In the years leading to the August 6, 2012, incident, the Chevron Richmond Refinery identified
weaknesses in its Stop Work Authority program due to employee hesitation to use Stop Work
Authority when witnessing an unsafe act. The Refinery also identified a decline in employee
perception of its mechanical integrity programs. However, the regulator did not require the
Chevron Richmond Refinery to take quality, constructive steps to improve these areas. Had steps
been taken before the incident to encourage employees to use their Stop Work Authority or to
determine why the refinery’s mechanical integrity programs were seen as deficient, the August 6,
2012, pipe rupture might have been prevented.