The British Safety Council has revealed the winners of its multimedia poster competition, ‘Images of wellbeing’, which showcases images of wellbeing at work and in an educational environment.
2018 overall winning poster by Ahmed Rimsha. Photo: British Safety Council
The British Safety Council has a proud legacy of producing posters to inform, educate and campaign for safety, health and wellbeing in the workplace. For sixty years, its posters were a striking and often humorous reflection of the developments that transformed the workplace in Britain. Their subjects ranged from occupational health and safety matters to headline news.
Today, employees face new risks to their health and wellbeing, as companies move away from traditional work practices. New technologies, long hours and remote working affect people’s wellbeing and can lead to mental health problems, which are particularly prevalent among men and young people.
“The results of our competition have shown that wellbeing and mental health are at the forefront of young people’s minds,” said Matthew Holder, Head of Campaigns at the British Safety Council. “The poster competition has proved to be a good barometer of their concerns about mental health, the workplace environment and the practices that adversely affect employee wellbeing.
“Workplace wellbeing is of paramount importance to young people. Their commitment to their employers will depend on how they look after their physical, psychological and mental wellbeing.”
Colin Orr, a student of graphic design at Edinburgh College of Art, was the winner in the Under 21 category. “It’s estimated that one in five teenagers will experience depression prior to adulthood, with only three in every ten teens receiving the support they need,” he said. “The main causes of teen depression are academic pressures and cyber-bullying. That’s why I intended the poster to be displayed in schools, where mental health awareness tends to be limited.
“I wanted to let young people know that depression isn’t always extreme but is very common. They shouldn’t feel deterred from receiving help because they don’t think they’re ‘bad enough’. I avoided seeking help despite showing obvious signs of moderate depression. One of the first warning signs of being depressed is spending a lot of time in bed. My poster suggests that you should worry about friends who sleep in the afternoon.”
2018 Best under 21 poster, by Colin Orr
The overall competition winner was Rimsha Ahmed, who works as a marketing assistant at LYRA. “Wellbeing is key to a successful and happy career,” Rimsha explained. “It can be expressed in the simplest ways that make a working day more manageable and reduce an individual’s stress levels and anxiety.
“As an artist, I understand how a workspace influences an individual’s productivity; therefore, I focused on issues which can make an office a safer, healthier and more mindful environment in which to work, particularly during periods of stress. Having compassion for your peers, access to sunlight and even something as simple as the opportunity for a hot drink can make the working day more relaxing and comfortable, thus increasing employee productivity.”
The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through work. Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business.
