Work & meetings
Start of shift checklist
Run this checklist in the first few minutes of a shift, whether on a floor, a ward, a site or a counter. It makes sure you pick up where the last shift left off, confirm everything is safe and working, and know your priorities before the pressure builds.
Arrive and check in
Read the handover
Check your area and equipment
Set priorities for the shift
Why a start-of-shift routine matters
The opening minutes of a shift set up everything that follows. Most shift work runs on continuity: the people arriving need to know what the people leaving were dealing with, and skipping a proper handover is how tasks get dropped, incidents get missed and the same work gets done twice. A short, consistent routine turns that handover from an afterthought into a reliable transfer of information, so nothing falls through the gap between shifts.
Checking the area and equipment before work starts is a safety and efficiency measure at once. Spotting a hazard, a fault or a stock shortage at the start means it can be fixed or flagged while there is time, rather than becoming an emergency in the middle of the busiest period. Setting priorities early matters because once a shift gets busy there is no quiet moment to plan; the team that agreed who does what and how to escalate simply executes. Done in a few minutes, the same way every time, a start-of-shift checklist is the difference between a shift that runs and one that lurches from one surprise to the next.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the shift handover so important?
Because the incoming team cannot see what happened before they arrived. The handover transfers unfinished tasks, ongoing issues and anything flagged for attention. Skipping or rushing it is the most common way work gets dropped or repeated, so it deserves a few focused minutes at the start of every shift.
What should I check before a shift gets busy?
Anything you rely on and cannot easily fix once the pressure is on: equipment and systems working, your area free of hazards, and stock, supplies or floats at the right levels. Catching a fault or shortage early turns a mid-shift emergency into a quick fix or a timely report.
How long should a start-of-shift routine take?
Only a few minutes when it is habitual. The point is consistency, not length: the same quick sequence of checking in, taking the handover, inspecting the area and setting priorities every time. A short, reliable routine saves far more time than it costs once a shift gets going.