24/7 operations leave managers and workers especially vulnerable to communication breakdowns due to the effects of fatigue, shift changes and long breaks built into the schedule. Bill Sirois, senior vice president and COO for Circadian, suggests ways to increase communication and decrease accidents. Electronic or paper log books should be used at every shift with the lead foreman or supervisor monitoring them, he says. Utilize bulletin boards and e-mail or computer networks for one- or two-page briefings. He adds that shift overlaps and meetings should be scheduled weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on the job. “Consistency is what is especially important,” Sirois says. “Then it becomes second nature.” To read more, click here.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers