Stop Work Principle

The cornerstone of Hampton Tedder’s Safety Commitment is having all employees take personal responsibility to STOP work when they observe hazardous conditions or unsafe actions. This is supported by fostering an environment where employees are comfortable speaking up.

Here are are some tips about how to STOP work.

Stop Work Considerations:

  • You have the responsibility and authority to STOP work whenever you observe a dangerous situation
  • If you see somebody doing something unsafe, ask them to change their behavior to prevent injury to themselves, another employee, or a customer
  • Remind others that their safety and the safety of others is at risk – it is expected that the person observed will immediately stop the activity and make the necessary changes to create a safe situation.

Examples of unsafe situations to address:

  • Reading or texting while walking
  • Going up/down stairs without holding the handrail
  • Driving too fast in parking lot
  • Driving without a hands-free device
  • Driving with laptop screen in the upright position
  • Observing work being performed without the proper personal protective equipment

Examples of work site situations to question, include:

  • Equipment to be used shows signs of tampering
  • Deteriorated panel or wiring
  • Improper installation of wiring
  • Required safety guards or safety tools are missing or unavailable
  • Weather or road conditions cause wet, slippery, or exceptionally rough or narrow access