Stop Work Authority
You’ve learned the theories (HFACS), spotted the hazards (Fatal Four), and understood the pre-conditions (Fatigue). This final, crucial step gives you and our talent the power to act when a hazard becomes an immediate, intolerable danger. This is our Escalation Protocol and the non-negotiable “Stop Work” Authority.
What is “Stop Work” Authority?
“Stop Work” Authority means that every single employee—from a field worker to our CEO—has the right and the responsibility to halt any activity they believe is immediately endangering a life or limb. This right is non-negotiable, and using it will never result in retaliation.
The Immediate Danger Check
Train yourself and our candidates to use this filter for intervention. You must stop work immediately if you see:
- Missing Fall Protection: A worker above six feet with no harness or tie-off point.
- Unshored Trench: An unprotected trench deeper than five feet.
- Unguarded Machinery: Equipment with missing guards where hands or clothes could be caught.
- Impairment/Incapacity: A worker who is visibly ill, impaired, or dangerously fatigued.
These scenarios represent the holes in the Swiss Cheese lining up for a catastrophic event.
The Escalation Chain: Act First, Report Second
When a worker calls you from a site with an immediate safety concern, or if you spot one during a site visit, follow these two critical steps:
- Immediate Action (Worker’s Role): Instruct the worker to Stop Work immediately, move to a safe location, and call their direct supervisor (at the client site) to report the hazard.
- Report and Resolution (Your Role): You must immediately call the designated internal contact (e.g., Safety Manager or Operations Lead) and the client contact. Your role is to ensure the hazard is corrected before work resumes, and to guarantee the worker is protected from any form of retaliation.
By giving our talent the assurance that we support their use of Stop Work Authority, we are adding the most powerful and resilient layer to our safety defense system.