Training Pack 2

Delivering Toolbox Talks (TT’s) or Safety Briefings

(SB’s)

A Guide for Managers and Site Supervisors

 Key aims and objectives are:
● To explain why TT’s and SB’s are important.
● To explain who TT’s and SB’s should be
delivered to.
● To provide some advice on how to prepare
for TT’s and SB’s.
● How to structure TT’s and SB’s and what
they should contain.
● To provide advice on presentation and
delivery.
The WHAT and WHY!
 Some definitions!
 TT’s:
 Short talks that focus on a specific topic e.g. manual
handling, working at heights etc.
 Allow you and your workers to explore the risks of
specific health and safety issues and think about ways
to deal with them.
 Help inform inexperienced workers and provide
reminders to experienced workers of correct control
measures.
 SB’s:
 Short talk to detail the health and safety hazards and
risks workers will face.
 Inform all workers of necessary control measures.
 Why are TT’s and SB’s important?
 TT’s:
 Allow you and your workers to explore the risks of
specific health and safety issues and think about
ways to deal with them.
 Encourage worker engagement.
 Help support a planned series of site observations.
 Encourage health and safety to become everyone’s
responsibility.
 SB’s:
 Are a simple way of sharing health and safety
problems on a daily basis.
 Are essential for fostering a good health and safety
culture on site.
 Encourage staff to report potential failures without
fear of ‘getting done’.
Preparing for your Toolbox
Talk or Safety Briefing!
 Who should present?
TT’s:
 Don’t need to be an expert but…
 Some experience of training is useful.
 Good presentation skills are essential.
 Presenter needs to be serious about health and
safety and take the TT seriously.
SB’s:
 This should be the site supervisor. They
need…
 Good communication skills.
 The ability to question and explain.
Preparation of TT’s and SB’s

 Who
 When
 How long
 Location
 Seating
 Lighting
 Flip Charts/DVD player
 Guidance/Information
 Preparation Time
 What should a SB cover?
 Reminder about “SLAM”.
 Any Staff/Site changeovers.
 Check risk assessments and
method statements are still
relevant.
 Weather conditions.
 Ground conditions.
 Excavations.
 Existing buried and/or
overhead services.
 Working at heights.
 Public safety.
 Traffic on and off site.
 Plant and machinery.
 Site Health and Safety
performance.
 Any feedback/suggestions
from staff.
 Capture any information
on near misses or
dangerous occurrences.
 Deliveries, visitors, arrival
of specialist equipment,
sub-contractors.
 What should a TT cover?

 TT should cover specific issues that you have

identified from walking around the site, issues
raised during SB’s or those which cause the
most accidents or near misses on site.
 Examples:
 Manual handling
 Slips and trips
 Asbestos
 Noise induced hearing loss
 Bad backs
 Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
 How to structure and
deliver your Toolbox Talk or
Safety Briefing!
 How to structure your TT:

 Allow enough time e.g. 10-15 minutes.

 Have a beginning, middle and an end.
 Tell workers you will be asking if they have any
questions as you go along.
 Tell them not to be afraid to ask.
 Do not assume you need to know all the
information – draw on others’ experience.
 Do not read from a script. You will lose the
interest of your audience if you do!
 How to structure your SB

 Allow enough time e.g. 10-15 minutes.

 Make sure all workers are present before you
begin.
 Go though the task and hazards. Highlight
safety problems, and control measures for
each hazard.
 Inform workers of changes.
 Tell workers not to be afraid to ask questions.
Discuss issues raised.
 Finish by asking if everyone understands.
 How to begin a TT:
 Get the attention of workers quickly by
showing enthusiasm and professionalism.

 Give them a reason for being there which will

mean something to them.

 Give them some numbers to think about such

as the number of days lost due to injury or the
number of fatalities.

 Let them know which hazards are associated

with the site.
 The format of a TT

Add your own text as appropriate!

 How to deliver a TT – TOP TIPS!
 Know your material.
 Don’t get side tracked by other topics.
 Make eye-contact.
 Involve staff using open questions.
 Summarise key points.
 Make sure your voice carries to the back of
the room.
 Avoid talking like a robot.
 Don’t speak too quickly or too slowly.
 If you get nervous breathe slowly and deeply.
 Keep an eye on your timings.
 How to follow-up a TT

 Give out feedback sheets at the end of the

sessions.
 Talk about some of the issues raised during
the TT during your walkabouts.
 Focus your site observations on the specific
topic presented at the TT.
 How to deliver a SB – top tips!

 First impressions count - be clear about what

you want to say.
 Know your audience (e.g. do workers have
English as a second language?).
 Keep it simple, straightforward and avoid jargon.
 Consider your tone!
 Be respectful - listen to your workers.
 Keep it positive – focus on what workers can do
to create a healthy and safe working
environment.
 Be brief!
 Pace yourself – explain and summarise.
 Summary
 Remember, TT’s and SB’s are there to:
 Aid communication with your workers about
health and safety issues.
 Highlight problems and identify solutions.
 Involve your workers.
 Check your workers know and understand the
risks and control measures.

 Spend time preparing for them!

 Use the time effectively!
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
DELIVERING TOOLBOX
TALKS OR SAFETY
BRIEFINGS?