If you witness a colleague acting unsafely but you do not have clear authority to intervene, what is the appropriate sequence of actions?

• A. Confront them immediately and demand changes.
• B. Prioritize safety, calmly intervene if possible, report concerns through the proper chain of command, and document what you observed.
• C. Ignore it and hope it resolves itself.
• D. Wait for someone with authority to handle it.

Answer: (B)

The sequence centers on protecting people now and using the right process to handle safety concerns. If you see unsafe behavior and you don’t have formal authority, first prioritize safety and intervene only if you can do so without increasing risk. This means calmly de-escalating the situation, removing someone from immediate danger, or pausing the activity so no one is harmed.

If you can’t intervene safely, or once the immediate risk is addressed, report the concerns through the proper chain of command so those with authority can take formal action. Document what you observed—dates, times, people involved, and the actions taken—so there’s a clear record for follow-up and accountability.

This approach protects people in the moment, ensures management is alerted, and creates an auditable trail for safety reviews. Confronting aggressively bypasses proper channels and can escalate risk; ignoring it or waiting for someone else to act delays protection and fails to meet duty to maintain safety.