In celebration of 40 years of making workplaces safer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new photo contest to boost awareness of workplace safety issues.
Anyone with a camera is invited to take a photo of a scenario or setting they believe represents an image of occupational health and safety (OHS) and submit it to OSHA. The administration is looking for outstanding portrayals of occupational health and safety in terms of artistic value, and capacity to inspire conversations on OHS issues. Other judging criteria include: the clarity and quality of the photo; the inclusion of worker, employer or workplace imagery; originality; and the suitability of the image for print in OSHA publications. The winners will be determined by a panel of expert judges with backgrounds in photography and labour issues.
In addition to being featured on OSHA’s website, first, second and third-place photographs will be framed and displayed within OSHA’s National Office in Washington, D.C., to serve “as a daily reminder of the real-life impacts of OSHA’s mission for leading policymakers and prominent professionals,” according to the contest website.
Entrants have until August 12 to submit up to three photos, so take some time to capture an image that encapsulates an OHS matter in a unique way.
Check out the photo contest FAQ here.
Do you think this contest is a trick for OSHA to get photos of violations so they can mail out citations without having to leave their office? Just kidding. It is true that OSHA cannot inspect very many worksites due to their small pool of inspectors. However, they have become more sophisticated at identifying the high-hazard workplaces, and the high-hazard employers, so their resources can be targeted there. Unfortunately, there are a lot of hazardous employers who fly under the radar and never get an OSHA inspection.