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|  | Stop Work AuthorityUnsafe acts and conditions can occur at any time in the workplace, potentially leading to injuries, property damage, or harm to the environment. Recognizing and intervening when these situations arise is part of your Stop Work Authority—a critical responsibility that helps protect your safety, the safety of others, and the surrounding environment.
As a Â鶹´«Ã½ employee, you have both the authority and the responsibility to stop work—including work performed by contractors—if you observe unsafe acts or conditions. Stopping work allows the situation to be assessed and the necessary corrective actions to be taken, ensuring that work can safely resume.
If your school or unit requires it, please ensure your biennial Behavior-Based Safety training is current in myHR Learn. | |
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| Common situations requiring stop work action
- Working near fall hazards without adequate fall protection (e.g., rooftops)
- Potential hazardous energy release (e.g., steam, electricity)
- Unsafe ladder use (e.g., standing on the top rung of a self-supporting ladder)
- Insufficient personnel (e.g., no fire watch during welding activities)
- Changes in scope that introduce new hazards or require additional personnel or training
- Misuse or lack of proper tools or equipment for the job
- Inadequate training or a lack of understanding to perform tasks safely
- Incidents (e.g., injuries, property damage, or near misses)
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| Stop work authority steps
- Stop the work
If you observe an unsafe act or condition, immediately stop the work by notifying the individual(s) involved.
- Notify supervisors and EHS
Report the stop-work action to your supervisor and Â鶹´«Ã½ Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). Clearly explain why the work was stopped.
- Investigate the situation
The supervisor and EHS will review the scope of work, identify hazards, and assess the situation.
- Correct the issue
Corrective actions will be identified and implemented to address the unsafe condition (e.g., training, additional equipment, or tools). All hazards must be fully addressed before work can resume.
- Resume work safely
Once corrective measures are in place, work may resume. Ensure all affected personnel are informed.
- Follow-up
Preventive steps—such as inspections, updated training, safety meetings, or revised procedures—may be implemented to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
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|  | Job hazard analysisEffective job planning helps ensure that hazards are controlled or eliminated, reducing the need to stop work and preventing project delays or business disruptions.
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an essential tool for planning work. It breaks down each job step to identify potential hazards and outlines preventive or control measures to mitigate risks. Below are the basic steps for conducting a JHA:
- Select the job to analyze
- Break the job into steps and assign responsibilities for each step
- Identify potential hazards that could lead to injury (e.g., hazardous energy release, working at heights)
- Determine preventive measures for each hazard (e.g., lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment)
- Communicate the JHA plan to everyone involved
If you need assistance creating or performing a JHA, contact EHS at ehs@northwestern.edu. |
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