THE 5 PERILS OF NOT HOLDING TOOLBOX TALKS

What is a toolbox talk?

“A toolbox talk is an informal group discussion that focuses on a particular safety issue”

(Harvard University)

What happens if you don’t hold regular toolbox talks?

Peril #1 Compromised safety

If you’re not talking to your staff about specific safety issues on a regular basis, you’re putting the safety of

everyone at risk.

Peril #2 Creating a poor company culture

When toolbox talks don’t take place at all, what does it say about your organisation’s attitude to the health

and safety of its employees?

Peril #3 Black book processes can develop

Without holding discussions around safety with your workers and letting them know what’s expected of

them, black book safety processes can emerge; these can result in a number of unsafe methods

being used.

Peril #4 Lack of accountability

If there’s no direction from a supervisor in terms of safety and holding toolbox talks, whose fault is it when something goes wrong? Workplace safety

should be an ongoing discussion.

Peril #5 It’s harder to implement necessary safety changes

In the absence of toolbox talks, there’s no record of conversations, meetings or key issues that need to be

discussed and who with. This means there is no data or information to analyse and put to good use in the future.

The 5 perils of not holding toolbox talks

1. Compromised safety

2. Creating a poor company culture

3. Black book processes can develop

4. Lack of accountability

5. It’s harder to implement necessary changes

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