Safety

Video Contest Challenges High School Students to ‘Speak Up’ About Workplace Safety

Oct. 23, 2014

The annual “Speak Up, Work Safe” video contest encourages Oregon teens to use creative moviemaking technique while sharing the message, “Work shouldn't cost you your future.”

Josh Cable

How do you get young people fired up about workplace safety? Challenge them to get their creative juices flowing – and offer them cold, hard cash.

That’s the approach taken by Oregon OSHA, the Oregon Young Employees Safety Coalition and other organizations sponsoring the annual “Speak Up, Work Safe” video contest. Teens have used rap music, humor and other creative special effects to share their workplace safety and health messages in the annual contest.

This year, the contest is open to high school students across Oregon. The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500, and students will earn a matching amount for their school.

In the past, student winners wrote and sang original music as part of their “safety musical,” while other finalists relied on storytelling through quirky characters or serious themes that touched on the potential for on-the-job accidents.

The contest is designed to increase awareness about safety on the job for young people. Students must create a 90-second or less video with the overall theme of “Speak Up, Work Safe.” Specific video guidelines are outlined in the contest rules.

Participants are encouraged to use creative moviemaking techniques while sharing the message, “Work shouldn't cost you your future.” In addition, the video should emphasize ways for young workers to protect themselves at work. Submissions will be judged on the following:

An original health and safety message that appeals to teen workers and safety educators.
Overall production value (video/audio quality, acting and editing).
Effective use of the theme.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 2, 2015.

Contest winners will be unveiled at a screening event in spring 2015, and winning entries will be posted on YouTube. Students are encouraged to use social media to spread the word about their contest entries with the tag #Oyesvideo.

For detailed contest information, including contest tips, rules and entry forms, go to www.youngemployeesafety.org/contest. To see the 2014 winning videos, go to www.youtube.com/user/OregonSafetyHealth.