Stop Work Order — Alberta OHS
A stop work order is an OHS order issued by an Alberta OHS officer that requires all work — or a specific type of work — to stop immediately until a hazard is corrected and the officer is satisfied that work can safely resume. Continuing work in violation of a stop work order is a separate offence.
A stop work order is the most immediate type of OHS order in Alberta. When an OHS officer believes that work is creating an immediate danger to workers, they can issue a stop work order on the spot. Work must stop immediately — not after the shift, not after the job is finished, immediately.
What triggers a stop work order
Stop work orders are issued when an OHS officer observes or has reasonable grounds to believe that a condition at the worksite creates an immediate danger to the health or safety of a person. Common triggers include: unguarded excavations, workers without fall protection at height, energized equipment being worked on without lockout, and structural instability.
An officer does not need to wait for an incident to occur. If they believe the risk is immediate, they can issue the order.
What you must do when a stop work order is issued
Work on the affected area or activity must stop immediately. Workers must be removed from the danger zone. The hazard must be corrected — not just documented, actually corrected.
Once the employer believes the hazard has been corrected, they must notify the OHS officer. In most cases, the officer will return to the site to verify the correction before authorizing work to resume. Do not assume work can resume without officer confirmation.
Consequences of ignoring a stop work order
Continuing work in violation of a stop work order is a separate offence from the original contravention. Under the Alberta OHS Act, fines for individuals can reach $100,000 per offence and fines for corporations can reach $500,000 per offence. Officers can also recommend prosecution.
Beyond the legal consequences, continuing work under a stop work order exposes the employer to significant liability if a worker is injured.
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