Health and Safety ReportVolume 23, Issue 07

Safety talks – also called toolbox talks, safety briefings or tailgate meetings – are informal, focused conversations usually led by supervisors, managers or team leads. While they don’t replace formal training sessions, they’re a powerful tool to reinforce safe work habits and keep safety front and centre on the worksite. 

Why they matter 

Regular safety talks remind workers of hazards that exist in the workplace. By reinforcing correct procedures and controls, these talks help prevent injuries and illnesses. They also send a clear message that safety isn’t an afterthought.  

Safety talks should be interactive, and they should be documented. When workers are encouraged to speak up, they give supervisors the chance to act on potential hazards before something goes wrong. Keep a record of what was covered, who attended, and what feedback was shared to help demonstrate due diligence and accountability. Include an additional page to take notes and record worker signatures. 

The time and place  

The ideal time for a safety talk is right before work begins or before a specific task, so the message is fresh in everyone’s minds. Choose a location that supports the talk, such as where the tool or machinery is stored, on the shop floor, or in a meeting or break area. 

Talks typically last around five minutes, though they can occasionally run longer if the topic requires deeper discussion. Depending on the nature of the work, daily or weekly talks may make the most sense. The important thing is consistency. 

Choosing the right topic 

Any hazard or concern relevant to the workplace can become the focus of a safety talk. Look at recent inspection findings, risk assessments, incident and near miss reports, or feedback from workers and supervisors. Ideally, tackle the hazards that can cause serious harm first. A scheduled set of topics over weeks or months can also help keep things proactive and timely. Be sure to make it relevant to what workers are doing now – don’t try to cover winter driving tips in July.  

How to prepare  

Start by picking your topic and drafting a one-to-two-page guide with main points, hazards, control measures, and space for attendance and feedback notes. Be clear about what the topic is, how it relates to your workplace, and why it matters. Explain risks using real-world examples, perhaps referencing past incidents or near misses. You should also describe how controls fit in, whether as specific procedures or required safety gear. Thinking through discussion questions ahead of time can help keep workers engaged and participating.  

When looking for resources, use internal safety policies, safe work procedures, and job safety analysis documents. Complement them with credible sources such as fact sheets, posters, publications or podcasts from regulators, government agencies and industry associations.  

It’s all about delivery 

Consistency and engagement are key to successful safety talks. Keep them brief and focused so they’re manageable, impactful and routine. For example, if presenting on safe ladder use, zero in on the “three-point contact” rule rather than reviewing the entire ladder manual. Demonstrate procedures with actual tools or equipment whenever practical. Establish eye contact and use open, confident body language. Speak with enthusiasm and authenticity to show you’re invested. Use plain terms wherever possible to make it easy to understand. Refer to prepared notes but use your own words and pull in personal experiences to make it relatable. Don’t forget to invite questions and encourage discussion. If someone raises a concern, note it, and if it requires action, address it promptly.  

Safety talks are a simple yet effective tool that, when done regularly, can transform how people work. They keep hazards top of mind, make employees feel involved and invested in safety decisions, and help to build a culture where prioritizing safety is the norm. 

Resources 

• Safety Talks - How To, CCOHS 
• Safety Talks by topic, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association  

There are a few reasons why inspectors or officers from provincial, territorial, or federal government health and safety departments may visit your workplace related to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). They may need to determine if you have an appropriate WHMIS program in your workplace, or if products are arriving from suppliers with the required labels and safety data sheets, or they may need to check your safety data sheets and labels to verify that your workplace is compliant with legislation.  

Here are six tips on how to prepare for an inspection. 

• Document your program. Put together a clear record of your workplace WHMIS program, including how hazardous products are tracked, labelled, stored, and handled. Make sure someone is assigned to keep this information up to date. 

• Keep safety data sheets current and accessible. Maintain a complete and up-to-date set of safety data sheets for every hazardous product used in your workplace. These sheets should be easy for workers and inspectors to find, whether in binders or online. 

• Label everything properly. Check that all hazardous products have labels that meet WHMIS requirements. This requirement includes supplier labels when a product first arrives, and workplace labels if it is transferred into another container. 

• Train workers. Provide training on both the basics of WHMIS and specific hazards of the products workers use. Make sure all new workers receive this training before they start, and that existing staff receive regular refresher training. Keep records of who has completed WHMIS training, when it was done, and what was covered.  

• Prepare workers to speak up. Make sure your team can confidently answer key questions about the hazardous products they work with, such as what the hazards are, how to protect themselves, what to do in an emergency, and where to find more information. 

• Know your jurisdiction. WHMIS is regulated by the provinces, territories and federal governments (for federally regulated workplaces) under occupational health and safety legislation. While these jurisdictions base their WHMIS regulations on a common model, small variations between jurisdictions may exist. 

Inspectors are looking for more than the right paperwork – they want to see that WHMIS is being used and understood throughout the workplace.  

Resources 

• WHMIS – Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) Fact Sheet, CCOHS 
• WHMIS – Education and Training Fact Sheet, CCOHS 
• WHMIS – WHMIS Program Fact Sheet, CCOHS 
• WHMIS Pictograms Poster, CCOHS 
• WHMIS Topic Page, CCOHS 

Our podcast episodes help you stay current and informed about workplace health, safety, and well-being in Canada. 

Featured podcast: Creating Workplaces Where Everyone Can Thrive

Despite legislation designed to protect the rights of two-spirit, trans and non-binary people in Canada, many still face discrimination in their daily lives, including at work or seeking employment. A recent study by Egale Canada seeks to better understand their challenges.

Listen to the podcast now

Encore podcast: New and Young Worker Orientation

Employee orientation is the process of introducing any new worker to the organization, their supervisors, co-workers, jobs, and especially to health and safety. In this podcast we focus on what employers can do to help their new and young workers start a new job on the right foot and stay safe at work.

Listen to the podcast now

A well-designed, strategically placed poster is an easy way to raise health and safety awareness, foster open communication, and even boost employee morale in your workplace.  

Our posters provide high-level guidance and awareness around various health and safety topics. They're accessible on our website, and many are available to print in high-resolution. Here’s how they work: 

• Choose the posters you wish to purchase. You’ll receive print-ready PDF artwork files that can be printed in a variety of sizes.  

• Next, send the digital artwork to a local or online print shop to get full-colour, high-quality posters printed. Your workplace may also be able to produce quality printed posters onsite. 

Plus, all of our posters are available for free as a smaller sized download.  

Featured seasonal and year-round posters 

• Heat-Related Illness: Watch for Signs
• Keep Your Cool  
• Respect: Everyone Deserves It
• Scent-Free Zone  

Need a poster in a different size or want to add your company logo? Customization options are available. Contact us for details.  

Occupational health and safety laws are always evolving. This month’s highlights include changes to British Columbia’s Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulations, New Brunswick’s Fire Prevention and Inspection Regulation, Ontario’s personal protective clothing and equipment requirements for Construction Projects, and Quebec’s regulation respecting occupational health and safety.

British Columbia

Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulations (Motor Vehicle Act): B.C. Reg. 48/2025, s. 8 came into effect on May 1, 2025, and replaces some wording in Section 8 Driver's licence and training course requirements.

New Brunswick

Fire Prevention and Inspection Regulation (Fire Prevention Act): N.B. Reg. 2025-21 amends Section 2 by replacing “National Fire Code of Canada 2015” and substituting “National Fire Code of Canada 2020,” and repeals Sections 3 to 6.

Ontario

Construction Projects (Occupational Health and Safety Act): O. Reg. 105/25 came into effect June 9, 2025, and repeals subsection 21(4) regarding the proper fit of personal protective clothing and equipment. This is in line with changes made to Section 25 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that requires employers to make sure personal protective clothing and equipment that is provided, worn or used is a proper fit and appropriate in the circumstances, having regard to all relevant factors, including such factors as may be prescribed (clause 25(1)(b.1)).

Quebec

Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (Act respecting occupational health and safety): O.C. 647-2025, ss. 2 and 5 amend Section 48 by updating the referenced CSA standard from CAN/CSA Z180.1-00 to CSA Z180.1 and repeals and replaces Section 3.

For more information, CCOHS offers a paid subscription service, Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards, that provides a collection of all the health, safety, and environmental legislation you need in one location. The collection is updated daily, and subscribers receive a monthly summary of proposed and repealed legislation, amendments, and new documents.

We’re still accepting applications for the $3,000 Chad Bradley Scholarship, but don’t wait too long – the deadline to apply is August 31, 2025. 

The scholarship is open to women enrolled in a post-secondary occupational health and safety program at a Canadian college or university. 

Learn more about the scholarship, essay criteria, and how to apply: www.ccohs.ca/scholarships/cbradley/.

Do you have a workplace health and safety question? Get the answers you need from a real health and safety specialist, not a chatbot.   

Our Safety InfoLine service connects you to credible information on a wide range of topics, including hazards, diseases, ergonomics, health and wellness. 

Best of all, Safety InfoLine is free, confidential, and available to anyone in Canada in English and French. 

Contact us with your questions today.