How to conduct Tool Box Talk (TBT)

It is a fact that there are many minor accidents that happen before big one - We can avoid the big accidents or lower their intensity if we focus on safety on a daily basis and consistently. 

To do so we need some effective tool through which we could check and maintain safety of the working sites.

One of the most effective tools to maintain safety on site is Tool Box Talk through we create safety awareness among the respective workers before they start their task.

What is Tool Box Talk?

According to the standard definition of Tool Box Talk it is a sort of on site meeting or discussion between safety personnel and the workers about the safety measures of a particular task. It is not lengthy like safety training and composed of 10 to 15 minutes.

The frequency of TBT depends on the nature of work going on and the standards followed by the company. But, the good practices are found that TBT is conducted for every new task on daily basis Or in some cases on shift basis.

How to conduct Tool Box Talk?

Think about how you could prepare a Tool Box Talk for your workers, there are many ways to conduct the TBT and below are a few important aspects every safety professional should take care before conducting a Tool Box Talk.

Prepare your content and make it easy to understand for audience in a defined time period (10 -15 minutes). If information is not simple and clear there is a chance of arguments between presenter and audience which can prolong the TBT into a discussion.

• Start with last day updates Or with some news Or with some facts to grab the attention of audience from start - Telling a dramatic story related to the subject, perhaps something you read in the press, e.g. “How a youngster cleaning out a ready mix concrete vehicle was cut to pieces and killed because the keys had been left in the ignition”. “The construction industry employs 5.4% of the total workforce but it accounts for 23.3% of all fatal accidents at work”.
• Use supportive material or human resource to transfer knowledge to audience to the best possible level
• Check the location and site where you gathered workers to conduct TBT. It must be safe big enough to accommodate audiences of TBT.
• Manage your time strictly 
• Convey the objectivity for that ask yourself What incentive is there for people to listen to you? They won’t listen simply because you are the foreman, supervisor or manager. You have to earn that right by being both interesting and concerned for their safety.
• Take few questions from audience/worker to create their interest and understand their concerns if any
• Take/log attendance of the participants and keep it on record

A Toolbox Talk should not be just ONE WAY. It is important to engage people in discussion, especially when talking to experienced people. Clearly indicate the major stages you will concentrate on. Decide on the major key points you want to make, choose those points that are relevant to your site situation. People will only be able to cope with about 4 or 5 pieces of information in each stage so concentrate only on relevant information at every stage. Do not try to speak every detail of information because it can be overburden for the workers. Choose information, which is relevant to your workplace. The toolbox talk will be written for a general audience. Allow yourself 10 minutes to read through the relevant talk and decide which points are relevant for the people at your particular workplace. A good beginning and a good end are important – people will remember them. People will start thinking when you ask a question so use questions during your talk, don’t just wait until the end. Don’t assume that you have all the knowledge or information on the subject; questions will show that you are open to gathering additional information from your group. Many people try to include too much information in their talk. The aim of these talks is to get people to remember a few critical pointers. You need to make it easy for people to be able to remember. You can do this by limiting the talk to a few stages with 3 to 5 key points under each stage. Split the talk into 2 if you want. Don’t be tempted to read all the information from the sheet. Choose the items which are relevant to your site and which you feel is relevant. Your attitude is important; it will show by the way you present yourself. You believe it’s important so you have to convey your sense of enthusiasm for the subject. Be Firm Get the message across – don’t get side-tracked.

• Be Serious Health and Safety is deadly serious
• Be confident and keep eye contact with people

You must communicate the message in simple and understandable language  If you do it right, that message could save a life. Remember, ask the question, pause to give people time to think and finally, choose who you want to answer.

Make sure as many people as possible get to answer questions. Restate the question to make sure it is clear and give people time to think of a reply, but avoid simply giving the answer yourself. If there is an awkward silence, rephrase the question and allow people a reasonable amount of thinking time.

What are topics generally discussed during Tool Box Talk?

The topic of Tool Box Talk is chosen according to the task going to perform but there is a list of TBT topics which can help safety professionals to prepare themselves for the TBTs or add a list of TBT in their Safety programs.

Below can  the different  50 topics of TBT but not limited to this ...

1. Introduction to site staff to workers
2. Housekeeping
3. Site Instructions
4. Ten basic safety rules
5. Logout and tag-out
6. Fire prevention and Control
7. Correct use of PPEs
8. Personal hygiene
9. How and when emergency system activate
10. Incident reporting
11. Ventilation
12. Gen safety-the basic of safety
13. Before start the concreting of raft
14. Heat stress
15. Gen Safety- A single second
16. Advice to employees
17. HSE policy
18. Concreting
19. Waste disposal
20. Right attitude towards safety
21. Housekeeping
22. Edge protection and barricading
23. HSE management system req
24. Forklift drivers must communicate & pedestrian safety
25. Hand tools safety
26. Golden rules of good safety habits
27. General rules for safety at work
28. Safe Stacking on site
29. Ladder use
30. Eye Protection
31. Short cuts
32. Employees duties
33. COSHH
34. General rules for safety at work
35. Site Housekeeping
36. Proper lifting procedure to prevent back injury
37. Fall from height - head injuries
38. Uses of abrasive wheels
39. Dust and fumes
40. Fire safety
41. The use of Hoists
42. Slip trip
43. Falling objects and fall from height
44. How to use full body harness
45. How to use portable fire extinguisher
46. Hazards and their types
47. Work at height Safety
48. Ergonomics
49. Mechanical hazards
50. Environmental Protection 

For details TBT on any of above topic please follow blog and write the name of topic in comments section.

For Tool Box Talk attendance log template click on below link; 

TBT Attendance Sheet