Zero Tolerance Policies Toolbox Talk

A zero tolerance policy means threats, intimidation, harassment, weapons, and violence are not accepted on the jobsite. This applies to workers, supervisors, visitors, vendors, drivers, customers, tenants, and anyone else who comes into the work area.

This talk focuses on what zero tolerance means in real jobsite situations. The goal is to make sure every worker understands what behavior must be reported, when work should stop, and why no threat should be ignored or treated like a joke.

Why This Matters

• Threats and violence can lead to serious injuries or death.
• A clear policy helps workers know what behavior is unacceptable.
• Crews working around tools, equipment, heights, traffic, trenches, and live power cannot afford distractions from conflict.
• Reporting early helps supervisors remove hazards before a situation escalates.
• Zero tolerance protects workers who speak up about unsafe or threatening behavior.

Common Hazards

• Verbal threats, yelling, intimidation, bullying, or aggressive language.
• Physical actions such as pushing, grabbing, blocking exits, throwing objects, or fighting.
• Harassment, stalking, repeated unwanted contact, or retaliation after a complaint.
• Jokes or comments about hurting someone, getting revenge, or bringing a weapon to the site.
• Weapons brought onto the jobsite, stored in vehicles, or mentioned during an argument.
• Workers ignoring threats because the person is a friend, longtime employee, or “always talks that way.”
• Arguments with customers, tenants, delivery drivers, inspectors, or members of the public.
• A worker making threats off site, by phone, text, or social media that affect safety on the jobsite.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Know the company and site rules for workplace violence, threats, weapons, harassment, and retaliation.
• Know who to report concerns to, including the foreman, superintendent, safety contact, security, or emergency services.
• Review how to handle visitors, vendors, delivery drivers, and unauthorized people on site.
• Make sure workers know the location of exits, muster areas, site office, and emergency contact points.
• Tell supervision about any known threats, restraining order issues, or outside conflicts that could come to the jobsite.

During Work

• Report threats, intimidation, harassment, or violence right away.
• Do not excuse aggressive behavior as joking, stress, personality, or normal jobsite talk.
• Stay calm, keep distance, and avoid arguing with someone who is angry or threatening.
• Do not confront an aggressive person alone.
• Move away from tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolds, trenches, traffic, and loading areas during a conflict.
• Protect workers from retaliation after they report unsafe or threatening behavior.
• Call emergency services if there is an immediate threat, weapon, fight, or serious risk to anyone’s safety.

Crew Talking Points

• What does zero tolerance mean on this jobsite?
• What behaviors must be reported immediately?
• Who should workers contact first if someone makes a threat?
• How should the crew respond if a threat is made as a “joke”?
• What areas of this site would make a conflict especially dangerous?
• Does anyone have a question, concern, or situation they need to raise before work starts?

Stop Work If

• Someone threatens to hurt another person.
• A fight, pushing, grabbing, or physical intimidation occurs.
• A weapon is seen, mentioned, suspected, or brought onto the jobsite.
• A worker, visitor, customer, tenant, or driver becomes aggressive and refuses to calm down.
• Someone blocks another person from leaving or tries to force a confrontation.
• A conflict creates a distraction near heavy equipment, lifts, ladders, scaffolds, traffic, trenches, energized systems, or suspended loads.

Final Reminder

Zero tolerance means threats and violence are handled seriously every time. Report concerns early and do not wait for someone to get hurt.