As a diesel mechanic, your safety should be your company’s top priority. Whether you work on semi trucks, heavy equipment, small engines or other types of machinery and equipment, you will encounter hazards at work.
Paying attention, working with caution, speaking up when you see something wrong and performing job safety assessments are ways to prevent injuries and incidents. Here are more safety tips.
Beyond this, U.S. federal law requires employers to provide their team members with a safe and healthy workplace. Stop Work Authority (SWA) is one way companies do this.
I’ve worked on the RDO Equipment Co. safety team for over five years, where we educate on, facilitate and oversee many of our company’s safety protocols.
I know SWA can be confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with this term. The most important thing to understand is that when you feel unsafe at work, stop what you’re doing until corrective actions are taken.
Let’s talk more about SWA and how it impacts your job as a diesel mechanic.
What is Stop Work Authority (SWA)?
Stop Work Authority is a program implemented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This gives every company’s workers and contractors the responsibility, authority and obligation to halt work when they observe unsafe behaviors or situations.
Along with SWA, the Occupational Safety and Health Act protects you as an employee by preventing companies from retaliating (firing, disciplining, demoting, etc.) because you refused to do unsafe work.
Stop Work Authority: 6-Step Process
When it comes to the implementation of SWA in the workplace, a six-step process is used:
- Stop: Stop work immediately when you, or someone around you, observe(s) unsafe behaviors or conditions that could harm persons, the environment or equipment.
- Notify: Notify your colleagues and supervisors of any hazards and that a stop-work intervention is in place.
- Investigate: Investigate the situation and environment. Discuss whether work can be resumed or if corrections need to be made.
- Necessary corrections: Make all necessary corrections, followed by an inspection by an expert to ensure the issues have been fixed and that it’s safe to work again.
- Resume work: Resume work only after a qualified expert/authority has approved and the issue has been resolved.
- Follow-up: Follow-up investigations should be conducted by your company’s management team and plans for improvement/future mitigation should be completed.
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How Does SWA Apply To Your Job as a Mechanic?
You do valuable work every day. However, it’s important that you feel safe while doing this work. As a technician, you have the ability and, in many cases, the responsibility to initiate a stop-work order when you feel unsafe.
This includes situations where you see visible hazards on a machine, observe other people’s dangerous behaviors or feel uncomfortable moving forward for any reason.
SWA contributes to a culture of safety in the workplace. If everyone in your shop or out in the field uses it fully, everyone can be safer.
Unfortunately, SWA isn’t used every time it can be. Reasons mechanics hesitate/decide not to use SWA include:
- When the situation is perceived as not dangerous
- When they second-guess what they’re seeing
- When they don’t feel like they have the authority to say anything
- When they think someone else will deal with it
All of these can impact your safety as a mechanic — and the safety of your shop.
When in doubt, exercise your right to stop working.
Work For a Safe Company
One of the best ways to stay safe at work is to work for a company that takes safety seriously every day. This kind of employer will empower you to exercise your voice when it comes to safety.
Finding a company that builds safety into its culture can be difficult. But it’s never been more important. Here are some things to look for when choosing your next employer as a diesel technician.
Here at RDO, the safety of our team members is our top priority. Learn more about 10 things we do to create a safe environment for our teams around the U.S.
As a growing organization, we’re constantly looking to add talented service technicians to our stores. Discover an RDO’s service technician opportunity near you and take the next step in your journey toward building a career you’re proud of.
Macy Pueppke
Macy has been with RDO Equipment Co. since 2017. Over this time, Macy has played a key role in creating and maintaining our safety culture at RDO. In her role, Macy works closely with each of our store locations, to promote the safety of every team member. No two days are the same in her position, which she really enjoys. Witnessing the impact of her team’s work as they strive to help team members get home safely every day is what she enjoys most.
