Toolbox Talks

Toolbox Talk — Asbestos Awareness

A toolbox talk on asbestos awareness covering where asbestos may be found and what to do if suspected ACMs are discovered.

CAR 2012

Toolbox Talk — COSHH and Hazardous Substances

A toolbox talk on the risks of hazardous substances on construction sites including safety data sheets and correct PPE.

COSHH Regs 2002

Toolbox Talk — Fire Safety on Site

A toolbox talk on fire safety including escape routes, assembly points, fire extinguisher types, and hot works controls.

RRO 2005

Toolbox Talk — General Site Safety

A toolbox talk covering general site safety including PPE, housekeeping, reporting hazards, and following site rules.

CDM 2015 / MHSWR

Toolbox Talk — Hand-Arm Vibration (HAVS)

A dedicated HAVS toolbox talk supplementing the general noise and vibration talk (H14). HAVS is permanent and irreversible. Covers high-risk tools (breakers, angle grinders, hammer drills), EAV/ELV exposure points system, trigger time management, job rotation, symptom recognition (tingling, white finger, grip loss), and immediate reporting obligations. Anti-vibration gloves have limited effectiveness and must not be the primary control.

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 / CDM 2015

Toolbox Talk — Manual Handling

A toolbox talk on safe manual handling techniques covering lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.

Manual Handling Regs 1992

Toolbox Talk — Noise and Vibration

A toolbox talk on noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

Noise Regs 2005 / HAV Regs 2005

Toolbox Talk — PPE Use and Maintenance

A toolbox talk on the correct selection, use, storage, and maintenance of personal protective equipment.

PPE Regs 2022

Toolbox Talk — Silica Dust

A dedicated silica dust toolbox talk for construction workers. RCS is a Group 1 carcinogen causing silicosis, lung cancer, and COPD. WEL 0.05 mg/m³ (halved in 2020). Dry cutting concrete or stone without controls generates 100x the WEL. Controls in hierarchy: wet cutting, on-tool extraction, FFP3 RPE (fit-tested), exclusion zones, H-class vacuum only. HSE’s most enforced construction health standard. Must be delivered at induction and when silica-risk tasks commence.

CDM 2015 / COSHH 2002 / MHSWR 1999

Toolbox Talk — Working at Height

A toolbox talk on the risks of working at height — the single biggest cause of death on UK construction sites.

WAH Regs 2005

Toolbox Talk Record Sheet

A record sheet documenting each toolbox talk delivered on site including topic, date, presenter, and attendee signatures.

CDM 2015

Training Matrix and Competence Record

A matrix tracking all training, qualifications, and competence records for the workforce.

CDM 2015 / MHSWR

Toolbox Talk — Drug and Alcohol Policy

A toolbox talk on the site drug and alcohol policy covering zero-tolerance rules and testing procedures.

MHSWR 1999

Toolbox Talk — Electrical Safety

A toolbox talk on electrical safety covering 110V site supplies, PAT testing, cable management, and overhead power lines.

Electricity at Work Regs 1989

Toolbox Talk — Excavations and Groundworks

A toolbox talk on the hazards of excavation work including trench collapse, buried services, and water ingress.

CDM 2015 / MHSWR

Toolbox Talk — Hot Works

A toolbox talk on the fire risks associated with hot works such as welding, cutting, and grinding.

MHSWR 1999 / Fire Regs

Toolbox Talk — Housekeeping and Waste

A toolbox talk on site housekeeping and waste management including segregation and skip procedures.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Toolbox Talk — Mental Health and Wellbeing

A toolbox talk addressing mental health awareness in construction — an industry with a suicide rate significantly above the national average.

MHSWR 1999

Toolbox Talk — Permit to Work

A toolbox talk explaining the permit to work system on site, when permits are required, and correct close-out procedures.

MHSWR 1999

Toolbox Talk — Plant and Equipment Safety

A toolbox talk on safe use of plant and equipment including pre-use checks and exclusion zones.

PUWER 1998

Toolbox Talk — Slips Trips and Falls

A toolbox talk on preventing slips, trips, and falls — the most common cause of non-fatal injuries on construction sites.

MHSWR 1999