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How To Conduct A Tool Box Safety Meeting

One of the most effective methods to promote on-the-job safety is by holding a Tool Box Safety Meeting - a 5 to 10 minute meeting conducted by the immediate supervisor of foreman.

Holding an Effective Tool Box Safety Meeting

To enforce that Tool Box Safety Meetings are a value-added activity, hold weekly meetings at the beginning of the morning or afternoon shift.  The best place to hold the meeting is right on the job in a comfortable area where workers can sit and relax.   Limit each meeting to between five and ten minutes.  If the discussion gets intense - which can be a positive - continue it at the next meeting.

Each meeting should have a simple, central theme

Keep topics simple without being too broad.  This is most important. Rather than discussion "hand tool safety," too comprehensive for a five minute meeting, focus on "defective hand tools" or "returning hand tools to their proper place."

The following are some helpful hints to lead an effective discussion:

1. Introduce the hazard to be discussed, then try to get the group to develop the discussion and sum up the safety solution.

2. Prepare for Tool Box Safety Meetings so that you can stimulate conversation, as needed.

3. Use positive approaches and conclusions whenever possible.   "We can bring our housekeeping up to a high standard.  Each of you can develop habits of neatness and cleanliness" is more motivational then "The house keeping around here is terrible  You people are too sloppy."

Topic Selection

There are any number of topics that can be covered at Tool Box Meetings, but your own group's activities should furnish the source of all, or almost all, your topics.

1. Review unsafe acts or procedures that you have observed among your own workers as an introduction to a topic of safe practices or safe procedures.  Don't mention names or blame anyone at a toll box meeting.  That isn't the time or the place for it, and might only stifle discussion.

2. Discuss a recent injury or accident, either at your own operations or one you have learned about from an outside source (i.e. newspaper, trade journal, or neighboring job sites or plants).

3. Discuss new equipment, new process or new chemicals that are being introduced to the job site.

4. Review a good safe job recently completed by your own group or organization.

5. Review and unsafe condition that was not promptly corrected - a guard removed, an obstructed walkway, a defective tool not reported, repaired, or replaced - with emphasis on the injury that could have resulted from it.

Let the Workers Talk

Having group members lead Tool Box Meetings is a great way to stimulate interest.  If you decide to have one of the group members act as the leader, make sure to discuss the tool box subject beforehand and give pointers on conducting the meeting.  At some meetings, the leader may simply state the safety problem and throw it open for discussion.  At others, the leader may do all or almost all the talking.   The appropriate manner will depend on the topic being discussed.

Where possible, it is good if the workers themselves are encouraged to speak and offer recommendations or solutions.  By doing so, they are more likely to ensure that recommendations or solutions are being carried out.

Documentation

It is important to maintain records of the Tool Box Meetings.  The record provides a system of informing top management of the meetings, thus permitting them to monitor their effectiveness.  Items recorded should include the date held, by whom, subject of the talk and name of employees in attendance.