Toolbox talks are a great way to discuss health and safety matters relevant to the site and workers. It's a great way to communicate and consult with your workers and other contractors on-site. A few recommendations to get the most out of your toolbox talks include:
Start with an introduction: Clearly state the topic and its relevance to the work.
Connect to Today's Work: Start by talking about the safety issue your team will face that day. Don't give general talks - mention the actual equipment, weather, or jobs happening right now.
Keep It Short and Sweet: People pay attention better when talks are brief. Give them one clear message they can remember, not a bunch of different things at once.
Talk Their Language: Use words your workers know. If they're new, explain terms they might not understand. Speak like they speak, not like a textbook.
Get People Talking: Don't just lecture - ask questions. Have workers point out dangers, share stories, or show the right way to do something. When people join in, they care more.
Show, Don't Just Tell: Use pictures, bring equipment, or take phone videos. People understand better when they can see what you're talking about, not just hear it.
Let Everyone Share: Your team knows a lot from working together. Let experienced workers tell their stories and new people ask questions. Good ideas come from anyone.
Address any questions or concerns: Be prepared to answer questions and address any concerns raised by the audience.
Use the HazardCo newsletter as a resource. We share blogs and tips about health and safety that provide great content for your toolbox discussions. Our members are automatically subscribed to the newsletter, but if you haven't been receiving them or want to add others to the list, please reach out to us.
Subscribe to HSE newsletters, media releases, and safety alerts via their website. These updates keep you informed about your industry and provide useful information for your projects. For example, you could discuss a safety alert with your workers and see how to prevent a similar incident at your site.
Those are just a few ideas to get the most out of your health and safety meetings. You can then simply record the meeting on the HazardCo app and note down what was discussed so you have a record of it. Remember to use the talk-to-text function on your phone, which saves you typing on your keyboard.
Check out our pre populated Toolbox talk templates which you can find in the templates tab within the Hub