If your organisation is serious about safety – you need to be having regular 'toolbox talks' with your team. Unlike an official safety meeting or training session, a toolbox talk is a shorter, more informal discussion to support and reinforce your overall safety program by focusing on a specific safety issue.

To assist our customers with training MARTOR Australia has released a NEW Toolbox Talk for one specific issue - knife safety in the workplace.

Our Toolbox Talk focuses on identifying unsafe knives, what constitutes a safe knife, safe cutting practices, safe blade disposal, and safe knife storage. Also provided with the MARTOR Toolbox Talk handout are meeting notes for the facilitator and a Knife Audit Form to start working on knife safety.

To download the MARTOR Australia Toolbox Talk HERE

Now that you have the topic for your Toolbox Talk, here are some tips to get started:

When and where?

Toolbox talks should be scheduled for the beginning of a work shift and onsite for demonstration purposes and minimal work disruption.

How long should it be?

Your talk should be clear, concise, and no longer than 10-15 minutes. Have a clear plan and stay on track to cover all the critical points and retain engagement.

How to prepare?

Create a schedule to use as a template for all meetings to make preparation easy and create consistency. Here is an example toolbox talk agenda:

  • Begin on a positive note - express gratitude for a specific employee or team, highlight a safety achievement or the team's safety record.
  • Have a quick review of the last meeting and outcomes.
  • Choose your topic, keep your talk to no more than 5 points, and explain the subject and its importance to the entire group's safety.
  • Allow time for questions and discussion.
  • Finish with a quick review and mini 'test' to check the topic was understood.

How can you engage employees during a talk?

Try using stories, props, and visual aids to explain the correct safety behaviour, keep your talk positive, encourage discussion and create safety 'rewards' for employees who demonstrate the proper safety behaviour each week.

Toolbox talks are a simple and effective way to improve your organization's safety, engage your employees, and keep an open line of communication and information.

By keeping them short, sharp, and topical, you minimise work disruption while creating greater safety awareness and helping to reduce injury, equipment damage, and related downtime costs.

Download the MARTOR Australia Toolbox Talk HERE.