Toolbox Talks
Toolbox Talks safety briefings are an easy and efficient way to keep construction employees safe.
What are Toolbox Talks?
These brief meetings offer an opportunity for team members to learn about potential hazards and preventive measures, as well as a chance for the employer to review safety regulations. They are a great way to ensure that everyone is aware of the safety protocols that must be adhered to in order to prevent accidents and injuries on the job site.
Each toolbox talk has been reviewed and approved by a subject matter expert at L&I DOSH.
NEW! Search Toolbox Talks
Type a search term in the search box below to view English toolbox talks that match your search query. Or, use the category dropdown to view related talks.
Funding and support for the Toolbox Talks project and mobile apps has been provided by the State of Washington, Department of Labor & Industries, Safety & Health Investment Project.
Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO)
Date Posted: 05/29/2024
The release of uncontrolled energy causes thousands of injuries each year. Each year, approximately 3,000 workers suffer lost-time injuries from being caught in dangerous parts of equipment or machinery during maintenance or cleaning, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Heat-Related Hazards & Controls
Date Posted: 02/17/2024
Workers exposed to extreme heat or working in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. For example, heat stress can result in heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes
Emergency Routes & Exits
Date Posted: 02/13/2024
Workers need exit routes clearly marked and unlocked exit doors during a fire or another emergency. Emergency exits serve to provide an unencumbered route away from danger. No matter the environment, emergency exit routes and designated escape paths must be provided in an emergency.
Conflict Management
Date Posted: 02/13/2024
Conflicts on the construction site are a common occurrence. A recent study in the United States revealed that workers spend an average of 2.8 hours a week managing conflicts, translating to approximately $360 billion. Disputes and disagreements will arise when multiple parties, such as general contractors, owners, architects, and subcontractors, work together to complete a project.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Date Posted: 01/30/2024
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly one-third of reportable injuries and 40% of fatalities in construction result from slips, trips, and falls nationally. These injuries result in 50% more days away from work than other injuries.
Ergonomic Safety
Date Posted: 01/27/2024
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), About 1.8 million workers report musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), commonly known as strains and sprains, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and back injuries yearly.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Resources
Date Posted: 09/18/2020
Mental health and suicide prevention are important elements of worker health. Learn about the resources that are available to both workers and employers.
Respectful Workplace
Date Posted: 04/21/2020
Creating a respectful workplace is the cornerstone for the success and continued growth of a company. Respectful workplaces create safer jobsites, healthier company cultures and increased productivity.
Suicide and Mental Health
Date Posted: 04/21/2020
A suicide in the US occurs every twelve minutes and can affect anyone. Suicide among construction industry workers is one of the highest rates in the country.
Building a Safety Culture
Date Posted: 09/23/2016
Safety culture is the way in which safety is managed in the workplace, and reflects the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and values that employers and employees share in relation to safety. Every organization has a safety culture. The question is whether the safety culture is what we want it to be. If the culture is not what we want it to be, what can we do to change it.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
Date Posted: 09/09/2016
To provide and maintain a safe and healthy worksite, owners, contractors, employers, supervisors, and workers must accept and follow their own level of responsibility.
Housekeeping
Date Posted: 09/08/2016
Lack of proper housekeeping on the job is one safety hazard common to all construction projects. Good housekeeping is one item that can help improve not only the safety on the job, but also the morale and productivity of the workers.
Material Stacking
Date Posted: 09/05/2016
Practicing safe stacking and racking avoids serious injuries caused by stockpile collapses or by retrieving materials from improperly collected stacks. Safe stacking reduces injury and fire risks, enhancing the efficiency of site paths of traffic.
Near Misses
Date Posted: 09/04/2016
Near miss incidents are situations that did not result in personal injury or property damage but have the potential to do so.
Pre-Emergency Planning
Date Posted: 09/01/2016
Even with the best plans and procedures in place, accidents can still happen. Advanced preparations make all the difference. Before the job starts, it is imperative that you have an emergency plan in place.
Raised Flooring
Date Posted: 08/30/2016
Raised Flooring Systems allow ventilation, plumbing, and/or high and low voltage systems to be installed under the floor. Under-floor air distribution has been found to be more energy efficient because less fan power is required to distribute air at the floor than in overhead in the conventional ceiling systems. As a result, there is less overhead work on a ladder but more trip and fall hazards.
Safe Cell Phone Usage
Date Posted: 08/28/2016
The use of a cell phone and other similar hand held devices can allow employees to be more available, no matter their physical location. Multi-tasking while using a hand held device is tempting and can prove deadly when combined with operating motorized vehicles and on the job sites. Cell phones and other hand held devices must be used safely. The National Safety Council estimates that 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting each year.
Safe Work Habits
Date Posted: 08/28/2016
In most everything we do, we find a way to make the process go easier and faster. These processes we develop become work habits and are used not only at work but in our everyday activities.
Safety Awareness
Date Posted: 08/28/2016
Safety Awareness is like almost everything else we do, learned and not instinctive. We aren't born with awareness for safety concerns. . . in fact anyone who has a young child or grandchild knows this as they see them going around doing unsafe things constantly.
Sexual Harassment
Date Posted: 08/27/2016
Do you have nude pictures in your workplace? Tell dirty jokes? Make suggestive remarks to other employees? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be guilty of sexual harassment. Since enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the development of guidelines by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 1980, sexual harassment is considered to be a form of sex discrimination-a Federal offense.
Download the FREE
Toolbox Talks App!
Discover, discuss, and document over 150 Toolbox Talks! The Toolbox Talks app makes it simple to find safety talks for both construction and marine industries in English, Spanish, and Russian. Find a talk to review, then document your safety briefing with a signature capture form that generates a PDF of the meeting details that you can email or save to your device.
Funding and support for the Toolbox Talks project and mobile apps has been provided by the State of Washington, Department of Labor & Industries, Safety & Health Investment Project.