Effective Shift Handover

  • Thomas Plocher
  • Shanqing Yin
  • Jason Laberge
  • Brian Thompson
  • Jason Telner
Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, volume 6781)

Abstract

In the refining industry, control room and field operators document their daily activities using shift logs. These logs are supposed to be an important part of the shift handover process and are the mechanism by which activities are coordinated across shifts. Previous research identified the need for a more structured approach to shift handover. However, the value of a structured approach has never been demonstrated experimentally. We report here on an experiment sponsored by the Abnormal Situation Management Consortium conducted at the ENGEN Refinery that compared the quality of shift handovers using a structured checklist-integrated logbook to a more traditional less structured logging approach. The results showed that significant benefits to situation awareness derive from the more structured approach.

Keywords

logbook shift work shift handover process control situation awareness 

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Thomas Plocher
    • 1
  • Shanqing Yin
    • 2
  • Jason Laberge
    • 1
  • Brian Thompson
    • 3
  • Jason Telner
    • 1
  1. 1.Honeywell International, Automation and Control SolutionsAdvanced Technology LaboratoryGolden ValleyUSA
  2. 2.School of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore
  3. 3.Process Control DepartmentENGEN Refinery a division of Engen Petroleum LtdDurbanSouth Africa

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