Safety talks and meetings

Safety talks, sometimes called toolbox talks, are an important training tool for the safety and health director 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 need to be approached in an organized manner using a planned approach or they become nonfunctional. Safety talks need to have meaning and purpose. Thus, they do not become a gripe session or have the appearance of being a seat-of-the-pants presentation. 

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. 

Safety talks, as with other training, should be documented. This documentation needs to include the date of the talk, presenter s name, topic, a list of those in attendance, and any materials used, which should be attached to the safety talk log form, which can be found in Chapter 21. 

NOTE Staple any handouts or materials used during the toolbox meeting. 

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Safety and health management is more of an administrative function even though action items and their completion are an integral part of the safety and health initiative. The functions of time and cost for staff and workers involved in safety meetings, safety talks, and participatory programs are an indicator of the company s commitment to safety and health. 

Safety talks or meetings are also good ways of using accident data. In this manner, accident prevention efforts can be targeted toward ciurent and frequently occurring problem areas. In addition to all of these reasons, accident data is extremely important in rewarding and recognizing safe performance. 

Despite the many demands that require safety and health professionals to be chained to their desk, it is essential that safety and health professionals allot time in their weekly schedule to be actively involved within the operations. Although safety and health professionals often perform weekly inspections, job hazard observations, safety audits, and related activity, it is import for safety and health professionals to make time to meet and talk with every employee on every job. Safety and health professionals should engage the employee and ask the employee to explain what he or she does in his or her job function. 

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. 

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. 

Results of investigations shall be shared with others via five-minute talks, SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) Committee meetings and similar avenues, as appropriate. 

Safety tours and inspections >- Team briefings >- Management meetings >- Tool box talks by supervisors >- Problem-solving workshops >- Appraisal interviews. 

Krisco (1997) maintains that leaders need to help people move their conversations from the past to the future and then back to the present. If you want conversation to lead to improvement-focused behavior, possibilities need to be entertained (future talk) and then practical action plans need to be developed (present talk). This is the case for group conversation at a team meeting, as well as for one-on-one advising, counseling, or safety coaching. 

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