Confidential Human Factors

Incident Reporting Programme

Communication Briefing, Leadership Skills

Clear briefings are one of the simplest ways to prevent avoidable mistakes on board, especially when tasks involve mixed experience levels, time pressure or safety-critical work. This Memory Aid gives crews and leaders a practical framework for better onboard communication, using the STEAC structure:

  • Situation
  • Task
  • Execution
  • Any questions
  • Confirm understanding

Share it with your leaders and use it to strengthen day-to-day briefings.

Remember, you always have the right to put your own safety and the safety of others first.

If it looks unsafe, stop. Small actions can prevent great harm. 

If you have concerns or want to share lessons learned you can do that confidentially through CHIRP, so others can benefit too.

Adam Parnell

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