PRACTICE STATEMENT:

To provide a uniform method to conduct and document a task oriented job briefing and the review of critical mitigation information.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

The employee in charge shall discuss the tasks to be performed. The briefing shall be documented and include an explanation of how the tasks shall be achieved, hazards expected to be encountered, and steps to be taken to eliminate or control the hazards. 

The documented Job Briefing shall identify each of the following:

1. Tasks to be performed
2. Any Critical Steps for the task
3. How the crew shall complete the tasks with “Positive Control”: the key steps that must be done correctly to ensure the planned outcome of the task
4. Existing worksite conditions or characteristics, including any information provided by the host employer
5. Specific roles and responsibilities for each employee for completing the tasks
6. Existing and predictable hazards
7. Which situations require heightened awareness, e.g., Qualified Observer, Spotter, Confined Space Attendant, etc
8. Hazard/Risk mitigation
9. The required protective methods (where applicable) to be used, which include but are not limited to the following:
   • Insulation
   • Isolation
   • Grounding
   • Equal Potential Zone
10. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required
11. Emergency response information

Task specific job briefings shall be held:

• at the start of the work shift, 
• at the location of the tasks,
• whenever tasks, key steps or scope of work changes, 
• hazards differ from the original briefing,  
• as additional personnel arrive at the job site, and
• after extended work pauses (work breaks, weather delay, etc.). 

The briefing form shall have a provision for each employee to sign to verify they have participated in the briefing. Each ET&D Partnership company’s management shall establish a review process to ensure that the documented task briefing process is effective

Debrief

At the end of the workday or prior to work beginning the following day, employees shall convene to debrief. Debriefing discussions may include successful or unsuccessful work methods, special site conditions to be considered, accomplishments and/or accolades, or goals moving forward. All debriefing discussions shall be noted on the task briefing form and lessons learned considered for all future work. 

BENEFITS:

• Provides for essential job safety planning guidelines and lists key elements.
• Incorporates use of a specific hazards identification process in the job planning process that will provide for enhanced controls for risks.
• The process and required documentation encourages inclusion and participation of job team members in the specific task hazard identification and mitigation associated with the overall job.
• Provides a process (Debrief) to review lessons learned from each work shift.

DEFINITIONS:

• Positive Control is the idea that one is aware of and in control of actions/steps and the outcomes of the actions/steps.  A person/work crew maintains positive control when the outcome of all action/steps is intended and expected. 
• Critical Step is any action that will trigger immediate irreversible harm if that step or preceding actions are performed improperly or omitted. 
• Task for the purposes of this Best Practice is the sub-elements of a job.  The processes necessary to complete the job
• Step for the purposes of this Best Practice is the sub-element of a task.  The detailed processes necessary to complete a task.

Frequently Asked Questions

Job Briefings

1. Is it sufficient to “pass the briefing form around” and collect signatures?
   • No, the intent of a Job Briefing is to initiate discussion about the work, involving all crew members.
   • Each Task shall be thoroughly discussed before work begins.

2. Must I do a Job Briefing if I’m working alone, and shall it be documented? 

   • Yes, in order to ensure that hazards have been properly identified and that the countermeasures will be effective. This Job Briefing shall also be documented. 
3. What should be done if someone who was not at the Job Briefing shows up such as an engineer, new crew member, property owner, or other visitors? 
• Communicate with crew the necessary steps they must take in order to maintain personnel safety. 
  • Brief the new arrival, as necessary, with regard to the Job Briefing. 
  • Request the new arrivals signature indicating their presence and their understanding of the hazards and countermeasures. 

4. Can the Job Briefing be completed at the beginning of the workday and then used as a guide while conducting briefings to the crew throughout the day?

   • Yes, the Job Briefing document is a tool used to help facilitate continuing detailed communication with the crew regarding job tasks, hazards, and controls.
   • The intent of this Best Practice is to have specific discussions at periodic times during the day to address task related hazards real time. 
   • If conditions change that might affect the safety of the crew members those changes must be documented on the briefing form and thoroughly discussed with crew members.