REAL CHANGE IN RISK ENGAGEMENT
As we approach World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, we have a chance to stop thinking about what we’re doing, and take a moment to reflect on why we do it. And nothing wakes us up quite like data. According to Safe Work Australia, 195 workers in Australia lost their lives on the job in 2022 (the latest data available).
Think about it. That’s not just a statistic. That’s 195 families dealing with unimaginable loss in a single year. It’s a clear signal that safety at work is something we need to talk about more effectively. But that’s not all. As the world warms up, workplace hazards are becoming a bit more… existential. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has flagged the climate crisis as a new beast on the block, ramping up risks at work from scorching heatwaves to devastating storms.
So, as you can probably tell, these days of observation are more than annual check-ins for us. They’re a push to keep looking at new ways we can partner with safety leaders to make workplaces around the world even safer. And it's not about ticking off requirements — it's about genuinely protecting folks so they can head home every day without harm. This year, we’re spotlighting Hansen Yuncken’s efforts in the construction industry. Together, we took a fresh approach to critical risk communication, setting a benchmark that’s getting attention far and wide.
Simplifying safety speak
Prompted by an agreed undertaking with Safe Work NSW, Hansen Yuncken (HY) tackled a significant challenge in 2023: cutting through the fog of complex safety language to deliver critical risk communication differently. HY recognised that the traditional way of approaching critical risk and controls wasn't reaching everyone, even with controls simplified to essential steps and tech-heavy language minimised. With a diverse workforce, the message needed to be even clearer and more accessible.
Mixing clarity with creativity
The project we partnered on, part of a much broader enforceable undertaking following a worker fatality, kicked off with three days of discovery sessions that helped us to tap into the lived experience of those working on construction sites across Australia. These sessions were crucial for unpacking the nuts and bolts of safety controls and pinpointing the critical moments that really matter for keeping safe on-site. Additionally, these conversations gave us the colour and detail we could use to bring authenticity to the storytelling.
The big innovation? Visualising risks and controls for specific hazards like Transport & Deliveries and Work at Height with animated videos that used no voice-over and minimal words. These animations did more than inform; they engaged, explained, and worked to make safety messages stick. They’ve become the backbone of toolbox talks that are anything but dry — they're funny, engaging, and, most importantly, effective. Plus, as an industry-wide initiative, they’re available for any construction company — large or small — to use to address seven common industry risks.
The ripple effect
HY’s new approach to engaging on critical risks seeks to spark change across the industry. Using storytelling that shows, not tells, the work aims to make safety training more dynamic, increasing awareness and empowering a community of industry safety advocates.
As part of the HY EU, the effectiveness of these animations will be assessed by a PhD student from the University of Newcastle, where the Centre for Construction Safety and Well-being has been established as part of the EU. We can’t wait to see the impact.
Leading the charge for safer workplaces
HY’s commitment to transforming safety communication shows that the way we approach risk doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter. So as we mark this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, let their willingness to try something completely different inspire us all to step up our game.
A little selfishly, the beauty of the work we do at Everyday Massive is that we get to see (and sometimes be part of) great safety and wellbeing initiatives happening across high-risk industries. This HY project has certainly challenged and inspired us to test the limits of our ability to tell stories and make safety messaging connect.
Have you seen work this year that has inspired you to lead safety differently?
Explore more about this pioneering project and check out the animated critical risk videos by visiting Hansen Yuncken's project showcase. It’s well worth diving into the different projects of this EU, we’re confident HY’s effort will save lives in the construction industry.
