How to Lead a Manual Handling Toolbox Talk

Toolbox talks are brief discussions or presentations on one specific health and safety topic.

They’re mainly used on construction sites (hence the name), where risks can change as the project comes together. A five- to ten-minute talk each day keeps contractors updated and focused on safety.

But toolbox talks aren’t exclusively for construction workers. You can use them in any industry to remind workers of the risks they face and reinforce what they should be doing to stay safe. Just don’t rely on them to introduce new or complicated information. Toolbox talks work best when they’re quick, to the point and delivered on-site.

A manual handling toolbox talk is exactly what it sounds like: a toolbox talk focused on manual handling.

Manual handling is an ideal topic for a toolbox talk. Employers are legally required to provide relevant training and instruction to workers expected to carry out manual handling tasks. But training isn’t guaranteed to prevent injuries.

Think back to your school days – you’ve probably forgotten anything not relevant to your life now. This ‘forgetting curve’ is just how our minds work. Without regular reinforcement, we lose what we’ve been taught. Workers won’t remember a one-off manual handling training session, so you need to give them regular refreshers on safe lifting techniques. A toolbox talk is ideal for this.

Training also needs to be relevant. If the manual handling tips you teach aren’t useful to your workers, they’ll ignore them. Leading a toolbox talk in your workplace lets you demonstrate safe techniques right where they’ll be used. So you can be sure what you’re discussing is of value to your team.

Toolbox talks should be short and to the point. Aim for anywhere between five and ten minutes.

Remember, a toolbox talk recaps the knowledge your workers should have. Don’t attempt to cover anything new, as you won’t have the time to discuss it properly. Save it for a dedicated training session.

Toolbox talks should happen regularly. Depending on the theme, you might even want to deliver them daily. However, your workers probably won’t need to discuss safe manual handling before every shift, so weekly or monthly talks could be practical.

Toolbox talks are a conversation, so they’re relatively informal. But you should plan and practise what you want to say ahead of time. Being prepared helps you stay on topic and fit everything you want to say into those five or ten minutes.

You want your audience to be focused and listening, so think about how you can make your talk more engaging.

Use anecdotes or examples from your own work experience. Ask open-ended questions and allow for relevant interruptions. And try and be enthusiastic. If you treat your talk as nothing more than an obligation, your audience will, too.

You can just talk to your team, but a slideshow or video can help make your discussion more impactful.

The Health and Safety Executive offers several different toolbox talk presentations you can download for free. There is one on manual handling, but it’s specifically for construction workers.

The specifics of your toolbox talk will depend on your workplace. You should only cover topics relevant to your team and the tasks they perform. But there are a few points that are fixtures of most manual handling toolbox talks.

Start with statistics or stories that drive home how dangerous manual handling can be. For example:

• Manual handling is the second leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the workplace.
• Workers self-report over 100,000 manual handling injuries each year.
• Workers suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (commonly caused by unsafe manual handling) need an average of 13.9 days off work to recover.

Explaining the stakes should help focus your team.

Go over the hazards your team faces and how to handle them. These will be specific to your workplace, but a few common ones are:

• Heavy or bulky items – Separate into smaller loads or use team lifting or mechanical aids.
• Slippery floors – Provide better flooring and footwear.
• Repetitive lifting – Vary work patterns and provide breaks so workers can rest.

Workers can use TILE to conduct quick assessments of manual handling activities. It stands for:

• Task – What needs to be lifted, how often and where does it need to go?
• Individual – Are you able to do the work safely and comfortably? Are there any limiting factors, such as health conditions or a lack of experience?
• Load – How heavy is the load? Can you grip it easily? Will it shift as you move it?
• Environment – Is your path clear and well-lit? Do you need to climb any steps or stairs?

Bring it all together and finish with the key takeaways. Workers should leave with the most important points fresh in their minds.

• Regular toolbox talks are crucial for reinforcing safe manual handling practices and preventing injuries over time.
• Keep your talks short and relevant to your workers. Make them more engaging by using real examples and asking open-ended questions.
• Focus on common manual handling hazards and practical assessment methods like TILE to keep safety top of mind for your team.

Toolbox talks are an excellent way to refresh your workers on manual handling safety, but they should build on the knowledge they already have.

Our online Manual Handling Training courses provide instruction on safe lifting techniques, risk assessments and best practices for preventing workplace injuries.

Designed by experts, these courses are fully accessible online, making it easy for your team to learn at their own pace. And with different versions available for different industries, you can be sure the content is relevant for your team.