While delivering a toolbox talk seems like a simple task, it can be difficult to get a group of tired and distracted workers to actually retain the important information you’re sharing.
To help make sure your safety talks are effective, we've rounded up five easy tips.
Toolbox talk tips
1. Choose a timely topic
If you hold a safety meeting about risks that won’t apply to your crews for several days or weeks down the line, they may forget the most important points by the time they need them. Make sure the toolbox talks you give are relevant to the project or tasks your crews will be working on immediately after.
If possible, hold your safety meetings right at the site of the hazard that’s being discussed to further back up your talk with visuals.
2. Keep talks brief
Toolbox talks are meant to be brief reminders of proper safety measures, not comprehensive training courses.
To better hold your audience's attention, make sure your talks focus on the most relevant information workers need to safely manage upcoming tasks. If you keep things short and sweet, you'll also get your crews back to work faster.
3. Lighten the mood
Obviously, jobsite safety shouldn't be taken lightly, and by no means do we recommend making jokes about personal safety. But, by putting a positive spin on toolbox talks, you can engage employees more than you might simply by reviewing risks and unfortunate statistics.
Emphasize how the safety measures described in your talk will help your crews be productive and proactive in preventing incidents. Share positive examples of what working safely can help them achieve. Remind your workers that they are each valuable team members, and that they all deserve to get home safely at the end of the day.
4. Interact with attendees
Making your toolbox talks interactive improves attentiveness and engagement. Throughout the talk, ask your attendees questions about the content and get them involved. You should also make sure they have time to ask any questions of their own at the end of your meeting.
You can also prompt attendees to repeat the information you’re reading to increase retention.
5. Remember the reason
It’s easy to get into a routine on the jobsite, and it may seem like safety talks interrupt your normal workflow.
However, construction is a dangerous and all too often deadly industry. Remember that toolbox talks are an incredibly efficient way to reduce incidents and protect yourself and your coworkers. There is very little downside to making them a regular part of your safety plan.
Keep crews safer with Raken
Raken offers a library of 140+ toolbox talk topics on relevant subjects ranging from basic housekeeping to heavy machine operations. Choose a topic, access your talk on phone or tablet, and digitally document attendance to easily track who’s signed off on which talks and when.
Our easy-to-use construction safety management app also comes with all the other critical safety features you need:
Incident reports - Document the details of injuries and illnesses then submit data to OSHA with a click
Observations - Alert stakeholders when there’s an issue on the jobsite
Checklists - Follow standardized safety procedures to the letter
Compliance tracking - See how safety strategies are performing at a glance
Schedule a demo today to learn more about how Raken protects your crews and your business.