Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Dena,

Are we talking about from a ground handling standpoint?

Here's a start

Belts
Alert
Noise reduction
Apparel---proper
Name badges
Aircraft avoidance

Practice
Ear covers
Engine ingestion
Log Books

You get the idea and you have better words. but they should spell banana peel the classic slapstick item.

Michael

Ultimately, you want people to be safer to avoid injuries (both sudden and repetitive motion) for their employers but more importantly, for their quality of life.

People stay safer when they're focused on something positive, rather than avoiding the negative. So, one idea is to make the campaign about making their lives better:

- carrying their children and grandchildren
- having an active retirement
- spending more time with their hobbies
- feeling fit
- a better love life
- etc.

Ideally, a story to illustrate the positive image of keeping safe to enjoy ______. Stories (and the mental images they create) are remembered for a long time.

Dena

Clearly from an OHS and Risk Management perspective there are two main approaches:

1. A generalised approach to managing safety by keeping OHS and Risk management practices front of mind at all times. You can do this by reminding people why they need to remain vigilant, because people they love and people who love them would be affected if anything happened. You can make this about looking after themselves, as well as looking out for others.

2. A focused approach to OHS and Risk management occupation by occupation, department by department, looking at operating environment-specific hazards and risks and encouraging all employees to speak up where they see practices that are unsatisfactory, risky, or badly-planned, managed, or resourced. Most people know it would hurt to be sucked into a jet engine. How many people understand the impact of leaving tape over a static port after washing an aircraft?

In my view, thought-provoking, and poignant, beats witty any day when talking safety at work (or anywhere else). Turning safety into a witticism fails, because it's not the banana skin or oily patch on a floor that contributes the most to workplace accidents, it's the disengagement of the brain from the environment.

In fact, focusing on the seriousness of the matter might be a more effective alternative. Talking about negative outcomes from lack of adherence to safety can be far more impactful that suggesting the baggage handlers act up like chimps.

Try illustrating the downside of ignoring the safety message (use supposed, fictional but could-have-been real-life examples, e.g. "This would have been Joe's 25th Wedding Anniversary today, if Phil had been looking where he was driving the forklift truck. Sure, Joe's family miss him, but imagine how Phil feels today".) Encourage reporting and analysis of all incidents including near-misses and potential, but avoided, hazards. And share the learning with regular discussion forums.

Hope that helps.

ChrisB

I like the idea of making safety witty, thus memorable.

Witty -- you be the judge! These are just a few thoughts:

• The only trips we want you to take are to fun destinations. Keep walkways clear and easy to maneuver.

• Build your strength and you'll be rewarded when your grandchildren jump into your arms and your screams are with delight, not pain.

• Limit heavy lifting to time in the gym with your beautiful/handsome personal trainer.

• Do what you love, love what you do (thanks to the folks at Life is Good for that one!)

• Life is full of choices. Do a background check on your next one selected from an online dating website.

• Just remember that when you anticipate a tough time opening a jar but the lid flies off, your spouse "started it" for you.

I think positive interactions actually stick better.
So i'd probably go with Jay's suggestions.

On the other hand is the reason for this campaign due to some statistics from some particular department? Perhaps you can focus on that department first and see which approach works better. Then you can include the others.

Dena-

Here's an off-the-wall suggestion. Go to a bookstore and take a look at the children's book Officer Buckle and Gloria. This is a book on maybe a 2nd grade level about a police officer who makes safety speeches at schools with his sidekick doggie Gloria. The point is that I think you might get some ideas for a humorous way to present your message- via cartoons, childlike drawings, etc. You would of course use REAL safety tips, but the presentation might be attention-getting enough to make this work for you. Good Luck!