Toolbox talks for construction

Why toolbox talks matter

Employers must give their workers the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to work safely (section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974). Toolbox talks are one of the easiest ways to do that and to show you've done it. Main contractors and accreditation schemes often ask to see your toolbox talk records.

How to run one in 10 minutes

1. Pick one topic that matches the work this week.
2. Keep it local: point at the actual ladder, the actual trench, the actual product.
3. Ask, don't lecture: what could go wrong here today? What would you do if…?
4. Agree two or three actions people will actually do.
5. Record it: topic, date, who gave it, who attended, and signatures.

Free toolbox talks you can read out on site

Each talk takes five to ten minutes. Read the key points, ask the question at the end and record attendance on the sheet below.

Toolbox talk: Silica dust

• Cutting, drilling, chasing and grinding concrete, brick, block, stone and some tiles creates fine silica dust you can't see.
• Breathing it in over time causes silicosis, lung cancer and COPD. It doesn't get better once you have it.
• Use water suppression or on-tool extraction every time. Dry cutting with no controls is not acceptable.
• Wear the RPE you've been face-fit tested for, usually FFP3, and be clean-shaven where the mask seals.
• Clean up with an M-class vacuum, never a dry brush or compressed air.

Ask the team: When did you last see someone dry cut a block on this site? What should they have used?

Toolbox talk: Working at height and ladders

• Falls from height are the biggest cause of deaths in construction, and many are from low heights.
• Use a tower, podium or scaffold for anything other than short, light work.
• Check ladders before use: stiles, feet, rungs, locking bars.
• Set ladders at 1 out for every 4 up, footed or tied, on firm ground.
• Never overreach. Climb down and move the ladder.

Ask the team: Which jobs on this site this week involve working off the ground? What access equipment is planned?

Toolbox talk: Manual handling

• Most back injuries come from lifting that could have been avoided or made easier.
• Ask for deliveries to point of use and use the lifting aids provided.
• Plan the lift: where it's going, is the route clear, do you need a second person?
• Keep the load close, bend your knees, don't twist.
• Report any pain early. Don't work through it.

Ask the team: Which materials on this job are heavy or awkward, and what aids do we have for them?

Toolbox talk: Asbestos awareness

• Any building built or refurbished before 2000 can contain asbestos.
• Common places: textured coatings, floor tiles, pipe lagging, boxing-in, soffits, cement sheets.
• Check the asbestos survey before you drill, cut or break anything.
• If you find something suspicious, stop, keep people away and tell the supervisor.
• Never sweep up or vacuum suspected asbestos debris with a normal vacuum.

Ask the team: Has the asbestos survey for this building been shared with everyone? Where is it kept?

Toolbox talk: Hand-arm vibration

• Breakers, grinders, SDS drills, compactors and saws can damage nerves and blood vessels in your hands.
• Early signs: tingling, numbness, white fingers in the cold. The damage is permanent.
• Use low-vibration tools and keep them maintained. Blunt bits increase vibration.
• Limit trigger time. Your supervisor should know how many exposure points each tool gives.
• Keep hands warm and report symptoms early.

Ask the team: Which tools do we use most each day, and how long is each person actually on the trigger?

30 toolbox talk topics

Our monthly plan includes a new toolbox talk each month, written for your trade, with the record sheet ready to sign.

Frequently asked questions