How To Hold A Tailgate Talk
Tailgate (or Toolbox) talks are short informational meetings held with employees to discuss a worksite related safety topic.
The term tailgate meetings comes from the practice of meeting around the tailgate of a pickup truck on site.
The goal of Tailgate talks is to inform employees of specific hazards associated to a task and the safe way to do a job.
Tailgate talks also serve as a reminder to employees of what they already know while establishing the supervisor’s credibility and conscientiousness about his or her responsibilities for safety.
Here are some tips for running a successful tailgate talk:
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Keep them brief. 10 to 15 minutes is an ideal amount of time for a tailgate talk.
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Keep them specific. Tailgate meetings must address specific hazards, or safe workplace practices that relate to the job and/or work the employees are actually performing.
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The meetings should draw on the experience of employees and utilize that experience to remind them of the dangers of particular construction processes, tools, equipment, and materials.
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Always give workers an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the toolbox talk. Don’t make snide remarks to employees who do ask a question, as this will discouraging others from asking questions later.
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The meetings should be informal and periodic on an as-needed basis.
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Keep a short record of what topic was discussed, when, and which employees were present so you can avoid repetition and maximize the impact of the talks.
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Practice what you preach. Nothing makes a trainer lose credibility faster than to have a worker see them doing something that violates the safety precautions that were covered in a previous toolbox talk. Always set a good example.
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Remember to always just KISS (Keep it Simple for Safety)