Supervisor Briefing Card

The standard 9-point FOD walkdown briefing script, delivered the same way every time so every participant knows exactly what to expect — free form included in the Complete FOD Prevention Program Guide.

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Quick answer: A supervisor briefing card is a standard, laminated script delivered before every FOD walk so every participant hears the same instructions in the same order. It takes 2–3 minutes, covers area, boundaries, spacing, method, collection, stop triggers, repeat awareness, reporting, and closure. It is Form 01 in the Complete FOD Prevention Program Guide toolkit, referenced in Section 15.

The 9-Point Briefing Script

Print, laminate, and keep it on a clipboard or in the walk leader’s FOD kit. Deliver every point, the same way, every time.

1. Area

State exactly what area is being inspected today.

2. Boundaries

Define the start point, end point, and lateral limits so no one is uncertain where the walk begins or ends.

3. Spacing

State the spacing in feet or meters between personnel today — closer for recent rain, low light, cluttered surfaces, post-maintenance, or critical areas.

4. Method

Walk slowly. Scan from overhead to surface: ahead, down, left, right, behind obstacles, and up under equipment where safe.

5. Collection

Pick up safe debris and place it in the FOD bag or nearest can. Do not touch hazardous, sharp, hot, chemical, biological, or unknown items — call the leader for these.

6. Stop Triggers

Call “STOP” immediately for a missing or suspected tool, a suspected aircraft or equipment part, a sharp object, chemical or biological material, a personal item in a restricted area, debris near a critical system, or anything you’re unsure about.

7. Repeat Awareness

Brief the team on recent repeat findings in this area so they pay extra attention to known problem spots.

8. Reporting

All findings go to the assigned scribe for logging. Participants call out findings as they collect them so they’re recorded with the correct location.

9. Closure

Before leaving, verify each lane or zone is complete. Regroup at the end point to review findings, count personnel, and assign any corrective actions.

The Core Message

“See it. Pick it up if safe. Report it. Log it. Prevent it from coming back.”

Repeat this at the start and end of every briefing until participants can recite it — it is the mental model for the entire walk.

Common Briefing Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Matters	Fix
No defined boundary	People don’t know where to stop — coverage gaps or overlaps	State start, end, and lateral limits, pointing to visible landmarks
No spacing direction	Inconsistent spacing creates gaps or bunching	State spacing explicitly in feet or meters, adjusted for conditions
No hazard instructions	Someone handles unsafe debris	List known hazards and the specific response for each
No scribe assigned	Findings are remembered differently or not recorded at all	Name the scribe and verify they have the log and a working pen
No review of recent trends	Team doesn’t know what to look for	Check last week’s log before the walk and brief the top repeat item
No closure statement	Findings aren’t reviewed, actions aren’t assigned	Regroup at the end, review findings aloud, assign actions before dismissing

Adapting the Briefing

Experienced teams — shorten the standard points, expand trend awareness and hazard sections
Mixed-experience teams — pair new participants with experienced partners; brief to the level of the newest person
Non-native English speakers — use visual aids, keep sentences short, verify understanding by asking participants to repeat key points back
Large teams (20+) — the leader briefs common elements; zone captains brief zone-specific details

Why the Same Script Every Time

A briefing read robotically every day causes teams to stop listening. Keep the format consistent, but vary the content — different repeat items, different hazards, different areas — so the same 2–3 minute structure stays relevant every single walk.

Get the Complete Guide and Toolkit

The Supervisor Briefing Card is one of 17 free forms included with the 216-page Complete FOD Prevention Program Guide.

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