As summer comes to an end, we must remain focused on the fundamentals: leaders being present in the field to reinforce safe behaviors, keeping Absolutes and Standards non-negotiable and learning from incidents and near misses to prevent future events. Watch this leader video for insights to help keep that focus strong the rest of the year, then read on for an introduction to September’s Environmental Compliance, Health and Safety topic: Stop Work Authority.
Stop Work Authority
Every employee has the authority to stop work when something does not look, sound or feel safe. No task, schedule, production goal or customer commitment is more important than protecting our people, communities and the environment. All employees are empowered to:
- Stop working immediately when a hazard or risk is identified
- Communicate the concern to your supervisor and all affected personnel
- Assess the concern and work with the team to control the hazard
- Resume work only after the hazard or risk has been controlled and it is safe to proceed
Using Stop Work Authority is not only accepted but also expected. Speaking up protects you, your coworkers, our customers and the communities we serve.