In honour of NAOSH Week, the U of A's Office of Environment, Health & Safety is planning to host a free screening of the Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times. But really, in these modern times can we learn about safety from a 1936 slapstick film? Here are my 13 offerings:
One:
Beware of high speed assembly lines.
Two:
Image courtesy of MakeAGif
While we're at it, avoid working next to the guy with the gigantic mallet.
Three:
Image courtesy of Tumblr
Bolt tightening can be funny (but not when it leads to repetitive strain injury: take frequent breaks!)
Four:
At work? Wear personal protective equip - oh wait. First put on a shirt, THEN put on your PPE.
Five:
Got splash? (Like, from a guy squirting oil at you?) Wear goggles.
Six:
Image courtesy of the Granville Historical Society
Looking to improve efficiency in the workplace? A Billows Feeding Machine isn't the solution. Also it's pretty much lethal.
Seven:
Image courtesy of Giphy
On that note, corn on the cob can be hazardous.
Eight:
Signage matters: "in" vs. "out," for example.
Nine:
Roasted duck, polka, and enraged diners don't mix.
Ten:
Report all incidents, particularly beams falling on your head.
Eleven:
Just because you CAN do it while blindfolded, doesn't mean you should.
Twelve:
Image courtesy of Make A Gif
Avoid being sucked into a machine.
Thirteen:
Never, EVER work alongside Charlie Chaplin.
So if you'd like to a) watch some classic slapstick and/or b) hear a panel of health and safety experts answer the question "are we getting better about safety?" - then plan your lunch break around Safety, Schmafety: movie, pizza (free!) & discussion.
When: Wednesday, May 10
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm (pizza provided!)
Where: ECHA L1-490
Lorelei Betke - Communications & Research Safety Coordinator, Environment, Health & Safety
Lorelei Betke is the Communications & Research Safety Coordinator for Environment, Health & Safety. Her aim is to raise awareness of EHS, creatively. She studied music, parasitology, and writing, with environmental engineering thrown in for good luck. In her spare time, she's a mom.