Items Tagged with 'Stop-work authority'

New York — A new guidance document from the New York City Department of Buildings is intended to provide local construction employers and workers with insight on why a stop-work order may be issued at a worksite.

Pittsburgh — A new guide on stop-work authority from the United Steelworkers is aimed at helping workers develop and bargain for programs that allow them to halt unsafe or unhealthy operations and processes until hazards are abated.

Stop-work authority permits any employee at any level to halt a job or task when a hazardous situation appears imminent. “We’ll stop work any time of the week, any hour of the day to prevent that injury,” one safety pro says.

A recent survey shows that more than 70 percent of construction firms expect to add to their workforce in 2016. As the construction market heats up in many sectors, what can employers do to help keep construction workers – particularly new or inexperienced workers – safe?

Every worker has the right to stop work if he or she feels unsafe. But is that enough? Some experts say employers should empower workers to halt an unsafe task or situation regardless of who is performing it.