Top 20 Toolbox Talks (With Ready-to-Use Talking Points)

Toolbox talks don’t have to be long to be effective. The best ones focus on a single hazard, a recent near miss, or a task happening today—and end with one clear expectation: what we’re doing differently to stay safe.

20 Essential Toolbox Talk Topics for Safety

Below are 20 toolbox talk topics you can rotate throughout the year. Each includes what to cover, what to look for, and questions to spark real conversation.

1) Stop Work Authority (SWA)

What to cover: Everyone has the right—and responsibility—to stop work when conditions change or a hazard is uncontrolled.

Look for: Rushing, unclear scope, missing barriers, unexpected energy sources, weather changes.

Key actions: Pause, communicate, reassess hazards, get help, restart only when controls are in place.

Ask the crew: “What’s a situation where you would stop work today?”

2) Slip / Trip / Fall Prevention

What to cover: Most injuries come from simple housekeeping failures.

Look for: Cords/hoses across walkways, wet floors, uneven ground, clutter, poor lighting.

Key actions: Clean-as-you-go, mark hazards, route cords safely, use anti-slip mats, good footwear.

Ask the crew: “Where’s the #1 trip hazard on this job right now?”

3) Ladder Safety

What to cover: Ladders are for access—not work platforms.

Look for: Incorrect angle, missing footing, overreaching, top-step use, damaged ladders.

Key actions: 4:1 angle, three points of contact, maintain body centered, set on stable surface.

Ask the crew: “Should this task be a ladder… or a scaffold/lift?”

4) Scaffold Basics

What to cover: Most scaffold injuries come from missing components or misuse.

Look for: Missing guardrails, bad planking, weak base, no access ladder, missing tags.

Key actions: Only competent erection, daily checks, proper access, don’t modify without approval.

Ask the crew: “Is this scaffold tagged and ready, or ‘looks good’?”

5) Hand Safety (Pinch Points & Line of Fire)

What to cover: Hands get hurt fast—pinch, crush, cut, caught-between.

Look for: Working near moving parts, rotating equipment, loads shifting, manual handling.

Key actions: Use tools not fingers, keep hands out of pinch zones, correct gloves for the task.

Ask the crew: “Where could your hand get pinned on this task?”

6) Line of Fire Awareness

What to cover: Line of fire is where energy releases—gravity, pressure, motion, stored energy.

Look for: Suspended loads, spring-loaded parts, pressurized hoses, vehicles, pinch/crush zones.

Key actions: Reposition body, use barricades, use spotters, control energy before exposure.

Ask the crew: “If something slips, where does it go?”

7) PPE Selection (Matching PPE to the Hazard)

What to cover: PPE isn’t a uniform—it’s hazard-specific.

Look for: Wrong gloves, missing eye/face protection, incorrect FR/chemical gear, poor fit.

Key actions: Select PPE based on SDS/JSA, verify ratings, replace damaged PPE.

Ask the crew: “What hazard is your PPE protecting you from right now?”

8) Eye Protection

What to cover: Safety glasses aren’t always enough.

Look for: Grinding, chemicals, overhead work, high-pressure leaks, cutting/sawing dust.

Key actions: Use goggles for splash/dust; face shields for impacts/splashes over glasses/goggles.

Ask the crew: “Are we in ‘glasses’ or ‘goggles + face shield’ territory?”

9) Hearing Conservation

What to cover: Hearing loss is permanent—and often painless.

Look for: Loud tools, compressors, impact work, extended exposure.

Key actions: Use the correct NRR protection, insert plugs correctly, maintain muffs, rotate tasks.

Ask the crew: “Can you talk at normal volume here? If not—protection time.”

10) Heat Stress

What to cover: Heat illness is preventable and can escalate quickly.

Look for: High humidity, heavy PPE, new workers, poor hydration, dizziness, confusion.

Key actions: Hydrate, shade, work/rest cycles, buddy checks, acclimatization.

Ask the crew: “What’s our plan if someone shows heat illness symptoms?”

11) Cold Stress

What to cover: Cold reduces dexterity and increases risk-taking and mistakes.

Look for: Shivering, numbness, fatigue, wet clothing, wind exposure.

Key actions: Layer clothing, keep dry, warm-up breaks, protect hands/face.

Ask the crew: “Who’s got the best spot to warm up if needed?”

12) Hydraulic Safety (Stored Energy & Injection Hazard)

What to cover: Hydraulic failures can create invisible danger—high-pressure injection and fire risk.

Look for: Leaks, rubbing hoses, damaged fittings, missing guards, hot surfaces nearby.

Key actions: Depressurize before work, inspect routing/abrasion, use shielding, treat leaks seriously.

Ask the crew: “If a hose fails here, where does that spray go?”

13) Compressed Gas Cylinders

What to cover: Cylinders are rockets if mishandled.

Look for: Unsecured cylinders, missing caps, incorrect storage, wrong regulator use.

Key actions: Secure upright, cap when moving, separate oxygen/fuel gases, leak-check regulators.

Ask the crew: “Are these cylinders secured and labeled correctly?”

14) Lockout/Tagout Basics

What to cover: LOTO prevents unexpected startup and energy release.

Look for: Incomplete isolation, shared equipment, “just a quick job,” stored energy not relieved.

Key actions: Identify all energy sources, isolate, lock, tag, verify (try-start/zero energy).

Ask the crew: “How do we verify zero energy on this equipment?”

15) Confined Space Awareness

What to cover: Confined spaces kill quickly—hazards are often invisible.

Look for: Tanks, pits, vessels, vaults, poor ventilation, engulfment potential.

Key actions: Permit process, atmospheric testing, ventilation, attendant, rescue plan.

Ask the crew: “If something goes wrong, how are we rescuing—without creating a second victim?”

16) Working at Heights

What to cover: Falls aren’t forgiven—control the edge and the drop zone.

Look for: Missing guardrails, bad anchor points, improper harness fit, tools falling.

Key actions: 100% tie-off where required, inspect harness/lanyards, control dropped objects.

Ask the crew: “What’s our anchor point—and is it rated?”

17) Hot Work + Fire Watch

What to cover: Hot work starts fires long after the spark.

Look for: Poor spark containment, combustibles nearby, inadequate extinguishers, no fire watch.

Key actions: Permits, clear combustibles, fire blankets, monitor after work per site rules.

Ask the crew: “Who is fire watch, and what’s their stop-work trigger?”

18) Chemical Splash Response (Eyewash/Shower + SDS)

What to cover: Seconds matter during a splash—know where to go before it happens.

Look for: Blocked eyewash, untested shower, people unfamiliar with SDS and first aid steps.

Key actions: Know locations, test weekly per site practice, flush immediately, call for help.

Ask the crew: “Point to the closest eyewash/shower from where we’re standing.”

19) Vehicle + Pedestrian Safety (Forklifts, Backing, Spotters)

What to cover: Struck-by incidents happen in seconds.

Look for: Blind corners, backing without spotter, phones, unclear walkways, poor lighting.

Key actions: Separate routes, speed control, spotters, horns at intersections, high-vis.

Ask the crew: “Where’s our pedestrian route and no-walk zones?”

20) Tool Safety (Guards, Inspection, Kickback)

What to cover: Tools bite when guards are removed or blades are wrong.

Look for: Missing guards, damaged cords, wrong discs, dull blades, unsafe body positioning.

Key actions: Pre-use checks, correct accessories, keep guards, GFCI use, stable stance.

Ask the crew: “What’s the most common ‘tool shortcut’ you’ve seen—and how do we stop it?”

How to Use This List (Simple Rotation Plan)

• Pick one topic per week.

• Tie it to today’s work.

• End with one action: “Today we will ____.”

  
  

By implementing these toolbox talks, you can enhance safety awareness and foster a culture of proactive safety measures. Remember, safety is everyone's responsibility. Let's commit to making our workplace safer together!