Effective Tool Box Talks

For toolbox information to be effective, consider the following:

Toolbox talks should be presented not read.

The presenters should review topic materials before the meeting and then present the topic.  The presenter should not just read a toolbox safety talk. Information will be more effective if it is presented and not just read.

Toolbox talks should be presented by a supervisor, foreman or similar type of employee.

Don't delegate this significant task. When toolbox information is presented by a credible supervisor or person of similar responsibilities it's more likely the material will be taken seriously.

Toolbox talks should address the hazards of your workplace.

The topic should be relevant to your jobsite. Otherwise, you'll lose the attention of your employees and workers.

Toolbox talks should be quick and to the point and should take no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

You can likely address one specific hazard or issue that is relevant to the job site in a 5 to 10 minute time span. You want your employees and workers to understand and remember topics presented and keep the talk short and to the point.

Document your toolbox talks. One of the most frequently cited OSHA standards, 1926.21(b)(2) reads:

"the employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury."

Basically this means it's the employer's responsibility to train and advise employees regarding all workplace hazards and the appropriate safeguard actions. Documentation is the only way to prove to OSHA that this information has been discussed and delivered to employees and workers.

This information was provided by: Cindi Spangler, Finishing Contractors Association International.

###

Emergency Response

Download the full article

BE PREPARED!  AN EMERGENCY IS NO TIME TO HESITATE OR PANIC!

·       Know how to recognize—and turn in—emergency alarms.

·       Know your responsibilities under the emergency response plan.

·       Act quickly when you hear an alarm.

·       Turn off equipment you’re using.

·       Close windows or doors not needed for escape.

·       Alert other employees to the emergency.

·       Assist any disabled employees who need help escaping.

·       Leave the area by your assigned exit—or the closest safe exit if yours can’t be used.

·       Go to your assigned “safe place.”

·       Don’t block the path of emergency response crews or vehicles.

·       Stay in your assigned place so no one fears you’re left behind

Follow instructions about where to go—and when.

This Information provided by: Assurance Agency 

###

Windy Days - On the job tool box talks

Download the full article

As a supervisor, you know that sudden gusts of wind can cause unexpected accidents. Tell your crew that if high winds are expected, they should be on the lookout for building material or debris that can be picked up by the wind and blown off the structure.

Tag lines should be used when hoisting loads with large flat surfaces. When picking up large sections of plywood, dry wall or similar material, they should be aware that this material can act as a sail.

A 20 to 30 mile per hour wind can pick up a piece of scrap material and carry it as far out as the height from which it came. For instance, a piece from a 20 foot scaffold can hit a person standing 20 feet away while the same piece coming off a high rise building may travel almost a full city block.

Scraps of plywood and sheet metal cause the most trouble, but a strong wind can pick up a loose 2 by 10 deck plank and drop it off a scaffold.

Material/personnel hoists should not be operated in winds exceeding 35 miles per hour unless manufacturer’s specifications say it’s ok. Your crew should also check the manufacturer’s instructions before operating cranes in high wind situations.

The wind can also whip up clouds of dust and reduce visibility. Drivers and operators of heavy equipment should slow down accordingly. Provisions should be made for dust control.

Finally, high winds can pick up sparks from open fires and cause whipping tarpaulins to overturn heaters. The resulting fires have caused many severe burn injuries and damage to buildings under construction.

Try this for show and tell!
Ask everyone to come to the meeting prepared to discuss one item that could be blown around the job by high winds or one hazard that high winds could create.
Questions you can use to get them talking:
•   Who is responsible for securing the job site from blow off conditions during high wind situations?
•   What are the particular hazards that high winds can cause on this job?
•   What can we do as individuals to control these hazards and protect ourselves and other people?
•   Has anyone ever had an accident – or know of one – involving high winds?

This information provided by: Assurance Agenc

Housekeeping on the Job-On the Job Toolbox Safety Talks

Download the full article

You have a pretty good idea how safe a job is just by looking at it before you start to work. Even a "Sidewalk Superintendent" knows this. A job that looks clean, with everything in its place, is a safe job. That's all we mean when we talk about job housekeeping. Good housekeeping calls for just two things. Try to remember them:

First:
Keep trash and loose objects picked up and dispose of them.

Second:
Pile all materials and park all tools and equipment in the places where they belong.

These are the fundamentals of good house-keeping and they're simple enough. If we don't follow these two rules, we're letting ourselves in for trouble.

Putting the rules to work is not so simple. A grand cleanup once a week won't do the trick. Housekeeping is a job that can't be put off. We have to do it. It's up to each individual to be their own job housekeeper.

When you see something lying around where it could trip an individual or fall on them, put it in a safe place. Don't wait for someone else to do it. If it's something that he or she will be looking for, you can put it safely where they can see it.

You've seen jobs, and probably worked on some, where it wasn't safe to put your foot down without first looking twice to be sure you weren't going to twist an ankle or run a nail through your shoe. A job like that is poorly run, badly managed. Probably it's losing money as well as causing accidents.

Some jobs have walkways, aisles, stairs, and ladders by which you get from one place to another. It's particularly important that these lines of travel be kept safe and clear of loose objects. Workers often carry loads on these routes. They can't always pick their steps or look around to be sure that nothing is going to trip them or fall on them.

A wet or greasy walkway may cause a bad accident. If you see a treacherous spot, make it your business to do some sweeping, mopping or scraping.

This information provided by: Assurance Agency