Delegation and Shift Handover Course: Shift handover basics

1. Question 1 of 16

   What is a shift handover?

   • AA pay adjustment for extra hours worked at the end of each shift
   • BPassing tasks and key information to the next person or team
   • CA planning meeting that a team holds once a year
   • DClocking out on the time system at the end of a shift
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   Answer: B. Passing tasks and key information to the next person or team

   Handover is the transfer of tasks and responsibilities between people or teams, for example at shift change.

2. Question 2 of 16

   According to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), what are the three parts of an effective handover?

   • AClocking in, a short coffee break, and clocking out at the end of the shift
   • BBriefing the team, training new staff, and testing their knowledge
   • CWriting the log, signing the log, and filing the log in the office
   • DPreparing, handing over, and cross-checking by the incoming person
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   Answer: D. Preparing, handing over, and cross-checking by the incoming person

   HSE describes three elements: preparation, the handover itself, and cross-checking by the people taking over.

3. Question 3 of 16

   How should a good shift handover be done?

   • AIn writing only, so no time is spent talking
   • BFace to face, two-way, spoken and written
   • CBy text message after the outgoing person leaves
   • DSpoken only, as quickly as possible
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   Answer: B. Face to face, two-way, spoken and written

   HSE says handover should be face to face, two-way, and both verbal and written.

4. Question 4 of 16

   What does it mean that a handover should be "two-way"?

   • ABoth people share responsibility for getting the message right
   • BThe outgoing person talks and the incoming person listens without questions
   • CThe handover happens twice: once at the start and once at the end
   • DBoth people write separate logs and never compare them
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   Answer: A. Both people share responsibility for getting the message right

   In a two-way handover both participants take joint responsibility for accurate communication, so questions are expected.

5. Question 5 of 16

   What does the UK Health and Safety Executive say has caused many accidents?

   • AWorkers arriving too early for shift
   • BCommunication failures at shift handover
   • CHandover notes that were too detailed to read
   • DHolding too many handover meetings
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   Answer: B. Communication failures at shift handover

   HSE states that many accidents have happened because communication failed at shift handover.

6. Question 6 of 16

   What did the Cullen Report find about shift handover and the Piper Alpha disaster?

   • AFailed handover information was one contributing factor
   • BShift handover played no part in what happened that night
   • CThe disaster was caused only by bad weather at sea
   • DToo much written information at handover caused the disaster
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   Answer: A. Failed handover information was one contributing factor

   HSE notes that the Cullen Report found failed information transfer at handover was one contributing factor in Piper Alpha.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Which of these is a higher-risk handover that needs extra care?

   • AA handover between two experienced staff on a normal day
   • BA routine shift where every task was finished
   • CMaintenance still in progress at shift change
   • DA handover where the written log is short and complete
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   Answer: C. Maintenance still in progress at shift change

   Work that spans a shift change is one of the higher-risk handover situations HSE identifies.

8. Question 8 of 16

   A co-worker is back after three weeks of leave. Why does this handover need extra time?

   • AThey will have forgotten how to do their job
   • BPolicy says leave cancels all past training
   • CThey may have missed changes while away
   • DReturning staff are not allowed to read the log
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   Answer: C. They may have missed changes while away

   A return after a long absence is a higher-risk handover because the person's picture of the site may be out of date.

9. Question 9 of 16

   A fire alarm zone is in bypass for repairs. How should it appear in the handover?

   • AAs a clear safety item, with the plan and contacts
   • BOnly if the incoming person happens to ask about it
   • CNot at all, because repairs are the contractor's job
   • DAt the bottom of the log in small writing
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   Answer: A. As a clear safety item, with the plan and contacts

   Overridden safety systems are high-risk handover items. State them clearly with the plan and contacts.

10. Question 10 of 16

    In what order should a handover cover items?

    • AIn alphabetical order, so that nothing is missed
    • BSafety first, then time-critical, then routine
    • CRoutine items first, so that the handover feels calm
    • DWhatever happened most recently, first
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    Answer: B. Safety first, then time-critical, then routine

    Putting safety first and time-critical items next makes sure the most important information is heard even if the handover is cut short.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Which is an "open issue" that must be handed over?

    • AA task that is finished and signed off
    • BA delivery that was received and put away
    • CA guest complaint not yet resolved
    • DA routine patrol that found nothing
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    Answer: C. A guest complaint not yet resolved

    Open issues are unfinished items that the next person must pick up.

12. Question 12 of 16

    A worker on 12-hour night shifts is often very tired by handover time. Which practice helps their handover most?

    • AAsking the incoming worker to phone them later at home
    • BWriting log entries during the shift, not at the end
    • CSkipping the handover so they can get home and rest sooner
    • DGiving a quick spoken summary with nothing written down
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    Answer: B. Writing log entries during the shift, not at the end

    Fatigue is common with shift work, and HSE advises relying more on written communication with 12-hour shifts. Notes made during the shift are more accurate.

13. Question 13 of 16

    What does SBAR stand for?

    • ASituation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
    • BStatus, Briefing, Action, Review
    • CShift, Break, Arrival, Relief
    • DSafety, Building, Alarm, Response
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    Answer: A. Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation

    SBAR is a simple structure for any important conversation: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

14. Question 14 of 16

    In SBAR, what does the "R" part give?

    • AThe action you suggest or need
    • BThe history of the problem
    • CA short statement of what is happening now
    • DYour opinion of the people involved
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    Answer: A. The action you suggest or need

    Recommendation states the action you want. Situation is what is happening now and Background is the relevant history.

15. Question 15 of 16

    What is the incoming person's job during handover?

    • ASign the log without reading it so the handover is quick
    • BCheck only the items that look interesting to them
    • CRead the log, ask questions and check key items
    • DWait until the outgoing person has left before starting
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    Answer: C. Read the log, ask questions and check key items

    Cross-checking by the incoming person is the third part of an effective handover.

16. Question 16 of 16

    In Alberta, what hazards must supervisors advise the workers they supervise of?

    • AOnly hazards that have already caused an injury
    • BOnly hazards that the worker asks about
    • COnly hazards listed in last year's report
    • DAll known or reasonably foreseeable work hazards
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    Answer: D. All known or reasonably foreseeable work hazards

    Alberta's OHS rules require supervisors to advise workers of all known or reasonably foreseeable work hazards. Handover is one way to pass them on.

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