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Free OSHA Training Toolbox Talks
Toolbox talks are an easy way for foremen and supervisors to supplement the OSHA training efforts of their company or organization, and to keep safety front and center in their workers’ minds. These short pre-written safety meetings are designed to heighten employee awareness of workplace hazards and OSHA regulations.
Each toolbox training topic provided below is generic enough to be applied to many different work environments (construction and general industry). While the information contained in each toolbox talk is believed to be accurate, remember that these toolbox talks are not intended to take the place of formal OSHA training; they are only intended to supplement the mandatory training and help maintain awareness.
NOTICE: The toolbox talks are formatted as PDF files. When you click the link for a particular toolbox talk, it will either open in a new window, or be listed in your Download file where you can click it to open.
A few tips to keep in mind when conducting a toolbox talk:
- Read the toolbox talk to yourself a couple of times before you hold the actual meeting with workers. That way you will be more familiar with the content to be covered and therefore less apt to stumble while reading to the group.
- Try to hold the toolbox talk in an area that is free of noise and other distractions. If the workers cannot hear you talking, or are distracted by other activities in the area, they won’t be focusing on your talk.
- Speak clearly and directly. Mumbling or reading too fast makes it difficult for the workers to understand you. Just take a deep breath, and then speak clearly and at a natural pace.
- Use a prop when possible to help you keep the workers attention. If you are giving a toolbox talk on setting up a portable step ladder, have one set up nearby so you can point out things as you read the toolbox talk.
- To really drive home a point, have an unlabeled container you found on the job-site available when giving a toolbox talk on OSHA’s hazard communication standards about labeling requirements.
- 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.
- Always document your toolbox talks. Even if certain OSHA standards do not require documentation of safety training, it can’t hurt to have the information about the topic, the trainer, the date, and names of the workers on file.
- Last but not least, 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 for others.
Toolbox Talk Topics
Basic Electrical Safety
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – The Dark Side of Electricity
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – The Most Abused Safety Device on the Job
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Things to Know About Double Insulated Tools
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Understanding Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Avoiding Misuse of Extension Cords
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Don’t Use Electrical Tape on Electrical Cords
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Understand and Avoid the Hazards of Reversed Polarity
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Avoid Overhead Power Lines
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Electrical Safety – Responding to Electrical Emergencies
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Electrical Safety
Basic Ladder Safety
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Ladders – Types and Working Loads
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Ladders – Pre-use Inspections
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Step Ladders – Safety DO’s and DO NOT’s
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Extension Ladders – Safety DO’s and DO NOT’s
- Toolbox Talk – Transporting Portable Ladders Safely
- Toolbox Talk – Proper Storage of Portable Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – Additional Accident Prevention Tips for Portable Step Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – Additional Accident Prevention Tips for Portable Extension Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – The Potentially Hazardous Effects of Weather on Portable Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – Seven Things You Should NEVER Do With a Portable Ladder
- Toolbox Talk – Avoiding Electrocution When Using Portable Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – Prevent Nagging Injuries When Handling Portable Ladders
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Portable Ladder Safety
Basic Scaffold Safety
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Competent Person Requirements for Scaffolding
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Identifying Different Types of Scaffolds
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Safety Begins at Ground Level
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Do’s and Don’ts for Accessing Scaffolding
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – OSHA Fall Protection Requirements for Scaffolding
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Prevention of Falling Objects on Scaffolding
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Work Platform Construction
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Safety on Work Platforms
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Manually Propelled Mobile Scaffolds
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Avoiding Overhead Electrical Hazards on Scaffolds
- Toolbox Talk – Basic Scaffold Safety – Working Safely on Suspended Scaffolding
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Scaffold Safety
Biohazards / Infectious Disease Prevention
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Intro to Bacteria and Viruses
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Modes of Bacteria and Virus Transmission
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Common Signs and Symptoms of Infection
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – The Hidden Transmitters of Infections
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Making the Case for Wearing a Face Mask
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – How Vaccines Help Prevent Infection
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Handwashing Tips to Prevent Infection
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Ventilation’s Role in Disease Prevention
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Basic Principles of Social Distancing
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Be Aware of Bloodborne Pathogens
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Avoid Vector-borne Diseases
- Toolbox Talk – Infectious Disease Prevention – Diseases Spread from Animals to Humans
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Hazardous Pathogens
Fall Protection and Prevention
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Prevention / Protection – General Stat’s about Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection / Prevention – Preventing Slips in the Workplace
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Prevention / Protection – Role of Footwear in Preventing Slips
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Prevention – Preventing Trip Hazards in the Workplace
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Prevention – Important Info / Warnings About Guardrails
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection – Full Body Fall Arrest Harnesses – Do’s and Don’ts
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection – Lanyards – Do’s and Don’ts
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection – Fall Arrest Anchor Points
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection – Calculating Total Fall Clearance Distances
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Protection – Avoiding Falls While Working From Portable Ladders
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Prevention – Avoiding Falls from Scaffolding
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources On Fall Protection and Prevention
Fire Protection and Prevention
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Fire Extinguishers – Proper Selection
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Fire Extinguishers – How Do They Extinguish Fires?
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Fire Extinguishers – Just Remember “PASS”
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Fire Extinguishers – Do’s and Don’ts
- Toolbox Talk – Portable Fire Extinguishers – Making Sure They Are Ready
- Toolbox Talk – Understanding OSHA’s Categories of Flammable Liquids
- Toolbox Talk – Fire Prevention – Avoiding Accidental Fires
- Toolbox Talk – After the Fire / Hazards Lurk
- Toolbox Talk – Emergency Preparedness – Maintaining Safe Emergency Exit Access
- Toolbox Talk – The Importance of Sticking With The Emergency Action Plan
- Toolbox Talk – Preventing Fires Caused by Electrical Cords
- Toolbox Talk – Preventing Fires While Refueling Vehicles and Equipment
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Portable Fire Extinguishers / Fire Prevention
Hazard Communication / GHS
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – What is GHS?
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Container Labels
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Flame
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Flame over Circle
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Corrosion
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Skull and Crossbones
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Health Hazard
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Gas Cylinder
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Exploding Bomb
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Pictogram / Exclamation Mark
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard -Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s)
- Toolbox Talk – OSHA’s Revised Haz-Com Standard – Unregulated GHS Info
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Hazard Communication / GHS
Lockout/Tagout - The Control of Hazardous Energy
- Toolbox Talk – Why OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout Standards Apply To All Of Us
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Different Forms of Hazardous Energy
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout- Energy Isolation Devices
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Requirements for Locks
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Communication Requirements
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Group Lockout Protection
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Before You Get Started . . .
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – What About Motor Vehicles?
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Testing and Repositioning
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – On Site Contractors
- Toolbox Talk – Lockout/Tagout – Cord and Plug Powered Equipment
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Lockout/Tagout
Material Handling and Storage
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Using Slings for Lifting
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – How Sling Rigging Methods Affect Capacity
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – How Sling Angles Affect Capacity
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Inspecting Wire Rope Slings
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Inspecting Alloy Steel Chain Slings
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Inspecting Synthetic Web Slings
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Inspecting Overhead Cranes and Hoists
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Working Safely Around Mobile Cranes
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Working Safely Around Forklifts and Other PITs
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Safety for Palletized Materials
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Storage Racks and Shelving Safety
- Toolbox Talk – Material Handling and Storage – Safe Lifting Techniques
- See More OSHA Training Resources on Material Handling and Storage
Personal Protective Equipment
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Hazard Assessments
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Eye Protection
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Hand Protection from Chemicals
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Hand Protection from Cuts/Scrapes
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Face Protection
- Toolbox Talk – Protective Equipment (PPE) – Foot Protection
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Head Protection
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Hard Hat Dos and Don’ts
- Toolbox Talk – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Dust Mask Use
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Portable Tool and Equipment Safety
- Toolbox Talk – Pedestal and Bench Grinder Safety – Mounting Abrasive Wheels
- Toolbox Talk – Pedestal and Bench Grinder Safety – Basic Safety Precautions
- Toolbox Talk – Controlling Hazards Associated with Compressed Air Blowers
- Toolbox Talk – Controlling Hazards Associated with Compressed Air Hoses
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely with Portable Circular Saws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely with Radial Arm Saws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely with Table Saws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safety with Band Saws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely With Chainsaws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely with Hand-held Jigsaws
- Toolbox Talk – Working Safely with Chop Saws and Miter Saws
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Tool and Equipment Safety
Trenching and Excavation Safety
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Clarifying Two Key Definitions in The OSHA Excavation Standards
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – The Role of the Competent Person on an Excavation Site
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Avoiding Ground Level Hazards Lurking at Excavation Sites
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Working Safely Around Underground Utilities at Excavation Sites
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Using a Portable Ladder to Get In and Out of Excavations Safely
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Avoiding Falling Objects When Working Inside Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Be Aware of Potentially Hazardous Atmospheres Inside Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Dealing with Hazards of Water Inside Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – OSHA Rules About Walking or Driving Over Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – When Cave-in Protection is Required in Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Watch for Signs of Distress in Soil Around Excavations
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – A Brief Overview of OSHA’s Soil Classification System
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Safety Tips for Using Trench Boxes
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Safety Tips for Using Hydraulic Shores
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Safety Tips for Using Timber Shoring
- Excavation Safety Toolbox Talk – Safety Tips for Sloped and Benched Excavations
- See Additional OSHA Training Resources on Trench and Excavation Safety
Additional Free Safety Toolbox Talk Sites (some in Spanish)
In addition to our toolbox talks above, here are links to some other websites with free toolbox talks covering a multitude of topics. Many are available in English and Spanish.
- Texas Department of Insurance – Dozens of free toolbox talks available in English & Spanish
- Villanova University Facilities Management Dept – Dozens of free toolbox talks covering a variety of topics
- CPWR website – Page with free safety toolbox talks – English & Spanish
- Check back soon for additional links!
The free OSHA training toolbox talks we provide on this website are available for you to download and print at no cost for use within your company or organization. They all come with a sign-in sheet you can use to document the toolbox talk and keep on file to demonstrate your on-going commitment to workplace safety, and many of them come with a handout for the employees.
Employers and others (insurance companies, safety associations, government agencies, unions . . .) are encouraged to post a link to these safety training toolbox talks on their website or intranet so supervisors, clients, and association members can take advantage of them. Permission to place a link to these toolbox talks on their websites is granted so long as the toolbox talks are not altered, and are not offered for sale or via a paid subscription service, nor in any other manner so as to realize a profit.
Download one, or all, of these free OSHA training toolbox talks today!
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