What are “Toolbox Talks”?
Toolbox talks are short presentations to the workforce on a single aspect of health and safety.They are also called tailgate meetings, safety time-outs, crew briefings - the names vary according to the industry. These discussions were initially done in the construction industry where the crew informally gathered around the tailgate of a truck, or somewhere near a tool box, while the foreman issued instructions.
Toolbox talks are discussions conducted to continuously inform and educate employees so theycan recognize, avoid, report or correct any health and safety hazards noted in their workplace.
They provide an opportunity for a supervisor to emphasise the importance of a particular issueor procedure, and for the rank-and-file to ask questions or make serious comments. As a rule, these talks are kept brief, lasting no more than 3 - 5 minutes and should be interesting and relevant to the situation or environment in which they are being delivered. In some organizations, it is mandatory that all employees attend talks relevant to their areas of work.
The talks are conducted by a safety educator or the immediate supervisor, and each session should focus on one specific topic and address it in simple terms. The presenter should prepare in advance so that the “talk” will not be read. While it need not be about a safety topic, it is not uncommon for safety to be the topic. Topics under discussion should be topical and specific to the working environment. Learning to recognize safety hazards is an important part of the curriculum. Workers are educated about all aspects of the industry in which they work, so that they can identify problems with their work sites. Among the topics to be covered are accident trends, job-specific training requirements, and specifics related to the equipment being used.
Electrical safety and proper handling of equipment are also common safety hazards that are covered. Workers are usually invited to tell stories about injuries they have witnessed or heard about, in order to learn from each other and the supervisor.
Finally, the Toolbox Talks should be documented. One of the most frequently cited OSHA Standards reads as follows:
“The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.”
Essentially, this means that it is the employer’s responsibility to train employees regarding all workplace hazards and their appropriate safe-guards. Documentation is the most effective way to prove that this training has been completed.
In conclusion, it can be seen that the potential applications for tool box talks are endless andonly limited by scarcity of resources and imagination.
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