Toolbox talks

Toolbox talks you can give in ten minutes.

40 short talks for the start of a shift. Each has what to say, three questions for the crew, what to watch for today and a sign-in sheet. Print one and go.

Hazards

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls toolbox talk. Check the path, clear what's in it, and report wet spots, loose cords and bad footing.

Working at heights

Working at heights toolbox talk. Plan the work, pick the protection, check your gear and know the rescue plan before leaving the ground.

Lifting and back safety

Lifting and back safety toolbox talk. Size up the load, use a cart or a helper, keep it close and don't twist.

Hand safety

Hand safety toolbox talk. Cuts, pinches, crush injuries and burns. Pick the right glove and keep hands out of the line of fire.

Electrical safety basics

Electrical safety basics toolbox talk. Cords, tools, overhead lines, GFCI and lockout. Treat every wire as live.

Struck-by hazards

Struck-by hazards toolbox talk for crews. Falling tools and materials, swinging loads, moving equipment and flying debris. Stay out of the line of fire.

Caught-in or -between

Caught-in or caught-between toolbox talk. Trenches, rotating parts and moving equipment. Guards, lockout and distance keep crews safe.

Working near traffic

Working near traffic toolbox talk. Use barriers, signs, flaggers and high-visibility gear, and plan a safe way in and out.

Pinch points

Pinch points toolbox talk. Find the spots where hands and fingers get crushed, and keep them clear with tools and habits.

Mobile equipment and pedestrians

Mobile equipment and pedestrians talk: blind spots, eye contact, set walkways, spotters and what to do when you can't see the operator.

Driving safety

Driving safety talk for work vehicles: phone away, belt on, space and speed matched to the road, and no driving when tired, rushed or impaired.

Health

Heat illness

Heat illness toolbox talk for crews. Water, shade, rest breaks, warning signs and when to get medical help. Run it before the hot work starts.

Cold stress

Cold stress toolbox talk for crews. Layers, dry gloves and boots, warm-up breaks, warning signs and when to get medical help in cold, wet or windy work.

Hearing protection

Hearing protection toolbox talk for crews. Plugs and muffs, a good fit, when to wear them and why hearing loss from noise builds up quietly over the years.

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protection basics toolbox talk. Know when you need a respirator, get fitted and trained, check the seal, store it clean.

Fatigue and alertness

Fatigue and alertness toolbox talk. Tired people miss hazards. Know the signs, speak up, take breaks and plan the drive home.

Dust and fumes

Dust and fumes awareness toolbox talk. Cutting, grinding, welding and solvents foul the air. Control the source, ventilate, use the right mask.

Sun and UV exposure

Sun and UV exposure toolbox talk for outdoor crews. Sunscreen, long sleeves, brimmed hats, sunglasses and shade protect skin and eyes on long days outside.

First aid and reporting injuries

First aid and reporting injuries talk: know where the kit and trained people are, call for help early, and report every injury to your lead the same day.

Chemical labels and SDS

Chemical labels and SDS talk: read the label before you use it, know where the safety data sheets are, and never use an unlabeled container.

Equipment

Ladder safety

Ladder safety toolbox talk for crews. Pick the right ladder, inspect it, set it up on solid ground and keep three points of contact every time you climb.

Eye protection

Eye protection toolbox talk. Match glasses, goggles and face shields to the hazard, wear them fitted and know the eyewash.

Forklift safety

Forklift safety talk for the start of a shift: pre-use check, load handling, travel, pedestrians and parking. Only trained, authorized operators drive.

Aerial lift safety

Aerial lift safety talk: trained operators, pre-use check, ground and overhead scan, fall protection in the basket, and a ground person who watches.

Scaffold safety

Scaffold safety talk for a crew: tags, inspection by a competent person, safe access, load limits, fall protection and what not to touch.

Hand and power tool safety

Hand and power tool safety talk: inspect before use, use the right tool, keep guards on, mind the cords and bits, and take damaged tools out of service.

PPE inspection

PPE inspection talk: check hard hats, glasses, gloves, harnesses and boots before each shift, and swap out anything cracked, worn or damaged.

Rigging and lifting basics

Rigging and lifting basics talk: inspect slings and hardware, know the load, stay out from under it, and only trained people rig and signal.

Procedures

Housekeeping

Housekeeping toolbox talk. Keep walkways, work areas and exits clear, store materials safely and clean as you go.

Lockout tagout basics

Lockout tagout basics for a crew talk: isolate the energy, lock it, tag it, verify it. Only trained, authorized people do the work, per the site procedure.

Pre-trip inspection habits

Pre-trip inspection habits talk: walk the vehicle the same way every time, check what moves and wears, and report defects before the truck leaves the yard.

Fire extinguisher use

Fire extinguisher use talk: know where they are, know your exit first, and use the PASS steps only on a small fire if you've been trained on that unit.

Emergency evacuation

Emergency evacuation talk: know the alarm, your exits, the muster point and who counts heads, so the crew gets out and gets accounted for.

Job hazard analysis

Job hazard analysis talk: break the job into steps, name the hazard in each, agree on the control, and update it when the job changes.

Hand signals and radio communication

Hand signals and radio talk: agree on signals before the job, one signaler, clear radio calls, and a stop signal everyone can use at any time.

Weather

Storm readiness

Storm readiness talk: check the forecast, know the shelter and the stop-work triggers, secure loose items and bring people down and in before it hits.

Culture

Distracted work

Distracted work toolbox talk. Phones, headphones and rushing cause injuries. Give the task your full attention and call a stop when you can't.

Near miss reporting

Near miss reporting talk: what counts as a near miss, why a quick report matters, and how a crew turns a close call into a fix before someone gets hurt.

Stop work authority

Stop work authority talk: everyone on the crew can stop a job that looks unsafe, how to do it, and how the lead should respond when someone does.

New worker safety

New worker safety talk: what a lead tells a new hire on day one, who to ask, what to stay away from and why speaking up is expected.

Track who heard it, from a phone.

Run the talk, collect signatures on a phone and keep the record for every crew. Tell us how you do it today.

Book a walkthrough