Lessons from Children’s TV to the Workplace
Believe it or not, children’s television isn’t just about catchy tunes and silly adventures. Many popular shows cleverly weave valuable messages relating to health and safety into their storylines. These messages often resonate with both adults and children because they are relatable, and are presented in a way that connects with young minds.
By harnessing the power of familiar characters and everyday situations, these programs plant the seeds for lifelong safety habits.
There are, of course, obvious places to start. Fireman Sam for example, is a treasure trove of safety knowledge
In the episode “Station Spoils,” Elvis the station cat accidentally starts a fire by playing with matches. This episode not only demonstrates why cats shouldn’t play with matches, but also perfectly illustrates the importance of hazard recognition and safe storage practices.
Both logic and the law dictate that you should keep flammable materials away from heat sources and ensuring fire prevention methods are available and easily accessible. Additionally, Fireman Sam emphasizes the importance of clear lines of communication and following evacuation procedures during emergencies.
This is directly applicable to the workplace, where clear evacuation plans and designated assembly points are crucial for ensuring everyone’s safety.
Ask yourself, are you really ready for an emergency?
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Sticking with the civil services, Postman Pat might seem simple, but it offers valuable lessons about situational awareness and safe driving practices.
In “Pat and the Flooded Farm,” Pat encounters a flooded road while delivering mail and highlights the importance of journey planning and identifying and avoiding hazards while driving.
In a workplace, you should be encouraging employees to be aware of their surroundings, identify potential environmental hazards, and reporting any unsafe work conditions. With this, if you have spent countless hours watching Postman Pat you will realise that despite that live animal that is allowed to roam his vehicle freely, he always demonstrates safe driving practices, such as stopping at red lights and yielding to pedestrians.
Remember “practice makes permanent not perfect” to ensure a travelling workforce is adhering to traffic regulations it is important to monitor and retrain regularly.
Ask yourself, would you pass your driving test if you sat it today?
Applying Lessons to the Workplace:
Inspired by Bluey’s “The Dump Truck,” you should aim to hold regular “Safety Walks” (not audits or inspections) where employees, accompanied by a safety officer or manager, actively identify potential hazards in their work environment.
This helps encourage open communication and collaborative thinking to mitigate risks. You should then document these findings and create a plan to address any concerns. Frame these discussions in a way that connects to employees’ daily routines rather than a formal analysis.
For example, instead of dry technical jargon and box ticking, talk about why it is important to keep walkways clear (to avoid tripping hazards or keep evacuation routes clear), similar to how Bluey and Bingo check for obstacles before their bike ride.
In Paw Patrol’s “Pups Save the Pups,” episode a snowy rescue mission alludes to the importance of preparedness and following safety protocols. It is important to appropriately assess all foreseeable risk and implement clear, written safety protocols and procedures in the workplace.
Employees should be trained on these procedures at regular intervals and your should conduct mock drills to simulate emergency situations. These drills shouldn’t feel like tests, but rather opportunities to practice, break and refine the system and response strategies in a safe, controlled environment. If planning these activities you should make them engaging by incorporating elements of teamwork and problem-solving, similar to how the Paw Patrol pups work together to overcome challenges.
Ask yourself, does everyone you work with know what to do in an emergency?
In the episode “The Muddy Puddle”, Peppa Pig is allowed to jump in a muddy puddle and excitedly puts on her boots and jumps on the wet ground (much to Mummy Pig’s disapproval, of course). While some might see this as a lesson in avoiding mud, there’s another way to interpret it. Peppa is rewarded (with praise and positive reinforcement) for enjoying a safe activity within reasonable boundaries.
We are all aware that workplace safety can often be perceived as a set of restrictive rules. However, the goal (that is often misunderstood) is to keep everyone safe and healthy by allowing them to “play in the puddle”.
This can only be done effectively by providing employees the tools and knowledge necessary to do their jobs effectively and safely. By creating a culture of positive reinforcement and open communication, a workplace can be a place where everyone feels comfortable “jumping in the puddle” – the safe puddle, of course.
By implement safety recognition programs to acknowledge employees who consistently follow safety protocols and encouraging a “speak-up” culture you can facilitate the growth of a positive culture naturally rather than trying to force change.
Lastly, don’t forget to take inspiration from “Bob the Builder’s” clear and informative project plans. Develop visually appealing infographics that highlight potential hazards in your workplace. These visuals should be strategically placed in high-traffic areas or near relevant equipment. It is important to keep the message clear and concise. Use easy-to-understand symbols, bright colours, and minimal text. Think of iconic “Sesame Street” signs – simple visuals with a powerful message.
It should be noted however that you should not overwhelm employees with generic safety posters. Focus on hazards specific to your workplace. For example, in a kitchen, an infographic might illustrate proper knife safety techniques, while a factory might display a poster outlining the colour-coded system for identifying hazardous materials.
Ask yourself, do you celebrate success or just focus on failure?
Remember:
- Tailor to Your Workplace: Adapt these lessons to fit the specific needs and risks of your workplace. For an office environment, this might involve focusing on ergonomic workstation setup and repetitive stress injury prevention. In a construction setting, the emphasis might be on fall protection and safe use of heavy machinery.
- Positive Reinforcement: Focus on creating a positive safety culture where employees feel empowered to speak up about hazards and take ownership of their safety and the safety of their colleagues. Recognize and reward safe behaviour, fostering a sense of shared responsibility.
- Continuous Learning: Just like children’s shows offer ongoing safety lessons, make safety a continuous learning process in your workplace. Regularly review protocols, conduct safety audits, and update training materials to ensure a proactive and risk-averse environment.
Health and safety lands when it’s relatable.
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