Safety Culture & Stop-Work Authority
A strong safety culture means everyone, from the newest helper to the owner, looks out for each other and speaks up. Stop-work authority gives you permission to pause any job you believe is unsafe.
- Construction
- General Industry
What stop-work authority means
Most companies give every worker the authority, and the responsibility, to stop a task when they see an imminent hazard, without fear of punishment. It is often written into the company safety program or the site safety plan. Ask your supervisor how it works on your site.
How to stop work
- Stop. Get the attention of the people involved. Use a clear, calm voice or a signal. With equipment, get the operator’s attention safely (eye contact, the stop signal) without walking into the danger zone.
- Explain. Say what you saw: “That trench has no box, and the wall is cracking.”
- Make it safe. Get people out of harm’s way.
- Notify. Tell your supervisor or the competent person.
- Fix it. Work resumes only when the hazard is corrected.
- Follow up. Report it so others can learn, even if nobody was hurt.
Tip: Stopping work is not about blame. Say “Hey, let’s take a second and look at this,” not “You’re doing it wrong.”
Signs of a strong safety culture
- Supervisors thank people for reporting hazards and near misses.
- Production pressure never beats safety: “If it’s not safe, we don’t do it.”
- Workers are involved in planning and hazard analysis.
- Experienced workers mentor new workers instead of hazing them.
- Equipment and PPE are maintained and replaced when needed.
Your legal protection
Federal law protects you from retaliation for raising safety concerns. Under certain conditions you also have the right to refuse dangerous work. See Your Rights as a Worker and Whistleblower Protection.
Standards & references
Last updated: