Human Factor

   The primary objective of handovers is to ensure that all necessary information is communicated between the out-going and in-coming personnel. Effective task and shift handover depends on three basic elements:  • The outgoing person’s ability to understand and communicate the important elements of the job or task being passed over to the incoming person.  • The incoming person’s ability to understand and assimilate the information being provided by the outgoing person.  • A formalised process for exchanging information between outgoing and incoming persons and a place and time for such exchanges to take place.  Organisations should have a recognised procedure for task and shift handovers which all staff understand and adhere to. This procedure should be listed in the MOE.   Ideally the procedure should provide for sufficient time to be made available by way of a shift overlap, depending on the complexity of task(s) to be handed over. As a guidel...

 O ne team passes on tasks to another team . I nformation conveyed include: tasks that have been completed; tasks in progress, their status, any problems encountered, etc.;  tasks to be carried out; general company and technical information. Communication between teams  involves passing on written reports of tasks from  one shift supervisor to another -  backed up by spoken details Written reports (job cards, procedures, work orders, logs,  etc.)  Warning flags / placards provide a record of work completed and work yet to  be completed -  provide tractability.  Information communicated at shift handover ensures good continuity. It is important that handovers are not rushed, so as to minimize omissions. Communication Problems - lack of communication -  engineer who forgets to pass on pertinent information to a colleague,      or when a  written message is mislaid. Poor communication . -  ...