Toolbox Talks

T oolbox talks are brief, informal meetings where crew chiefs

discuss a safety topic with the crew. The meetings should
last 10 to 15 minutes and focus on only one issue.

The Benefits

Valuable information is presented in brief segments on a monthly basis. Frequent but brief
discussions improve employees’ hazard awareness and encourage safe work practices. Toolbox
talks do not require extensive planning and do not significantly interrupt work schedules.
Communication between employees and management improves as employees are encouraged to
openly discuss safety concerns and suggest ways to improve safety at the workplace. Just 10 to
15 minutes a month - that’s it.

The Process

You will be given 14 different handouts, each on a different topic. You can decide which topic
you wish to present for each month in a year. Some toolbox talk handouts may have a seasonal
theme, in which case you will need to match that topic with the related month. You will also
receive an attendance sheet. Please keep each completed attendance sheet on file for 1 year after
the presentation.

Scheduling

Be consistent with the timing of your toolbox talks. Try to present your talk at about the same
time each month. For example, you could schedule your toolbox talk for the second Tuesday of
the month. Presenting your toolbox talk at the same time each month will make scheduling
easier and your crew will begin to expect these meetings as a regular event. Toolbox talks are
often given first thing in the morning, or just before lunch. You will need to decide what time of
day is best for you and your crew. However, presenting a talk right after lunch or just before
close of business is not recommended because most people find it more difficult to concentrate at
these times.

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Location

Try to hold your talk in a location that will be free from as many distractions as possible. Make
sure there will be plenty of room for everyone. The location should allow everyone to clearly
see and hear you. Sometimes a talk might be more effective given at a specific work site that
directly applies to the topic. For example, a talk on hand tool safety may be more effective if
given in the room where the hand tools are stored and distributed.

Presentation Tips

• Remember that your talk should help employees recognize and control safety hazards and
encourage good work habits.
• Start by telling your employees what you are going to talk about and why it is important.
• Speak in your own words as much as possible. Avoid reading the handout word for word.
• Use the handouts as they are, or even better, use them as notes and speak more specifically
about how the topic affects the crew, a current project, or work practice.
• Use props like tools, ladders and copies of existing guidelines to help illustrate what you are
saying.
• Try different locations, times and presentation styles until you find what is right for you and
your employees.
• Encourage employee discussion. Ask for examples of conditions that pertain to the topic you
are addressing. Sometimes people will have a first or second hand experience, such as a near
miss or an accident that relates to the topic. Employee participation helps foster a sense of
co-ownership to the program; which in turn improves the effectiveness of the program.
• Give the crew a chance to say what is on their minds, even if it is about an issue that cannot
be resolved completely to their liking. You show respect (and earn respect) when you listen,
even when the issue at hand is a difficult one to handle. Acknowledge that the people doing
the work will often times come up with the best safety solutions. Encourage the crew to
come up with solutions that will work within budgetary, time and personnel constraints.
• Keep a positive attitude. It can become contagious.

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