Safety talks

Safety talks are especially important to supervisors in the workplace and on worksites because they afford each supervisor the opportunity to convey, in a timely manner, important information to workers. Safety talks may not be as effective as one-on-one communications, but they stiU surpass a memorandum or written message. In the 5-lOmin before the workday, during a shift, at a break, or as needed, this technique helps conmiunicate time-sensitive information to a department, crew, or work team. 

In these short succinct meetings, supervisors convey changes in work practices, short training modules, facts related to an accident or injury, specific job instructions, policies, and procedures, rules and regulation changes, or other forms of information that the supervisor feels are important 

Plan a safety talk training schedule in advance and post a notice. 

Follow a procedure in the presentation explain goals, try to answer questions, restate goals, and ask for action. 

Make each employee sign a log for each session. 

Although safety talks are short, these types of talks should not become just a routine part of the workday. Thus, to be effective, they must cover current concerns or information, be relevant to the job, and have value to the workers. Plan safety talks carefully in order to effectively convey a specific message and a real accident prevention technique. Select topics applicable to the existing work environment plan the presentation and focus on one issue at a time. Use materials to reinforce the presentation and clarify the expected outcomes. Some guidelines to follow  

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Patel, M., Sherratt, F. and Farrell, P. (2012) Exploring human error through the safety talk of utilities distribution operatives. In S.D. Smith) (ed.). Proceedings of the 28th Annual ARCOM Conference, pp. 403-12. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Edinburgh. 

A communication tool used to inform workers about health and safety requirements for the tools, equipment, materials, and procedures they use every day, for apartieu-lar job, or how to deal with specific problems on site. They do not replace formal training. A safety talk is usually five minutes in duration. See also Safety Meeting Tailgate Safety Meeting Toolbox Safety Meetings. 

Short, 10- to 15-minute, on-the-job meetings in construction and heavy industry held to keep employees apprised of work-related hazards. See also Safety Meeting Safety Talk Toolbox Safety Meetings. 

During electrical protective equipment safety talks, you may want to review the electrical hazards most commonly found at your jobsite(s) and present examples of the types of electrical protective equipment you require at your company. Inform trainees where to find the equipment class and type markings and what they mean. Instruct trainees never to use defective or damaged electrical protective equipment, and show them photos of damage or defects, so employees know what to look out for. 

SAFTENG.net is an exchange of vital safety materials. I recently started exploring this site and was very impressed. There are some donated PowerPoint lectures, which appeared professionally prepared and ready to use on various safety topics (as lock or tag out, flammable liquids, personal protective equipment, etc.) There are prepared safety talks ready for presentations on other topics. There is an impressive wealth of photos including informative, shocking, factual, gmesome, and humorous for you to build your own presentations. 

Do health and safety talks convey relevant information ... 

Weekly safety talks should be given to reinforce training, safety rules, safe practices, and unique ladder applications. Supervisors should give safety talks on ladders similar to the information that is found in Tables 18.5 and 18.6. 

Safety talks, sometimes called toolbox talks, are an important training tool for the safety and health department and the supervisor. These safety talks can be used to cover a wide range of important safety topics in real time or immediately after mishaps or near-misses have occurred. Safety talks have the benefit of incorporating specific company issues and concerns. 

Safety talks cannot be done in a helter-skelter fashion. They shonld be approached in an organized manner nsing a planned approach or they become nonfunctional. Safety talks must have meat to them. Thus, they should not become a gripe session or have the appearance of being a seat-of-the-pants presentation. 

Safety talks, as with other training, should be documented. This documentation should include the date of the talk, presenter s name, topic, a list of those in attendance, and any materials used that should be attached to the Record of Safety Meeting Form (see Table 20.2). 

These safety talks may be held more frequently depending on the circumstances (i.e., fatality, injury, new operations, etc.). The snpervisor/foreman will provide appropriate materials (handouts, audio/visual aids, etc.) to discussion leaders in advance of each meeting. Discussion leaders will be selected for each meeting by the supervisor/foreman. 

Behaviors putting on PPE, locking out power, using equipment guards, giving a safety talk, cleaning up spills, coaching others about their behaviors. 

You take responsibility for the safety of others when you give safety talks at tailgate meetings, join safety committees, and praise each other for safe practices. 

Safety talks are usually short, informal meetings conducted by workplace supervisors with their crews or crew members. These safety talks are particularly effective in keeping employees motivated in using the correct safety practices. These short meetings are best directed to the work being done the day of the talk or in the near future. AWWA publishes a series of safety talks that can be used or adopted to match a utility s circumstances. 

Figure 4.6 is a form used to summarize routine measurements. You will note that Universal Copper and Metals Mine chooses to measure such things as inspections, safety talks, and spot job observations. Each issue is very operationally focused and has significant impact at the working level. 

Safety talks are used as a practical tool to communicate, motivate, and train workers in specific hazards, unique or arising hazards, incidents that have occurred, or updated job safety and health issues in a somewhat informal manner. The safety talk accomplishes efficiency, safety, and productivity (ESP). The safety talk accomplishes ESP because it has many advantages, which are listed here ... 

In developing a safety talk the preparer should follow these steps prepare, pinpoint, personalize, picturize, and prescribe. Seldom is a deliverer of a safety talk successful without preparation. A safety talk is best when it pinpoints or addresses a single topic. By personalizing the talk to the audience, the message becomes more relevant and better received. Most individuals usually say I see what you mean and not I hear what you say, which is the reason the visuals/pictures are an important component when planning a safety talk (the eyes have it). At the end of the talk give the audience a prescription, help them answer the so what question, tell them how they can help, and ask for action from them. 

Written materials are only useful for a short time period. It is a good idea to use them sparingly, maybe once a month as a stuffer in the payroll envelope or during a safety talk. If you post it on the bulletin board, it will be read within a week. You should then take it down since it has probably been read by all of those who will take the time to read it. At times, you may develop plasticized cards that contain new rules, inspection directions, operator guidelines, or changes in procedures, which you cannot expect a worker to memorize. These cards should fit into a shirt pocket and can act as reminders to workers if they have questions when no one is around. At times I reconunend that safety operating procedures be plasticized and placed on machinery or equipment that is complicated to operate or not operated frequently. If you use written materials, test them out on the audience before mass distribution. Written materials have their place in fostering workplace safety and health communications. 

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