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STEELTOETOOLS

Toolbox Talks

28 free talks

Short, printable safety talks a foreman can run at the start of the shift: why it matters, key points, do/don't, questions for the crew, and a sign-in sheet on the printed version. Each talk cites the OSHA standard it comes from.

AllFalls & LaddersPPETools & EquipmentHeat & Cold StressElectricalExcavation & TrenchingFire & Hot WorkHazCom & ChemicalsHealth & ErgonomicsHousekeeping & GeneralDriving & VehiclesForklifts & Mobile Equipment
10 min
Soil Classification: One Look, One Test
Why Appendix A takes one visual AND one manual analysis, the field tests, and why hard dry sand is still Type C.
10 min
Extension Ladder Setup
The 4-to-1 rule, 3 feet above the landing, footing and tie-off — the five minutes before anyone climbs.
10 min
Mental Health on the Jobsite
Ask the question, listen, and know where to point someone — including 988, free and confidential, 24/7.
10 min
Work Zone Flagging
Paddle over flag, Class 3 at night, an escape route before you take the station — straight from MUTCD Part 6.
10 min
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Caps on, upright and chained, 20 feet between oxygen and fuel gas — the cylinder rules OSHA actually writes down.
10 min
Slips, Trips and Housekeeping
Clear the path, clean it as you go — the OSHA housekeeping rules behind the most ordinary injury on site.
10 min
Hard Hats vs Safety Helmets
Type I vs Type II, Class G/E/C, chin straps and the fit rule — what the label on your head actually means.
10 min
Safe Lifting and Your Back
Distance beats weight, 51 lb is the ceiling for a perfect lift, and twisting costs you more than you think.
10 min
Hot Work Fire Watch
Who watches, what they watch, and how long they stay after the torch goes off.
10 min
Machine Guarding
Point of operation, nip points, the seven-foot rule — and why a missing guard is a lockout job, not a shortcut.
10 min
Overhead Power Lines
20 feet for cranes, Table A by voltage, 10 feet for everyone else — and why you stay in the cab.
10 min
GFCI and Temporary Power
GFCIs or an assured grounding program — what 1926.404(b)(1) requires, and the one hazard a GFCI cannot stop.
10 min
Cold Stress and Hypothermia
Wind chill, wet feet at 60 degrees, and the two things you never do to a frostbitten hand.
10 min
Hydration and Electrolytes
Drink on a schedule, not on thirst - and why water alone stops working after two hours in the heat.
10 min
Silica Dust Control
Table 1 controls, water and shrouds, the four-hour rule, and why dry sweeping is out.
10 min
Scaffold Safety
The 10-foot rule, the pre-shift competent person inspection, planking and access — with 5 discussion questions.
10 min
The Forklift Stability Triangle
Three-point suspension, the combined center of gravity, and the four things that push it outside the triangle.
10 min
SDS, Labels and Pictograms
Six label elements, nine pictograms, sixteen SDS sections — and the four sections crews actually use.
10 min
Lockout/Tagout Basics
Six steps, stored energy, verify with a meter, and one lock per person — with 5 discussion questions.
10 min
Fall Protection Basics
The 6-foot trigger, the ABC of a fall arrest system, clearance below, and the rescue nobody planned.
10 min
Backing Up and Spotters
Alarm or observer — what 1926.601(b)(4) actually requires, and how to spot without becoming the casualty.
10 min
Call 811 Before You Dig
Locate tickets, the APWA color code, the tolerance zone and private lines — what 1926.651(b) requires before the first bucket.
10 min
Trench Protection at 5 Feet
The 5-foot rule, the two exceptions, slope/shore/shield, egress within 25 ft and the daily inspection.
10 min
Hand & Power Tools
Guards on, switches right, cords and hoses sound — the tool rules OSHA actually cites.
10 min
Heat Stress
Water, rest, shade, acclimatization — and how to tell heat exhaustion from heat stroke.
10 min
Ladder Safety
Setup angle, 3 ft above the landing, three points of contact, inspection — with discussion questions.
10 min
Forklift Safety
Trained operators, daily checks, pedestrians, and what to do in a tipover.
10 min
PPE Basics
Head, eyes, hands, feet, hearing — what OSHA requires, what fits, and who pays.