A Riverview High School student has taken top prize in the national Focus on Safety Youth Video Contest.
Zach MacMillan-Kenny’s two-minute video on workplace safety was submitted to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) national competition after winning first place in the provincial Focus On Safety Youth Video Contest sponsored by WorkSafeNB, in partnership with CCOHS.
The video, The Eye, captures the importance of always thinking and acting safely, ensuring attention to details. It features his grandfather, Peter Grant, who, as a young man, was crushed by a forklift at work.
MacMillan-Kenny couldn’t use a forklift for his video so he based his story on a chemical spill. The video opens with his grandfather drumming his fingers on a desk, and continues as he recalls a workplace incident 40 years ago.
The WorkSafeNB jury commented on how Zach effectively describes the long-term consequences of a simple misstep.
“Zach’s submission of The Eye was a standout because of its very effective storytelling. He demonstrated that the decisions we make about our own safety practices can impact us for the rest of our lives. In just two minutes, he told a simple and graceful story that resonates with viewers emotionally. We can all picture ourselves taking the same shortcut as his character did.” – WorkSafeNB Focus On Safety Youth Video Contest jury
“We’re proud of all our New Brunswick students who submitted videos, and especially honoured that Zach has been recognized nationally for his commitment to workplace health and safety,” Tim Petersen, WorkSafeNB acting president and CEO, said.
WorkSafeNB sponsors the annual Focus on Safety Youth Video Contest in partnership with CCOHS, other workers’ compensation boards, and New Brunswick school districts.
The top three New Brunswick videos can be viewed on WorkSafeNB’s YouTube channel. Videos from the 11 national finalists can be viewed on CCOHS’s website.
See also: CCOHS news release, national winners