Toolbox
Talk
2006
A meeting of frontline workers and senior executives
www.safetystanddown.ca
Date ________________________________
Company ________________________________
Toolbox Talk—Driving
Before doing this toolbox talk, you can refresh your driving safety knowledge by visiting
the Enform website at www.enform.ca and going to Safety Services>Projects>Driving.
You’ll find many documents and linked web pages you can read to get more information
on the topics below, including collision statistics, causes, contributing factors, and
driving hazards and controls.
Reinforce your workplace safety message by speaking to workers on these topics:
Introduction
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There is an urgent need for workplace safety: the ripple effect of injuries is devastating
(family, co-workers, company).
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Why discuss driving safety? Collisions are the leading cause of unintentional injury for
Albertans under 30. And 89% of them are the result of driver error. They are the most
common hazardous activity people do each day—on and off the job.
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Here are some recent driving-related incidents and what we have learned from them.
Before hitting the road
Make sure you have the correct training and qualifications:
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defensive driving training or driving safety awareness training,
right class of license for vehicle used, and
clean driver’s abstract.
Inspect your vehicle’s condition, contents, and cargo:
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pre-trip inspections and tire safety,
safety and survival equipment (see below for details),
cargo in the cab, and
securing cargo.
Make sure you’re properly using the PPE, safety, and survival equipment for driving:
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seatbelts,
head restraints,
air bags,
anti-lock braking system (ABS),
communication device and radio (for road/weather updates),
fire extinguisher and first aid kit, and
survival kit.
Hazardous roads, weather, and traffic
Be aware of road-related hazards:
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road surface,
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construction,
underpasses and bridges,
country roads, and
mountain roads.
Be aware of weather-related hazards:
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summer weather (fog, rain, lightning, hail, tornados, and floods), and
winter weather (freezing rain, ice, black ice, snow, blowing snow, and whiteouts).
Be aware of traffic-related hazards:
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pedestrians,
bicycles,
animals,
other vehicles, and
trains.
Hazardous driver conditions
Be aware of the hazards and consequences of impairment:
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fatigue,
medication and medical conditions, and
alcohol and drugs.
Be aware of the hazards and consequences of distractions—one of the most common
factors in collisions:
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in the driver’s head (daydreaming, emotions, etc.),
in the vehicle (cell phones, electronics, passengers, eating/drinking, etc.), and
outside the vehicle (heavy traffic, construction, roadside emergencies, signage, etc.).
Preventing, avoiding, and surviving collisions
The best idea is prevention, so watch for these common problem zones:
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speeding,
passing and lane changing,
following too close,
going through intersections, and
backing up.
The next thing to know is how to avoid a collision if it is about to happen, using these
options:
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stopping quickly,
turning quickly, and
speeding past.
The last thing to consider is survival, including what to do if you’re involved in or
witness a crash:
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moving vehicles out of the way,
not standing between the crash and traffic,
not smoking and turning off ignitions of damaged vehicles,
staying away from downed powerlines,
contacting emergency services,
not moving injured people unless they are in danger from explosion, fire, etc., and
using first aid training as appropriate.
A good driver is a defensive driver
What the concept of defensive driving means: courtesy, caution, common sense.
Here are some defensive driving tips to remember:
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looking ahead,
leaving a space cushion,
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using eye contact with others on the road,
using mirrors and checking gauges,
using signal lights,
following the rules and speed limits,
driving according to vehicle limitations and road/weather conditions,
being on the lookout for other vehicles and driver behaviours, and
not having an “it’s my right of way” attitude.
Special considerations for offroading
Many workers also have to drive offroad vehicles such as ATVs, snowmobiles, or even
boats. You should talk to them about the following:
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being prepared (including driver training and qualifications),
vehicle condition, contents, and cargo,
using PPE and safety equipment properly, and
watching for terrain and weather hazards.
You may also wish to discuss your safe work practices and procedures for working alone.
What can I do to help?
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I take safety personally as a senior executive because... (give reasons).
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I am committed to seeing you go home safely to your family at the end of the day.
Closing
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We need your input. If you have an unaddressed safety concern about driving or any
other topic, let us know. Talk to your supervisor, your manager, or even me.
Follow-up notes
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