What Are Toolbox Talks in Construction?

Toolbox talks are an effective part of a construction safety program. Site-specific health and safety issues are discussed at these meetings. The short, targeted training stresses the importance of the topic to employees.

Purpose

• Toolbox talks address actual and anticipated safety concerns for scheduled project work. The talks provide an opportunity to relate specific safety concerns with the jobs to be performed.

Topics

• General safety and task-specific concerns provide a continuous source of topics for discussion. Case studies of the consequences of unsafe actions are effective in getting workers to understand and remember important safety lessons.

Length

• The most successful meetings last between 10 and 15 minutes. Short training makes the point without making the lesson overbearing and boring.

Frequency

• Toolbox talks should be given at least once a week. At hazardous construction sites, training can be held daily.

Regulatory Compliance

• Governing regulations, including those of OSHA and the Canadian Board of Labor, require employers to train workers about the hazards posed by the work being performed. Toolbox talks are an accepted form of training.

Keep Records

• Records must be kept as a proof of training. Have employees sign an attendance sheet that records the date, duration and topic of all training presented.