This week we are going to look at "Tool Box Talks" or "Pre-shift Safety Meetings".  Going out and observing tool box talks makes a great safety observation, and also provides valuable feedback to help these meetings improve.

Whatever they may be called at your mine, we are looking at the meetings which crews or shift teams have together at the start of their shift.  These meetings will often cover what has taken place at the mine since last shift, what is planned for this shift, and some discussion around safety.

Usually your operation will have a specific format or template which they want crews to use for these tool box meetings, and it's important to be familiar with this before you set out to observe a meeting in progress.

The great thing about observing tool box talks is that you know exactly where and when they are taking place, and you can prepare the day before. 

Attending tool box talks also has the added benefit of helping improve your relationship with the team involved.  
 

Observing a tool box talk meeting is quite simple, and you should approach it the same way as a normal safety observation.  Firstly mention at the start of the meeting that you are observing the meeting as part of your safe behaviour observations.  You can mention at this point how important you think tool box talks are to improving safety culture and behaviours.

After you have watched the meeting take place, you can give feedback to the group as a whole, or to the individual who ran the meeting - how you approach this will depend on the type of feedback you have, and your reading of the situation and the crew.  As a general rule - give the positive feedback to the whole group, and any improvement (negative) feedback in private to the individual running the meeting.

Starts on time and runs efficiently

Follows the agenda or template (if there is one)

Everyone is paying attention

People from the group contribute to the discussion

The meeting leader invites people to contribute or speak up

Focuses on what people will do to stay safe this shift, not just looking back at incidents that have already occurred

Hazards are raised openly and discussed amongst the group

Individuals are challenged on particular hazards they may face in their planned work for the day

Enjoy sitting in on the tool box talk meetings, you will learn a lot about how things work at the mine, and also help build your relationships with the team involved.  It is especially useful to sit in on a few different meetings to see who is doing things differently, and be able to share the good points across the work groups.            

Have a safe and productive week, and good luck with your safety observations!

- Jamie Ross
Mining Man  - Great Safety, Leadership and Productivity Ideas for the Mining Industry

http://www.miningman.com/Blog/May-2010/Tool-Box-Talks-Meetings-Mining-Safety-Topic