Toolbox talk
Also known as: TBT · Pre-start meeting
A toolbox talk is a short on-site safety briefing — typically 5–15 minutes before a shift — covering a specific hazard, control or change. It is the most regular consultation touchpoint between supervisors and workers and is logged with attendees and topic so it forms an audit trail of consultation.
Legal context
Toolbox talks are not legally named in the model WHS Act but they are the most-used implementation of the s47 consultation duty in construction and field-services industries. A good toolbox talk has a single focused topic (one hazard or one change), a specific control or behaviour being asked for, time for worker input, and an attendance record. They feed straight into the management of consultation evidence under ISO 45001 Clause 5.4. RAE IQ drafts toolbox talks from a guided form, with content that adapts to the worksite, the activity and the jurisdiction.
Where this shows up in RAE IQ
Related terms
SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement is a written document required by WHS Regulation 299 for any high-risk construction work. It identifies the work, the hazards, the controls (in hierarchy-of-control order), the residual risks, and the person responsible. The principal contractor must keep it for the life of the project.
SOP
A Standard Operating Procedure is a step-by-step controlled procedure for a recurring task. SOPs are the repository of "how we do this" knowledge; a SWMS, JSA or toolbox talk often references the relevant SOP rather than restating its content.
Consultation
Consultation is the model WHS Act s47 duty for PCBUs to consult workers (so far as is reasonably practicable) on matters affecting their health and safety. The duty is positive, structured and ongoing — not a one-off briefing.
Platform pillars
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47 WHS and HSWA terms with legal context, FAQs and regulator references.