- September 24, 2025
- Kevin Kholer
Making Safety Meetings Matter
“All our safety meetings feel the same. Are they even useful?”
If you’ve sat through a safety meeting that felt like a waste of time, you’re not alone. But when done right, safety meetings are a powerful tool—not just a requirement.
They’re a chance to share information, raise concerns, encourage participation, and drive safety culture forward. And yes, they’re also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions—employees have a right to be involved in decisions that impact their health and safety.
The real challenge? Making meetings valuable for everyone in the room.
Compliance Isn’t Enough
Many workplaces hold mandatory Joint Health and Safety Committee meetings—often required quarterly by law. These serve an important purpose but shouldn’t be the only form of safety communication.
More frequent, targeted safety meetings can provide real-time value and improve day-to-day safety practices.
Types of Safety Meetings That Work
🧰 Daily Pre-Work Meetings (Toolbox/Tailgate Talks)
Short, informal gatherings with specific teams or crews. A great way to start the shift with a focus on current safety concerns, reminders, or brief training topics.
📋 Pre-Job Safety Meetings
Held before starting a specific task—especially valuable on dynamic worksites. These meetings address job-specific hazards, work conditions, and updated protocols.
📅 Weekly or Monthly Safety Meetings
More formal, these meetings often involve multiple crews or departments. They may include performance reviews, updates from inspections, and open forums for feedback. A great opportunity for senior leaders to be visible and reinforce safety priorities.
Best Practices: How to Make Safety Meetings Count
Here’s how to move beyond “check-the-box” meetings and make them truly meaningful:
✅ Keep it focused. Stick to key messages and avoid going off-topic. Time is valuable.
✅ Engage leadership. Supervisors and managers should be fully present—phones down, no distractions.
✅ Encourage input. Remove barriers to participation. Ask for questions, feedback, and suggestions.
✅ Track action items. Record decisions and follow up. Accountability drives results.
✅ Provide access. Make sure everyone has access to the safety materials discussed.
And skip the outdated “play a video and dismiss the group” approach—it’s not engagement, it’s noise.
The Bottom Line
Safety meetings are a key part of a healthy safety culture—but only if they’re designed with purpose. Make them engaging, focused, and participatory, and they’ll become one of the most effective tools in your health and safety program.