How to write a toolbox talk? It’s not easy to write a toolbox talk when you have a blank page and start thinking what it should be about. Preparing for a toolbox talk is not always as quick and simple as it seems, you have to work on it smartly and prepare a proper introduction before starting a meeting. To prepare a toolbox talk is much more difficult than to deliver it. There are certain stages you need to go through to write an efficient toolbox talk.
When you are working professionally as a toolbox talk manager, you should keep an eagle eye on every aspect that may concern your job. Keep yourself aware of every activity happening across the organisation to identify relevant toolbox talks. Every organisation, no matter the industry, need to mitigate hazards and health and safety risks, an efficient way in doing this is to conduct toolbox talks and discuss the hazards.
There are certain techniques that can be used when considering how to write a toolbox talk. Even though it may seem difficult to prepare what to be talked about, a well-prepared toolbox talk can boost your communication and confidence level. You must keep some points in mind before writing an effective toolbox talk.
- Your audience
- Requirements of toolbox talk
- Allotted time to deliver your toolbox talk
- Issues arising for particular work
Below are some crucial elements to considering how to write a toolbox talk and make it efficient.
Choose Your Topic
Firstly, you need to pick a subject. Pick a topic that is relevant to your work. Don’t go for a topic that is irrelevant to your work and team, as your team may use interest when they don’t see the relevance with their tasks.
You can cover all the negative impacts associated with not considering the hazards. You can go through the and discuss the hazards and risks for the upcoming days of work. Consider what is relevant to the work at hand, involve the workers to highlight improvements needed, talk about the responsibilities everyone should adopt.
Write all these topics in a notebook and make a list, as this strategy will lead to a more organised and well-structured toolbox talk. Include some topics that can remind them about the controls implemented to ensure health and safety.
Conduct a thorough research
After choosing a relevant topic, you need to conduct research to ensure your content is up to date. Try to get in touch with other organisations and government bodies, enhance your knowledge with timely updates.
Don’t go for too much information that would cause an overload on your workers. Ask your workers about their point of view and try to consider their suggestions and requirements.
Delivery
Once you have gathered all the relevant information for your toolbox talk, it’s time to choose an appropriate method to convey this toolbox talk to your workers. With the advancement in technology, it is not difficult to deliver what you have prepared, as there are multiple mediums you can choose from. You can organise a traditional meeting using a room approach. You can also make handouts and display them on the noticeboard.
If it’s difficult to assemble your workers to a single office and deliver the talk in person, you can record a sample video and share it with your workers. It will save the time and cost of getting the team in one place.
However, one thing should be kept in mind when delivering a toolbox talk. The most effective toolbox talks are the once that have interaction and involves workers.
Keep a Record of all Toolbox Meetings
After going through the long process of writing a toolbox talk, you need to maintain a record of all toolbox meetings you have delivered. Keeping a secure record will work as evidence that you are carrying out all the toolbox talks actively to comply with the legal requirements, effectively manage health and safety within your organisation and ensuring your workers have useful and informative instructions.
By keeping a record of all your toolbox talks, you can see what you have already discussed, the results and update them according to your work’s requirements.
Keeping all these points in mind, one can write a toolbox talk efficiently.
If you are looking for particular or a range of ready to use toolbox talks, then you might be interested in the range of toolbox talks included in our toolbox talk packages.
