A shipyard is a very different work environment than almost any other. There are a variety of safety concerns, large materials, and specialized tools. In many cases, in order to meet the client deadlines, you will need to employ swing and night shift workers. But how can you be sure to manage them effectively and still maintain the important culture of safety in your shipyard? Here are some management tips for night and swing shifts.
Recognize how shift work affects people.
No matter how many people indicate they are night owls or better at working different shifts, the human body isn’t designed to sleep during the day and work at night. Often, when it comes to night shift positions, the primary management team isn’t directly supervising the staff, which when added to the biological reasons shift work can be dangerous, impacts overall shipyard safety. But knowing that shift work does affect employees on a biological level is the first step to developing a night shift program that will keep your team safe.
Determine your shifts.
For most industries, anyone who is working beyond the normal working hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. is a shift worker. So, will you have afternoon shifts that overlap your regular morning shift? Or will you completely shift gears and bring in a night shift instead? When you determine how you will handle your swing and night shifts, also keep in mind how you want to manage them. Hiring qualified managers who are responsible for after-hours workers will be as important as hiring solid, reliable swing shift workers in general.
Make safety a priority.
Safety should already be a priority in your shipyard, but it’s essential that the culture of safety carry through to all shifts. Management’s role is to ensure that all workers are safe, including those on swing shift. You may not be able to directly supervise night shift workers, but it’s imperative that you have someone on your safety team who can oversee this time frame. And beyond regular shipyard safety, you should provide additional resources to help them improve their alternative sleep schedules and eat healthy while they’re working a swing shift.
Work with a leader in shipyard staffing.
Do you have questions about running a swing or night shift in your shipyard? Contact the team at Hutco to learn more today.
