This document provides guidelines for conducting effective toolbox talks to maintain a safety education program in the construction industry. Key recommendations include scheduling regular weekly meetings no longer than 15 minutes, preparing topics in advance, encouraging participation and discussion, holding meetings in quiet locations conducive to learning, focusing exclusively on relevant safety matters, using visual aids when possible, documenting meetings with synopses and signatures, and discussing incidents and planned work in terms of hazards and prevention rather than individuals.

1. YAWAR HASSAN KHAN
TOOL BOX TALKS

2.  Toolbox talks are a useful tool in the
maintenance
 of a viable safety and health education
program in
 the construction industry. For best
results, follow
 these guidelines:

3.  Schedule regular weekly meetings, and
never
 skip a meeting

4.  Limit topic discussion to about 10 to 15
minutes;

5.  Review the talk in advance and deliver the
 information in your own words

6.  Encourage group participation. Receive and
 act upon questions, ideas and suggestions

7.  Avoid holding meetings in noisy areas. Use
an
 atmosphere conducive to learning

8.  Devote meetings exclusively to health and
 safety matters that apply to the particular
 group of workers;

9.  Use visual aids where available or
appropriate;
 • Document the meeting with a synopsis and
 signatures of attendees;

10.  If the talk involves an incident, discuss it with
 injury factors, causes and recurrence
prevention,
 rather than the individual involved in the
 accident

11.  If the meeting involves work being planned,
 discuss potential hazards, safety equipment
to
 be used and basic procedures to be followed