Making the Most of Toolbox Talks

Summary
Toolbox Talks are an important part of safety and health programs. They allow employers to
proactively address hazards specific to the jobsite or project, creating awareness of certain risks and how workers should handle them. Perhaps just as important, Toolbox Talks can be used to build trust and boost communication when the tone is one of a safe space for employees to voice any safety concern or suggest ideas they have for improving safety.

Toolbox talks can cover a variety of safety topics and might also coincide with seasonal,
weather-related concerns. The most effective Toolbox Talks are short, include a demonstration,
or a personal story. It does not matter if you are a company of five or 500, Toolbox Talks are
great way to set safety expectations.

Best Practices

• Hold toolbox talks weekly.
• All employees attending a toolbox talk must sign in as record of attendance.
• Relevant toolbox talks that an employee has participated in should be noted in the employees comprehensive training record.
• Keep the meeting open. Let your employee make suggestions for improvements. Be sure to write the ideas down and follow up.
• Allow employees to interact with one another as it relates to the toolbox talk. When the audience is involved, they are more likely to pay attention.
• Keep it brief, focusing on a single topic.
• Choose a topic relevant to the job or environment.
• Incorporate near misses into safety meetings. This allows employees to get a real and personal account of how quickly things can happen, and how to avoid them.

Resources

How to have an effective toolbox talk:
Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction

5 Tips for an Effective Toolbox Talk

13 Elements for Creating a Toolbox Talk

Suggested topics to cover in a toolbox talk:
The Center for Construction Research and Training

CPWR’s Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health

OSHA

American Welding Society, Fact Sheets

International Powered Access Federation, Work Platform Topics

American Institute of Steel Construction, General Topics

Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, Crane and Rigging Topics

This Safety Flash was contributed by Dave Schulz, Vice President of Schulz Iron Works Inc., in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations.

Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to [email protected]