No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 27.2
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Human Factors; Procedure
Sector 27 and sector 41 were combined meaning all low altitude (FL260 and below) for Area 3 were combined at one position. Controller being relieved was unable to start any part of the briefing process for about 10 minutes due to traffic volume. Controller being relieved was unable to answer a land line call from Flight Service because of traffic volume for about 7 minutes. (FSS eventually called the Supervisor). Controller being relieved was having difficulty separating airplanes and was asking my advice on two situations that required immediate attention. (I felt like there was an implication that I just take over the sector and resolve the 2 situations myself even though the controller being relieved had identified the problems but took no action to resolve them.)  Controller being relieved told me that I should just take the sector since I had been watching the 'Show' for about 10 minutes. While I had been watching the 'Show' for 10 minutes I still was anticipating a briefing and I had spent those 10 minutes evaluating the traffic situations not self-briefing myself on the addition items of the sector. I went ahead and took the sector after expressing my annoyance at the lack of a briefing. I then immediately had to give a briefing to the sector 41 controller because it was to be opened due to volume even though I hadn't received a briefing myself because it was too busy.Don't have the sectors combined inappropriately. Don't have the sectors combined when the controller can't even start a briefing or make any comment about the sector situation. Don't have the sectors combined when the controller can't answer the land line for 7 minutes. Don't have the sectors combined when many the departure aircraft are unnecessarily leveled off because the controller is too busy. Don't have the sectors combined when constant blocking of clearances and read-backs occur because 2 frequencies are in use.
ZDV Controller describes a situation where the controller he was relieving could not give a proper briefing and asking him what he should do related to a couple of imminent situations. The relieving controller took the position without a proper briefing and then had to give a briefing to another controller who was taking part of the combined sector.