This shift handover procedure:
A shift is a period of scheduled work time. An effective shift handover is the process of transferring responsibility for a job and the communication between shifts from one workgroup to another. It is a vital part of any high-risk shift-based operation and is essential to ensuring continuity of work and maintaining high standards with safety and quality shift handover reports.
A handover can happen either at the end of a shift or when someone is taking over from another person who is unavailable.
During a shift handover, the outgoing shift must ensure that all relevant information is passed on, this includes both verbal and written communications. This process guarantees continuity of work and minimises the risk of errors or misunderstandings.
A shift handover procedure is a process that is used to ensure continuity of day-to-day operations and the transfer of knowledge between shift managers and workers during a shift change.
The purpose of a shift handover is to ensure the effective communication to a person or workgroup, so they have all the vital information (e.g. safety incidents from the previous shift) they need to be successful in their role. This type of procedure is often used in industries where safety and quality is a major concern, such as in manufacturing or healthcare.
A shift handover from outgoing to incoming personnel can be either written communication and/or face to face verbal communication and must be commensurate with the complexity of the tasks being undertaken.
The handover of information should be conducted in such a way that the verification of information can be established by the incoming staff and/or by those personnel assuming responsibility for the continuation of the works.
Written handover information should be legible, clear and concise. The detail provided in written handover notes must be consistent with the information that would be conveyed in person (e.g. verbally).
Note: Handover forms and documentation must be signed by the person conducting the hand-over and countersigned by the person receiving the hand-over.