Toolbox meetings 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 meetings include:
Engage with workers prior to the toolbox to see if there are topics or works they want to focus on and discuss further. Get their buy in, get them actively involved.
Ask your workers what hazards they have identified recently and how to manage the risks
Discuss any changes that may be upcoming such as new hazards, any procedure changes, reviews of SWMS
Discuss any recent incidents that have occurred and what the findings were following the investigation. What changes will be made to prevent a recurrence
Discuss recent findings from a site review (site reviews can be completed on the HazardCo app)
HazardCo newsletter is a great resource to have a read of. We share blogs and tips about health and safety. You can view past blogs here . You can find some great content to discuss further with your workers during your toolbox. Our members are automatically subscribed to the newsletter, however if you haven't been receiving them or wish for others to be added to the list, reach out to us on 1800 954 702.
Discuss How to build a mentally healthy work site. To learn more, including some tips to help build and maintain a mentally healthy work site, we have developed a great resource on How to build a mentally healthy work site .
Subscribe to your State/Territory Regulator newsletters, media releases and safety alerts etc via their website . Most State/Territory Regulators send out email updates which contain a lot of great content. Not only does it keep you up to date with what's occurring in your area, you may find some useful information relevant to your projects. For example, you could discuss a safety alert with your workers and see how you can prevent a similar incident occurring on your site.
Your State/Territory Regulator has a range of resources relating to building and construction. There is a lot of information you can view on their website that you may decide is suitable to relay to your workers.
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 jot down what was discussed so you have a record of it.
Topics that could also be discussed:
Still stuck for ideas? Here are some topic you could look to discuss at future meetings:
Alcohol and Drug Use
Asbestos
Attitude and Safety
Before a Work Task Begins
Being Present in the Moment, not getting complacent, how to switch on for safety
Clothing and Safety
Communication and Safety
Common H&S mistakes and how to avoid them
Dealing with Stress from Home
Dust Hazards in Construction
Electrical Safety
Everyone is Responsible for a good safety Culture
Emergency Management - what to do in the event of an emergency on-site
Fatigue
Forklift
Hazards, risk management and Hierarchy of Controls
Heat stress and summer hazards
High Risk Construction Work and when a SWMS is needed
Housekeeping
Hydration
Manual Handling Injury Prevention
Mental Health and resources available
Mobile Plant
Noise hazards and what are suitable controls
Policies and Procedures
Reporting incidents and hazards (the process)
Silica Dust Dangers and Safety
Slips, Trips and Falls
Smoking and Your Health
Winter and wet weather - how to manage it
Wood Dust
Work at Heights
Workplace Stress
More information
Safe Work South Australia have some resources available on toolbox topics which can be found here.