Compliance is one thing, getting employees to actually care about safety is another.
The key? Making it relevant, engaging, and practical.
I’ve worked with many businesses that struggle to get staff to take safety seriously. Toolbox talks often feel like a tick-the-box exercise and we often fall into the trap of them being repetitive, uninspiring, and easy to tune out. If employees see safety as just another meeting to sit through, we have a problem.
So, how do we turn that around? Here are the practical strategies I use with businesses to create a genuine safety culture, without relying on the same old boring toolbox talks.
How to Make Safety Training Engaging with Gamification
Over my career, I’ve seen firsthand how friendly competition and interactive learning get employees engaged. If you’re wondering how to make safety training engaging, gamification is a great place to start. It turns learning into an interactive experience while reinforcing key safety concepts.
🔹 Safety Bingo – Staff tick off safety-conscious behaviors (e.g., “Spotted someone using PPE correctly”).
🔹 Hazard Hunts – Employees actively look for hazards and discuss how to control them.
🔹 Safety Trivia Contests – Quick quizzes on platforms like Kahoot, with small incentives for participation.
🔹 Escape Room Challenges – Teams solve real-world safety problems to “escape” a scenario.
Employees actually want to participate in activities like these and the safety messages finally start to stick.
A survey by TalentLMS found that gamification learning significantly boosts employee engagement and motivation, with 89% of employees feeling more competitive and eager to participate (TalentLMS).
Use Storytelling Instead of Statistics
Even I have had to sit through countless safety presentations overloaded with graphs and statistics and I can tell you, no one remembers them. What people do remember are stories.
✔ Guest speakers – I’ve worked with businesses that invite someone who has experienced a workplace accident. Their story makes safety real.
✔ Peer-to-peer storytelling – Employees share incidents they’ve witnessed, reinforcing safety through firsthand experiences.
✔ Case studies – Real incidents from Safety Regulators such as NSW SafeWork, Comcare, SafeWork ACT, WorkSafe Victoria, etc can spark discussions on how similar situations could be prevented in your workplace.
When employees see themselves in a story, they pay attention. That’s why I always recommend shifting from numbers to narratives in safety discussions.
Neuroscience research shows people remember stories 22 times more than raw facts (John Millen). Research also shows stories are significantly more memorable than facts due to their ability to engage emotions and create mental images (Neuro Leadership Institute)
Give Employees Ownership of Safety
When businesses struggle with getting employees to care, it’s often because safety is seen as management’s job. But when employees own safety initiatives, engagement skyrockets.
🔹 Rotate leadership for safety discussions – I encourage businesses to let employees take turns running safety updates.
🔹 Nominate Safety Champions – Key team members who promote and reinforce safe behaviors.
🔹 Peer recognition – Acknowledging employees who actively uphold safety standards.
A study by SafeWork NSW found businesses with strong worker engagement in safety had a 48% lower injury rate (SafeWork NSW).
When you introduced Safety Champions or HSRs suddenly, safety isn’t something being pushed from the top, but something staff are driving themselves.
Make Safety Training Interactive with Technology
Most businesses are still using outdated training methods, even though modern workplaces thrive on interactive, digital learning. While some solutions like VR training require investment, there are also low-cost or free alternatives that can still make training engaging.
Budget-friendly options include:
✅ Microlearning modules such as free safety training videos from regulators (e.g., Safe Work Australia)
✅ DIY safety quizzes using Google Forms
✅ Simple mobile apps for hazard tracking
✅ Augmented reality (AR) filters on phones instead of a full VR setup
Tech-driven training has been found to improve compliance by up to 40% (Safe Work Australia).
Alternatives to Toolbox Talks, Why Short Safety Huddles Work Better"
Many businesses are looking for alternatives to toolbox talks because they’re repetitive and ineffective.
A better approach? Short, daily safety huddles.
🔹 Keep it short (5-10 minutes) – Focus on one key safety issue per day.
🔹 Make it interactive – Quick Q&A or hands-on demonstrations.
🔹 Tie it to real situations – Heat stress before a heatwave, driving safety before a long weekend
Short, frequent safety discussions are far more effective than long, infrequent meetings (WorkSafe QLD).
Employees will start to pay attention instead of clock-watching.
How to Improve Workplace Safety Culture & Make It Stick
Improving workplace safety culture starts with leadership. When managers don’t take safety seriously, neither will employees. I work with businesses to integrate safety into daily operations, not just training sessions.
✔ Leaders set the example – If management isn’t following safety procedures, staff won’t either.
✔ Make safety messages visual and engaging – Posters with QR codes leading to short explainer videos are far more effective than text-heavy notices.
✔ Celebrate safety wins – Recognising milestones like ‘X number of hazards identified and fixed’ helps build a positive safety culture.
A study by the International Labour Organisation found that workplaces with a strong safety culture experience 70% fewer workplace incidents (Vorecol).
One company I worked with introduced a simple reward system for reporting hazards. Within months, employees were proactively identifying risks, because they saw it as part of their job, not just management’s responsibility.
Key Takeaways To Engage staff in safety
I’ve worked with enough businesses to know that toolbox talks alone won’t fix safety engagement. However, if your employees are tuning out, it’s time to try something different.
Not sure where to start?
Pick just one of these ideas this month, whether it’s gamifying safety training, adding short safety huddles, or letting employees lead discussions. See how your team responds, and build from there. The smallest changes can have the biggest impact on workplace safety culture.
By making safety interactive, personal, and engaging, you can create a workplace where safety isn’t just a requirement, it’s part of how things are done.
Looking for Better Ways to Engage Staff in Safety?
If you’ve been searching for alternatives to toolbox talks or wondering how to make safety training engaging, start small. Try gamification, storytelling, or daily safety huddles, these simple shifts can improve workplace safety culture and create lasting change.
📌 Need more tailored advice? Let’s chat!
ABOUT THE Author - Kylie Dowell
Kylie Dowell is a seasoned WHS consultant, trainer, and safety advocate with over 25 years of experience helping Australian businesses create safer, compliant workplaces.
Through her partnership with TEAMS, an accredited Registered Training Organisation, Kylie delivers a wide range of training up to Advanced Diploma level, empowering businesses with the knowledge and skills to manage safety effectively.
As an approved trainer for Health and Safety Representative (HSR) courses by three Safety Regulators, Kylie has guided countless organisations in building stronger safety cultures and fostering healthier work environments.
Specialising in practical and effective safety solutions, she works closely with small and medium-sized businesses to simplify complex WHS requirements, making safety approachable and achievable.
When she’s not delivering high-quality training or conducting ISO 45001-certified audits, Kylie enjoys collaborating with her clients to design tailored workshops and strategies that suit their unique needs.
Ready to make safety simpler? Get in touch with Kylie today for personalised support.