AT 1005 THE JEWELL CHIPPY HOISTMAN CALLED AND STATED THE HOIST WAS DOWN. ELECTRICIANS AND UPPER MGMT. WERE INFORMED. WE THEN CALLED THE HOISTMAN TO CONFIRM THE HOIST WAS NOT OPERATING. THE HOI ST WAS OPERATING AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. WE DECIDED THAT UNTIL WE COULD DETERMINE THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM, WE WOULD CONSIDE THE HOIST DOWN AND START IMMEDIATE EVACUATION AT 1020.