This struck-by toolbox talk is about machines, blind spots, and the people walking near them. It's written to be read aloud to a crew at the start of a shift; with the discussion, it runs about five minutes.
How to run it: read the talk out loud, work through the three questions with the crew, and have everyone sign the sheet. The print button includes a crew sign-in page as the second sheet.
The talk, ready to read
Every machine on this site has a blind spot big enough to hide a person. Backing equipment needs a working backup alarm or a spotter. And if you're the spotter, that's your whole job while the machine moves: no phone, no other task.
On foot, make eye contact with the operator before you cross their path. If you can't see their eyes, they can't see you. High-vis isn't decoration; it's the only reason a loaded operator picks you out against a busy background.
Operators: walk your machine's circle before you climb in. Horn before you move. Nobody rides equipment that isn't built to carry riders.
The worst struck-by incidents happen in the first hour and the last hour of a shift. People hurrying, light changing, everyone just finishing something.
Talk about it on your job
- Where do people and machines share a path on this job?
- Who's spotting today, and does everyone know it's them?
- What are we doing differently at dawn and dusk?
The rule behind this talk
29 CFR 1926.601(b)(4) bars using motor vehicle equipment with an obstructed view to the rear unless it has a reverse signal alarm audible above the surrounding noise, or it backs up only when an observer signals that it's safe. Related rules cover earthmoving equipment, high-visibility needs, and vehicle inspections. This talk is practice guidance to go with the standards, not a substitute for them.
Crew sign-in: Struck-by hazards
| Name (print) | Signature |
|---|---|
Talk: sitesafetyhq.com/toolbox-talks/struck-by-hazards/ · Keep this sheet with your safety program records.
The sign-in sheet, minus the paper chase
SiteSafetyHQ handles OSHA recordkeeping for small crews today: injuries reported from a phone, the recordable call answered with the rule cited, Forms 300/301/300A filled, deadlines watched. Weekly talks with crew sign-offs captured on the same phone are shipping next, and every plan will get them.
No card, no demo call. Flat $39 to $199/mo by company size.
Sources (checked August 4, 2026): 29 CFR 1926.601 (motor vehicles). Original text informed by public-domain OSHA and NIOSH material.
SiteSafetyHQ is an independent product, not affiliated with OSHA. Practice guidance, not legal advice. A five-minute talk is not complete training; your company remains responsible for the training and protections your specific work requires.