Introduction to CRM in Pre-Start Meetings
Incorporating Critical Risk Management (CRM) practices into pre-start meetings keeps the team aligned and informed about critical risks and controls.
The following sections outline effective application of CRM in pre-start meetings, depending on your current role. Review the section applicable to you.
Supervisors
Engaging your team in identifying and discussing critical risks and critical controls fosters a culture of awareness and accountability that ultimately leads to safer work environments and minimizes the possibility of fatalities.
Integrating CRM into pre-start meetings requires active participation from the team to identify all critical risks associated with the day’s tasks.
Utilizing standardized visual aids such as critical risk icons for each risk promotes a shared understanding for all team members.
Key Steps to Incorporate CRM into Pre-Start Meetings
Engage Your Team: Encourage active participation by discussing the work tasks for the day and prompting team members to identify critical risks involved.
Utilize Visual Aids: Set up a whiteboard with movable critical risk icons, helping team members visually identify each risk and associate it with the relevant tasks.
Identify Critical Controls: Facilitate discussions on the critical controls needed to effectively manage the identified risks.
Assign Verifiers: Designate team members responsible for conducting verifications and ensure they understand the verification checklists thoroughly.
Review and Understand Procedures: Take the opportunity to review verification checklists with the team to avoid confusion during fieldwork.
Setting Up Your Pre-Start Meeting Whiteboard
When structuring your pre-start meeting whiteboard, consider the following columns:
Department and Area: Specify who will be working on the task and where they will be working on it.
Scope of Work: Briefly describe the tasks to be completed during the day. Give more details verbally if required.
When: Outline the start date/time and duration of the task.
Critical Risks: Discuss with the team to identify the critical risks and then place icons on the board.
Critical Controls: Based on the critical control assessment, list the critical controls necessary to mitigate risks effectively.
Lead Verifier: Discuss and assign team members responsible for conducting field verifications for each task.
Coach: Discuss and designate team members who will offer guidance for the field verification.
Non-Compliance Reporting: Include sections for the highest non-compliant controls that have been identified by managers and supervisors. It highlights areas needing improvement and shows how senior staff are invested in preventing fatalities.
Just Starting Out?
Start with a simplified board layout and gradually incorporate more detail as team members become familiar with the CRM process. This gradual transition allows for effective communication of recent findings and promotes continuous improvement in compliance practices.
Conclusion
Incorporating CRM into pre-start meetings empowers your team to take ownership of the process and enhances their understanding of critical risks and controls. By fostering a culture of proactive critical risk identification and verification, you are laying the foundation for a fatality-free working environment.
Operators
Benefits of CRM in Pre-Start Meetings
Working through the CRM process in your pre-start meetings ensures everyone is on the same page regarding the day's tasks and associated critical risks. Discussing critical risks keeps them in focus and leads to increased diligence when implementing the critical controls.
Icons are used to represent different critical risks, making it easier to identify and remember them. Your supervisor will ensure you're familiar with the icons relevant for your workplace.
Incorporating CRM in Pre-Start Meetings
Your supervisor will review the work tasks for the day, encouraging team members to identify all critical risks involved. Active participation in identifying the task steps and the critical risks makes fatality prevention a collaborative effort and provides an opportunity to ask questions.
A whiteboard laid out with columns for (a) work areas and tasks, (b) the critical risks, and (c) assigned team members, ensures task planning is clear and concise.
A person will be nominated to conduct the risk verification for each task. This person is the Field Verifier.
Evolving the Process
As the team becomes familiar with risk verifications (and more data is reported), additional details can be introduced to the board.
Additional details include:
Recent non-compliances
Findings, ensuring the team is aware of current issues.
Incorporating CRM into pre-start meetings empowers you and the team to be active participants in critical risk management.
CRM provides the opportunity to discuss and take responsibility for the day’s risks and verifications, supporting a fatality-free work environment.