely perform that task. See below the six steps to follow in the event of a stop work:
- Stop Work
- Notify Supervisor or Safety
- Investigate the event
- Correct- Elimination, Engineering control, Administrative Controls, or Personal Protective Equipment
- Resume work
- Follow-up
Stop Work authority may be issued by any employee no matter who directs you to perform the work or complete the work. Whether that be the supervisor, journeyman, client/customer, contractor or any other individual that may or may not work for the company.
Management, safety and foreman will support the decision of the employee performing the Stop Work. Work will not continue until a plan is in place in order to properly and safely perform that task.
