Consulting and communicating with workers on health and safety matters is not only good practice, but a legislative requirement. It is especially important when introducing a new plant, equipment, work practices or systems and helps a workplace to eliminate or minimise hazards from the beginning.
Improvements in health and safety are achieved when management workers (including contractors) and other stakeholders (such as engagers of contractors and recruiters) identify, discuss and resolve issues.
To enable effective consultation and communication many organisations use 'Toolbox Talks'. A Toolbox Talk is an informal health and safety meeting that focuses on topics related to the workplace or job, such as hazards, safe work practices and how the organisation is minimising risks.
The following Toolbox Talk topics provide information about common workplace hazards along with guidance for the facillitator. Organisations may wish to add their own information to each resource.