Do you think the pre-shift meeting isn’t important? Then you’re wrong

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The pre-shift meeting is an important element in team safety management; it is an educational training activity aimed at enhancing the team’s ability to anticipate hazards, and it is also a measure taken to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place. The pre-shift ‘shift meeting’ system effectively standardizes the content of these meetings through the use of ‘shift meeting record cards’, thereby improving the level of control over on-site work processes. I. Introduction to the “Shift Meeting” System 1. Scope of Application 　Applicable to all work sites involved in power transmission and distribution tasks, maintenance of primary and secondary electrical equipment in substations (including communications and automation systems), as well as infrastructure construction projects. 2. Main contents 　　(1) Three checks: ① By observing facial expressions and speaking directly with them, assess the mental state and physical condition of team members; ② Check the members’ clothing to ensure they are wearing work uniforms and shoes as required by the job, that safety helmets are worn properly, that those working at heights are using safety belts, and that all other safety equipment is present and meets the required standards; ③ Verify whether personnel performing special tasks have the necessary qualifications, and whether skilled workers and laborers have received the necessary education and training to meet the requirements for working in such roles. 　　(2) Three communications: ① Explain to each work team and individual the content, methods, sequence, and division of tasks for the day’s work; ② Inform them about the potential hazards associated with the tasks and areas involved that day, as well as the preventive measures and safety precautions to take; ③ Outline the technical requirements and safety measures necessary for carrying out the tasks on that day. 3. Key Implementation Points 　　(1) Before starting work each day, the person in charge of the work (or the construction supervisor) shall organize all personnel involved in the work (including skilled workers and laborers) to gather for a shift meeting; if there is a chief supervisor for the work, the shift meetings should be held at different levels, that is: the chief supervisor meets with the respective sub-supervisors, who then meet with the members of their own work teams. 　　(2) The contents of the shift meeting should be recorded on a standardized “Shift Meeting Record Sheet,” prepared in advance by the person in charge of the work. During the shift meeting, these items are discussed one by one; they constitute part of the safety and technical measures required as part of the preparations before starting work. Work can only begin once all the listed items meet their respective requirements. 　　(3) The inspection results of the personnel involved in the work and construction operations, as well as the implementation of safety measures, safety precautions, and safety equipment, must be confirmed by all members after being checked by the person in charge of the work or by all members together; only after signing off can the work begin. 　　(4) Shift meetings should be effective, targeted, and concise, with a duration generally ranging from 5 to 15 minutes, and they should be held before starting on-site work. 　　(5) For work sites with complex working conditions, such as safety measures, power outage areas, and work zones, drawing boards can be used along with appropriate diagrams. 　　(6) The station shift meeting for typical construction tasks should be effectively integrated with the typical construction work order; the contents of the typical construction work order should serve as part of the hazard analysis and risk prevention in the station shift meeting. 　　(7) Integrate the “shift meeting” system with efforts to prevent violations, conduct regular inspections and assessments; those who fail to strictly follow the shift meeting procedure before starting work are considered to be in violation of regulations, and corresponding penalties shall be imposed in accordance with the Provisions on Penalties and Training Management for Violations of Regulations. II. The effectiveness of the “shift meeting” system 1. Fully leveraging people’s initiative 　Unsafe human behavior and unsafe conditions of equipment are the direct causes of accidents, with unsafe human behavior playing a dominant role. The “shift meeting” system addresses this human factor by establishing a systematic, standardized, and scientific set of procedures to regulate people’s behavior, thereby fully utilizing their initiative. Through safe human behavior, it is possible to accurately identify unsafe conditions of equipment and take effective measures to keep operations under control. 2. Strengthened the safety management of temporary workers and migrant workers. Managing temporary workers and migrant workers has always been a challenge in terms of safety management. Given the significant variability in the safety awareness of temporary workers and migrant workers, safety awareness among them was enhanced in a targeted manner through station shift meetings, which are educational training activities aimed at predicting hazards associated with specific tasks in electricity production. Most personnel are able to grasp the on-site safety and technical requirements as well as potential hazards through this approach, resulting in a significant improvement in their safety awareness. 3. Strengthened safety management at atypical construction sites. The “Shift Meeting Record Card” incorporates the elements of “three handovers” and “three inspections”, and places emphasis on the analysis of potential hazards at the construction site. This helps to address the issue of a lack of standardized safety instructions at some atypical construction sites (such as those for maintenance and preliminary testing), thereby effectively enhancing on-site safety management. 4. It fostered among the workers a sense of awareness to abide by rules and regulations. By incorporating the \"shift meeting\" system into the framework for combating violations, the seriousness of this system was enhanced, ensuring its effective implementation. At the same time, through these shift meetings, the workers’ awareness of following rules and regulations was strengthened, thereby creating a positive atmosphere aimed at preventing violations. 5. It ensures the effective conduct of hazard analysis and preventive control prior to operations. The “shift meeting” system makes hazard analysis and preventive control an essential part of every operation, requiring workers to carry out hazard analysis and preventive measures before starting work, to implement such preventive measures during the operation, and to assess hazards after it is completed. Practice has shown that since the implementation of self-led shift meetings, the effectiveness and depth of hazard analysis and preventive control efforts in grassroots teams have improved significantly. In particular, dynamic management of hazards has been strengthened, and the level of safety in production sites has also seen a notable improvement as a result of effective hazard analysis. 6. Accumulating experience for the full implementation of standardized operations The “station shift meeting” system makes full use of the essence of standardized operations; it outlines elements such as the “three checks” and “three handovers” during pre-shift meetings in a standardized and structured format on the “station shift meeting record sheet”. This approach eliminates issues such as subjective judgments, unreasonable work arrangements, inadequate consideration of potential hazards, and excessive randomness in on-site operations, thereby achieving scientific, standardized, and regulated preparation before tasks are carried out and enhancing the safety of those operations. III. Problems Existing in the Implementation of the “Shift Meeting” System and Corresponding Countermeasures 1. Existing Problems (1) The pre-shift meetings held by some teams are not conducted in a proper manner; the team leaders are insufficiently prepared, and the quality of safety instructions given to team members during these meetings is poor. 　　(2) Some team pre-shift meetings were not held on-site, and the effectiveness of those meetings was not fully realized. 　　(3) Some teams have failed to effectively incorporate the typical hazards associated with construction tasks into their team meetings, resulting in insufficient in-depth analysis of these hazards prior to work. 2. Countermeasures 　　(1) Strengthen the promotion of the \"shift meeting\" system, so that every worker (especially those in charge of tasks) understands its significance and key points, and include this system as an important part of the training for task supervisors. 　　(2) Except for some simple tasks, shift meetings should all be held on-site in light of the actual conditions there to ensure their effectiveness. 　　(3) Depending on the specific circumstances of the operation, hold pre-operation team meetings within the operating crew to analyze potential hazards during the operation and implement various safety measures to prevent misoperations. 　　(4) Each team should compile analyses and preventive controls for the risk points specific to their team, and effectively apply a range of established results from such analyses and controls, including typical construction work orders, in team meetings. 　　(5) Strengthen dynamic inspection and assessment of the implementation of shift meetings. Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum