The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board have create a series of television ads to drive home the message of workplace safety. The ads are drawing more criticism than praise among viewers. However, companies such as Princess Cruises, Cunard Line shipping, American Airlines and Magna International are asking WSIB if they can use the ads in safety training.
Talking corpses who had been electrocuted, impaled by steel rods or lacerated by broken glass didn’t get the message across. Now, an even more graphic series of ads is spotlighting workplace safety in Ontario and grabbing attention well beyond the province’s borders.
One TV spot features an exploding gas canister that blows a construction worker off the side of a building. Another shows a young chef slipping on grease and dumping a vat of boiling water on herself, leaving her writhing on the kitchen floor while her skin peels off in bloody ribbons. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board says they toned down the actress’s screams in editing because they worried they were too upsetting.
Click link to read the whole story: Explicit worker safety ads attract praise, criticism
Here are four ads, with a warning, they are graphic:
6 responses so far ↓
Jason // Dec 5, 2007 at 10:53 am
i saw one of these ads on tv and it grabbed my attention. Even though these ads are graphic and are disturbing, it is needed to emphasize the point of being safe. Everyone is always naive about work safety and I think these ads are a good reminder of what can really happen if you become lazy or just neglect to properly take care of your workplace.
Sierra Night Tide // Dec 11, 2007 at 9:53 am
Speechless
wow – ok well it does send the message that we need to be careful and sadly, I see a need for them but… just not sure if they are TOO graphic. I mean what will it take to get it through people’s head that in the end employees need to watch out for themselves regardless who is legal for the “accident”.
Ross // Dec 20, 2007 at 10:39 am
Good for the producers of these important and “realistic” advertisements. Let’s stop sugar coating everything and “get real” which these ads portray. We all need to remeber that it is a dual responsibility, but I am of the opionion that employers carry the largest burden. I am in the safety profession, and have often seen employers viewing strong safety programs as a “nice to have,” versus a “must have.” Lets choose “proactive” over “reactive.”
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Henrik Kristensen // Jan 13, 2008 at 8:10 am
Excellent done.
These ads are very realistic and spot on. Will share this in my network to get the message further out.
Safetycorner // Feb 1, 2008 at 9:43 am
Very graphic and disturbing indeed. However, this things really happen and will happen if we continue to disregard the importance of practicing safety in our daily activities.
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