Environmental Health and Safety has developed a series of discussion topics known as Toolbox Talks, to encourage safety throughout the university.
Toolbox Talks are brief information sheets that can be used to facilitate safety discussions. Toolbox Talks cover a wide range of topics ranging from equipment operation safety to lifting basics. Toolbox Talks also help create an environment to discuss task specific or timely safety communications, identify problems or highlight specific safety concerns/risks.
What is a Toolbox Talk?
A Toolbox Talk is an informal group discussion that focuses on a particular safety issue.
Who can conduct a Toolbox Talk?
Anyone can conduct a Toolbox Talk. However, it is best to select individuals who have expertise on the given topic.
How long and often should these be conducted?
EH&S recommends a 15 minute toolbox talk conducted on a monthly basis, or more frequent, if needed.
Where and when should these discussions take place?
The meeting should be held in a comfortable location at the beginning of a work day, after lunch/break, or incorporated into another meeting.
Do you have to use EH&S created Toolbox Talks?
No. The EH&S topics are there for assistance, but each group is free to conduct a talk on any safety issue that may be present in the work environment.
Do Toolbox Talks satisfy required safety training?
No. Toolbox Talks are a brief discussion on relevant safety issues but do not replace formal safety training.
Other applications for Toolbox Talks can be used for post-accident communications, refreshers of safe work practices, pre-task planning and talking points for hands on training or tabletop exercises.
Source: Harvard Environmental Health and Safety.
Topics
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- Animal Handling - Cattle
- Animal Handling - Horses
- Animal Handling - Sheep
- Animal Handling - Swine
- Back Safety
- Backpack Leaf Blowers
- Chainsaw Safety
- Chemical Labeling
- Cold
- Combustible Dust
- Confined Space Entry
- DEF, DPF, & Regeneration
- Electrical and Power Cords
- Eye & Face Protection
- Fieldwork Safety
- Fire Extinguishers
- Flammable Storage
- Forklift Safety
- Front-end Loader Safety
- Gas Cylinder Safety
- General Housekeeping
- Grain Bin Safety
- Hand and Power Tools
- Hearing Protection
- Heat
- Hot Work Safety
- Hydraulic Jacks
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Ladder Safety
- Learning From Incidents
- Lockout/Tagout
- Moving Livestock
- Needlestick Prevention
- Outdoor Ergonomics
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Pesticide Use
- Pneumatic Tools
- Poisonous Plants
- Power Take Off (PTO)
- Power Washer Safety
- Pre Operation Checklist
- Refueling Equipment
- Removing a carcass
- Reporting a Farm Fire
- Reporting Incidents/Injuries
- Respiratory
- Riding Lawnmower
- Safe Knife Handling
- Severe Weather
- Sharps Safety
- Shop Safety Culture
- Slow-Moving Vehicles
- Snow Blower
- Snow Shoveling
- Spill Kits
- Spray Painting
- Three Point Rule: Avoid Falls
- Tick Safety
- Tool Guarding
- Trimmer Safety
- Waste Guide for ISU Farms
- Water Safety
- Welding and Cutting
- Winter Walking
- Working Alone