Stop Work Authority “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” Albert Einstein

Agenda What is Stop Work Authority Levels of SWA Roles and Responsibilities Situations that may require Stop Work Action Stop Work v Shut Down Stop Work Authority Process (S.A.F.E.) Management Follow-up Conflict Resolution Retribution Training Tracking Process Map Discussion and Questions

What is Stop Work Authority (SWA) SWA programs provide employees w/ the responsibility and obligation to stop work when a perceived unsafe condition or behavior is recognized. Every employee is empowered and expected to keep an eye out for potentially unsafe situations or processes and stop the job until the problem is corrected. “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” Martin Luther King Jr.

Levels of (SWA) Level One: Immediate Correction - This is a situation where you see somebody doing something unsafe and ask them to change that behavior to prevent injury to themselves or another employee. Example: A person not wearing their face shield when using a grinder. If you see this you should remind them of the need to wear a face shield. The person w/ the grinder should put on their face shield and the concern ends. Congratulations! You've made the job site/shop a safer place and possibly prevented somebody from losing an eye. If the unsafe condition or action can be corrected immediately, there is no need for further action.

Levels of (SWA) Level Two: Delayed Correction - The second level of Stop Work Authority occurs when the safety concern cannot be immediately corrected, and the work needs to stop until an acceptable fix can be put into place. Example: An example might be where an employee is spotted climbing onto a piece of equipment from which they could fall. If you see this and tell the employee your concern, and the employee says, "I'll just go get an aerial lift so that I can reach it safely," then you are back at the first level of Stop Work Authority. But if neither you nor the employee know an immediate fix, you are at the second level. Perhaps the employee would need scaffolding, fall protection equipment or an aerial lift. If the solution is not apparent right away, the job must be stopped, Safety and/or Management must be notified.

Levels of (SWA) Things to remember: If you are the employee whose is stopping work, remember to be non-confrontational. If you are the employee whose work is stopped, remember that the person who stopped you is trying to help you. Contact your supervisor immediately to let them know the concern so that a solution can be found as soon as possible. Level 2 of Stop Work Authority should be used when needed to prevent an unsafe, quick fix from being used. These are the times when deliberate investigation into a solution is required. “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.” Oprah Winfrey

Rolls and Responsibilities Senior Management: Creates a culture that promotes SWA, establishes clear expectations and responsibilities. Demonstrates support for using SWA w/o the potential for retribution. Resolves SWA conflicts when they arise. Holds employees and contractors accountable for full compliance w/ the SWA program. Supervisors and Managers: Promotes a culture where SWA is freely exercised, SWA request are honored and resolved before resuming operations. Ensures necessary stop work follow-up is completed. HSEQ Department: Provides training, support, documentation and monitors compliance of the SWA program. Company employees and contractors: Initiate stop work (in good faith) and support stop work initiated by others.

Situations that may require Stop Work Action Stop Work Authority should be initiated for conditions or behaviors that threaten danger or imminent danger to person(s), equipment or the environment. Change in conditions Changes to scope of work or work plan Emergency situation Equipment used improperly Lack of knowledge, understanding or information Near Miss incident Unsafe conditions

Stop Work vs Shut Down Stop Work = a temporary stoppage of the work to correct a hazard Shut Down = a permanent stoppage of the work due to a hazard that cannot be corrected and poses an imminent threat to the safety of employees or equipment. When SWA is initiated, we are not shutting down the job site and going home. We are going to asses the situation/hazard and re-evaluate.

Stop Work Authority Process S.A.F.E. Stop: When an employee or contractor perceives condition(s) or behavior(s) that pose imminent danger to person(s), equipment or environment he or she must immediately initiate a stop work intervention w/ the person(s) potentially at risk. If the supervisor is readily available and the affected person(s), equipment or environment is not in imminent danger, coordinate the stop work action through the supervisor. The stop work action should be clearly initiated as a stop work action and initiated in a non-combative manner.

Stop Work Authority Process S.A.F.E. Alert: Alert affected personnel and supervision of the stop work action. If necessary, stop work activities that are associated w/ the work area in question. Make the area(s) as safe as possible by removing personnel and stabilizing the situation. Affected personnel will discuss the situation and come to an agreement on the stop work action. If all parties come to an agreement the condition or behavior is safe to proceed w/out modifications, (e.g. the initiator was unaware of certain information or circumstances), the affected persons should show appreciation to the SWA initiator for their concern and then resume work. The SWA is complete at this point and no further steps are needed. [Level 1] If it is determined and agreed the SWA is valid, the condition(s) or behavior(s) that pose threats or imminent danger to person(s), equipment or the environment must be resolved before restarting work. Work will be suspended until a proper resolution is achieved. [Level 2]

Stop Work Authority Process S.A.F.E. Fix: Modifications to the affected area(s) will be made according to the corrections agreed upon by all parties involved. The affected area(s) will then be inspected by qualified experts to verify completeness of the modifications and to verify all safety issues have been properly resolved. The solution and completion of modifications will then be recorded to document the stop work action.

Stop Work Authority Process S.A.F.E. Execute: The affected area(s) will be reopened for work by personnel w/ restart authority. All affected employees and contractors will be notified of what corrective actions were implemented and that work will recommence. In the event an employee still believes it is unsafe, they will be assigned to another job w/ absolutely no retribution.

Management Follow-up General Super/Superintendent: will provide the root cause analysis to the stop work action and identify any potential opportunities for improvement.  HSEQ Director (Manager/Coordinator): will publish the incident details regarding the stop work action to all management and employees outlining the issue, corrective action and lessons learned. Sr. Management (Safety Committee): will promptly review all stop work reports in order to identify any additional investigation or required follow-up. 

Conflict Resolution It is important to have a defined process for conflict resolution in case opinions differ in regards to the validity of a stop work action, corrective actions or the decision to resume work. All opinions should be noted, however, a clearly defined protocol must be included in the Stop Work Authority Program to provide prompt conflict resolution. Persons with proper authority to make the final determination may include senior management and HSEQ managers who are not associated with the conflict.

Retribution It must be noted that no retribution will follow a stop work action initiated in good faith even if it is deemed unnecessary. Personnel must not feel apprehensive to act on their obligation to initiate a stop work action.

Training The importance of initial and ongoing training should not be underestimated. Implementing a Stop Work Authority Program that is understood by all personnel is paramount to ensuring success.

Tracking Tracking SWA occurrences helps with the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and identifies areas for improvement. “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection” Mark Twain

Stop Work Authority Process Map

Discussion & Questions