Explain why you are having a toolbox talk in a way that will help your workers relate to the topic you want to cover. Do a wrap-up at the end of the talk to reinforce important points. And make a note of who attended so you can run catch-up sessions for individuals that weren’t there. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, adapt your talk to suit the people attending; those for whom English is a second language may need you to explain things differently, new team members may need more explanation, while old hands might be impatient to leave. As long as you get the points across you can consider it successful. Take a look at HSE’s helpful guide to running a successful Toolbox Talk for more advice.

Ensure you understand the subject yourself and encourage workers to participate by asking them questions about the topic. Prepare what you are going to talk about and any materials that you are going to use. Where relevant, use visual examples and real equipment, to relay the informationMake sure you’re in an environment that is conducive to learning – where you won’t get interrupted or distracted