Toolbox Talks
At protecting we concentrate on making your life easier, for example with our simple to use RAMs generator allowing you to create RAMS online in just minutes. Our Health and safety experts are always looking for ways to pass on their knowledge. So we pleased to have put together a super pack of 62 toolbox talks covering everything from Abrasive wheels to working platforms.
You can download the pack from the library a full list of the 62 talks included is at the bottom of this page, just click on each one to be taken to the actual talk.
What is a toolbox talk?
The development and maintenance of a safe working culture can only be effective if everyone is included and actively involved. The use of “toolbox talks” is an invaluable means of involving those most at risk, the employees, sub-contractors and self-employed, without incurring any significant time or financial penalty.
Thus Toolbox Talks is to assist companies, and in particular the likes of contracts managers, site managers, foremen, charge hands, etc, in implementing an efficient system of conducting regular toolbox talks with minimum effort, whilst hopefully achieving maximum gain.
Format
Whilst a standard format has been adopted throughout the toolbox talks contained in the manual, there remains considerable flexibility enabling users to adapt the content to their specific requirements.
The standard format used for tool box talks comprises the following:
(a) A Talk Number and Title: Purely for reference purposes.
(b) An introduction: A few lines that can be used to introduce the particular talk, most including why it is important.
(c) Main points: Three to five primary points that it is recommended are included in the toolbox talk.
(d) Discussion points: A list of other points to choose from. All can be covered and the format used like a script if required or particularly relevant points can be selected. The site scale, activities and available time may determine the best option.
(e) A quote: Each toolbox talk ends with a quick quote by way of summary. In the main, these are deliberately “catchy” in the hope that they will be remembered.
(f) Notes: There is a space for individual notes, which can include specific site conditions and activities, site rules, company policy points, etc, as required.
(g) The flip side of each toolbox talk has deliberately been left blank to allow for the inclusion of pictures if required. This will depend on individual approaches and requirements, but possibilities worth considering might include photographs of the effects of industrial dermatitis, good or bad scaffold, or types of fire extinguisher (though the latter may be better demonstrated by having the actual site fire extinguishers present!).
How often should we do tool box talks?
Again, this will depend upon individual requirements and approaches, and also on the site conditions. On larger sites it may be necessary to give the same toolbox talk several times in order to ensure all sub-contractors etc, are addressed, or it may be more practicable to give the same toolbox talk at different locations on site, i.e. a different floor/level each day. On smaller sites, it may be simple enough to address all site personnel at once.
Whilst there is no set frequency or method, it is recommended that companies aim to give a toolbox talk to every employee, sub-contractor and self-employed personal once a week. Ideally, where practicable, this should be implemented as a set routine, i.e. every Wednesday morning starts with a 10-15 minute toolbox talk.
Additional toolbox talks can also be added as and when required.
Why do we need to carry out tool box talks?
Toolbox talks provide a convenient and effective method of communicating and reinforcing the safety message throughout the workforce, and, used properly, can significantly enhance the development of a safe working culture.
The cost of implementing a regular toolbox talk system is minimal, 10-15 minutes a week! The benefits will include greater awareness, with the potential to reduce accident rates, and possibly even save a life.
The question is not “can you be bothered?” – it’s “can you afford not to be?”
Our ultimate tool box talks, the bundle includes;
Abrasive Wheels
Accident & Incident Reporting
Accident Prevention
Accident Procedures
Banksmen/Slingers
Battery Charging – A Multitude Of Hazards!
Use Of Cartridge Operated Tools
Clothing
Use Of Compressed Gases
Confined Spaces
Coshh
Dust And Fumes
Ear Protection
Use Of Electricity
Employee’s Duties
Excavation Work
Eye Protection
Fire Safety
Foot Protection
Fork Lift Truck – Manual Handling Equipment (Flt)
Health & Safety Refresher
Hand Truck Operations
Hand Protection
Use Of Hand Tools
Head Protection
Highly Flammable Liquids
Hot Water And Steam Cleaning
Use Of Hoists
Site Housekeeping
Hygiene
Ladder Use
Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease)
Use Of Lifting Accessories
Use Of Lifting Equipment
Managing Site Waste
Manual Handling
Material Handling & Storage
Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (Mewp)
Mobile Tower Scaffolds
Near Miss Reporting
Hand Trucks/Pallet Jack Use
Permit To Work
Podiums
Pollution Prevention
Portable Electrical Appliances
Protective Clothing
Road/Street Works
Roof Work
Safe Stacking On Site
Scaffolding
Site Plant And Equipment
Site Security
Site Welfare
Skin Protection
Slips, Trips And Falls
Steelwork
Substance Abuse
Underground Services
Vibration
Welding Operations
Working At Heights
Working Platforms