EU-OSHA announced this month that they have released a new electrical safety film titled “Napo in…Shocking Situations.”
Napo, a computer-generated graphic who brings “safety with a smile”, is the name of the main character who performs different tasks at work. He can be, however, rather careless in his work habits. For example, after he vacuums a dirty floor, he then unplugs the cord dangerously. In another film, he trips on a tangled cord that two co-workers left out in the middle of the work floor. He and his colleagues speak no words but instead communicate through facial expressions and body language, making clear to the viewer what they feel about and how they react in their given situations.
The Napo films, produced by the Napo Consortium, were conceived by OSH communications professionals who wanted to create a way for workers all over Europe to be aware of different work hazards, no matter what language they speak or where they work. The goal of these short educational films is to start conversations about hazards at the workplace that will hopefully lead to practical solutions to those problems.
While there is a page on the website dedicated to explaining how teachers can use Napo films in their classrooms for 9 to 11-year-old students, these films are meant to be used in the workplace. The creators strive to produce culturally neutral films where every worker can understand the basic premise of what’s going on and come together to discuss ways to improve work practices.
While the films are entertaining and can spark discussions, they are not meant to be used for safety training purposes. They do not cover any given safety topic in depth. And while the hazardous details of the job Napo finds himself in may be similar to real life situations, the extent of possible injuries from those hazards are not shown realistically. Rather, Napo is a character that can, according to the Consortium, relate to workers of all ages and backgrounds, and is able to use light-hearted humor to bring “safety with a smile.”
A new film on fire hazards is currently in the early planning stages.
