DID YOU KNOW?
OSHA protects employees against retaliation for refusing in "good faith" to perform dangerous work [2]
STAY INFORMED
- Many serious workplace incidents are preceded by warning signs, unsafe conditions, or changes in the job that someone noticed before the accident occurred.
- Stop Work Authority, or SWA for short, gives employees a formal way to act on those warning signs before they become injuries.
- SWA can be used when conditions differ from the plan or hazard analysis, when safeguards or PPE are missing, when equipment is damaged or malfunctioning, when weather or operating conditions change unexpectedly, and when you are unsure a task can be completed safely. [1]
HELPFUL TIPS
- Speak up immediately; clearly communicate the hazard that resulted in the work stoppage
- Make the area safe; pause the task, secure equipment, contain energy sources, and keep others away from the hazard
- Correct the hazard before resuming; do not restart until confirming the issue has been adequately mitigated
- Support others who stop work; a strong safety culture encourages employees to raise concerns without fear of retaliation or embarrassment