What is a Toolbox Talk?

A Toolbox Talk is a simple way of delivering training to your workforce. You can make it as broad or as specific as you’d like. It can act as an introduction to dropped object prevention, raise awareness of the dangers posed by dropped objects, or explain how to tether tools.

It’s designed to be accessible and easy to understand. Most importantly, it should give workers an understanding of the dangers of falling objects and get them onboard with the concept of tool tethering.

Why is tool tethering training important?

For those unfamiliar with tool tethering, it can seem like a hassle. Introducing new systems at work can be a challenge, especially if it’s perceived as being extra work with little obvious benefit for the user.

After all, your workers might be thinking that exclusion zones, netting and PPE are adequate protection from dropped objects. You need to convince them that prevention, rather than protection, is the way to go.

You need to show them just how destructive a dropped object can be. You need to show them how simple tool tethering systems are when they’re used correctly. And you need to show them how to tether tools safely so that the system you put in place is a help rather than a hindrance, or even worse a hazard.

You can only do all of this with proper training.

How to deliver a Toolbox Talk

We all know that the most successful presentations are the ones that play to our emotions. More specifically, they’re the ones that can show why we need a particular item in our lives.

Tool tethering training is no different. To get buy-in from your workforce you need each and every one of them to want to tether their tools.

That means you should start by focusing on what’s in it for them. How do tool lanyards and tool tethers make their life easier? How does it make them safer? Essentially you’re explaining exactly why it makes sense.

Try focusing on points like:

• Not losing time on a job because you have to retrieve dropped tools
• Not having the expense and hassle of replacing damaged tools that you’ve dropped
• Not having to worry about injuring others, or being injured yourself.

Safety professionals know that the real point of tool tethering is to stop people from being injured or hurt. Although that should be reason enough to use a tool tethering system, sometimes people need an extra nudge in the right direction.

That’s what you’re giving them here.

What to include in your Toolbox Talk

What information you’re covering will depend on what stage of awareness your workforce is at. You may run an initial Toolbox Talk aimed purely at raising awareness of the importance of dropped object prevention.

If you’re introducing tool tethering across your business you can run a specific session about how to tether tools safely, and how to use the system you’ve chosen.

We’ve put together a slide deck to help you cover the important points. Use it as a guide and tailor it as you need to.

You can also use our awareness videos to highlight the importance of dropped object prevention or share information from our Dropped Objects Handbook.