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.
Lead Exposure
Date Posted: 09/06/2016
OSHA estimates that approximately 838,000 workers in construction are potentially exposed to lead.
Lumber Reuse
Date Posted: 09/06/2016
Lumber Reuse focuses on the removal of old wooden beams, columns, decking, studs, and ornamental woodworks for the reuse in new structures. It is becoming more common as virgin wood products are more expensive and the appearance can often be more attractive. The reuse of salvaged lumber products also reduces unnecessary material from being sent to the landfill.
Manual Handling
Date Posted: 09/06/2016
Improper lifting from manual handling is the leading cause of back injury. If mechanical handling methods are not possible, utilize the following guidelines.
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.
Mobile Equipment
Date Posted: 09/05/2016
There are many types of mobile equipment, their use depends on the processes involved with the industry.
Nail Gun Safety
Date Posted: 09/05/2016
Nail guns are powerful and pose safety risks For construction safety standards, nail guns are classified as pneumatic power tools
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.
Night Work
Date Posted: 09/04/2016
Night work is often necessary to complete a given task on a construction site. Night work can provide specific challenges that are not experienced during the day, particularly visibility. The following tips will help during those times.
Overhead Powerlines
Date Posted: 05/30/2024
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, between 2011 and 2020, 39% of all electrically related workplace fatalities were caused by overhead power lines. 53% of all fatal electrical injuries occurred in the Construction industry. The Construction industry has remained the leading source of fatal electrical injuries, with 82, about three times the amount of the second-highest industry.
Paint Spraying Operations
Date Posted: 09/04/2016
Summer is the season when many people want their houses repainted. In the Northwest, we get very few opportunities with good weather. It is important to not be in too much of a hurry that safety concerns are overlooked.
Pedestrians and Night Work
Date Posted: 09/03/2016
Night work is difficult, especially with regards to visibility of pedestrians. Construction workers typically wear class 2, or at least high visibility garments. Pedestrians rarely wear high visibility garments which can create increased risk at the jobsite during the night.
Personal Protective Equipment
Date Posted: 09/03/2016
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is gear that can be worn to help minimize or eliminate injury. It can be worn to help prevent sudden injuries or injuries that occur over time. It is very important the user understands the intended purpose of the PPE and verifies that it fits properly.
Pervious Concrete
Date Posted: 09/03/2016
Pervious Concrete uses materials with larger aggregate to create voids for water to pass through it and back into the ground. Unlike typical concrete mixes, pervious mixes are hard to vibrate into place and thus require more manual labor to install, spread, and compress.
Pinch Points
Date Posted: 09/02/2016
A Pinch Point is produced when 2 objects come together and there is a possibility that a person could be caught or injured when coming in contact with that area. Pinch points commonly impact fingers / hands, but can impact any area of the body. The injury resulting from a pinch point could be as minor as a blister or as severe as amputation or death. Conveyors, gears, loaders, compactors and other moving equipment are examples of machinery with pinch points.
Portable Generator - Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Date Posted: 09/02/2016
Electrical generators can save lives by maintaining heat, light, refrigeration and medical equipment during a power outage. These devices can be hazardous if not utilized properly. The following information outlines the specific hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning inherent with the use of generators.
Portable Generator - Fire Prevention
Date Posted: 09/01/2016
Electrical generators can save lives by maintaining heat, light, refrigeration and medical equipment during a power outage. These devices can be hazardous if not utilized properly. The following information outlines the specific hazards of fire inherent with the use of generators. Source: www.osha.gov.
Portable Generator - Shock and Electrocution
Date Posted: 08/31/2016
Portable generators can be life-saving during a power outage. These electrical generators pose significant hazards if not used properly. The following information outlines the specific hazards of shock and electrocution inherent with the use of generators and also provides helpful information to ensure that workers and others using such equipment remain safe. Source: www.osha.gov.
Power Tools and Cords
Date Posted: 09/01/2016
All power tools can be dangerous. Safety instructions must be followed carefully.
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.
Preventing Occupational Illness
Date Posted: 08/31/2016
Most people confuse the terms safe and healthy. A safe worksite will prevent injury, a healthy worksite will prevent illness. An occupational illness refers to any type of disease or condition caused by the workplace.
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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.