WorkSafeBC  safety video -courtesy WorkSafeBC

Prince George, B.C. – It’s a short video, using Lego, but its message has already struck a chord as a key safety educational tool that can be used in any industry.

It’s one of several videos WorkSafeBC has created and posted to its YouTube channel, (accessible here) and those safety message videos are being watched, alot.   The WorkSafe channel has hit a significant milestone, with 25 million views since it launched nearly 10 years ago.

“It’s a huge milestone for us,” says Gordon Thorne, WorkSafe Manager of Product and Program Development “When we first started distributing videos they were in cassettes. I used to distribute them through a bookstore we had and over a three year period we distributed about 750 cassettes, so the access to not only BC customers, but around the world has increased dramatically by going online.”   In fact,   the channel received more than three million views just in 2014.

The video featured in this story, has already been adopted by the U.S. Airforce “I was amazed, right after it came out, I got an email from the U.S. Airforce asking if they could have permission to use this video. They indicated it would be of particular use for their 18 to 24 year old members of the force that are involved in mishaps associated with mobile equipment, so I was tickled.”

Not all of the videos feature lego characters, some are longer, some are more dramatic, some are personal stories.

Thorne says WorkSafe is not setting the trend, rather, they are following it  as more and more people  turn to using mobile devices. “One of my contractors took a picture on a BC Ferry, and everyone’s got their head down looking to their lap working on their devices, so we said we’ve got to go where they are, using what they’re doing to get these messages out.” Almost 40% of the videos are being viewed on mobile devices.

Thorne says they have just completed a series on bullying and harassment in the construction industry, “We’ve got one on emergency rescue plans and forestry coming out soon and we’d like to do something on commercial fishing next year.”

He says the subject matter is all about making a difference in the workplace “It’s what we can do to try and save lives and hope that the message gets across.”