OK folks, In this ever changing world of media communications e.g. FB, Youtube, iApps etc, should we be using this as alternative methods of getting the H&S message to the wider and target audience?

It has to be the way forward and there are a few good examples out there. Check out the British Safety Council Speak Up Stay Safe video for protecting youngsters, they hoped it would go viral but achieved less than 1600 views, see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/user/SpeakUpStaySafe One or two apps for Iphones have been made, see the Safety Media website - just checked and they have removed them. They said at the Expo that they were going to switch them from free to paid-for. Problem is that apps require the purchase of a development kit and some programming skills. If the audience is going to be a minority (let's be honest) then the market forces will dictate a low effort. Apps are also specific to Iphones and Ipod Touches so, again, a minority market. As you will see from my other thread that there are three animation packages on YouTube that you can use. Easy to get the hang of so you can produce custom animations free of charge: http://www.youtube.com/user/horshamsafety YouTube is widely accessible so this may be the preferred route forward.

I would agree with the points raised in the previous replies. I think as technology evolves and the workplace becomes more at ease with technology there is definitely a place for utilising the vast eray of media available to ensure employees are getting the message, what ever message that may be. I think it is still imperative that the good old formats are still utilised, if your experience of IT departments are anything like mine, they certainly keep themselves bust with fixing 'temporary problems' which manage to partially paralyse the organisation (rant over). As mentioned in the previous post, using things such as text messages may introduce hazards into the workplace if the employees are permitted to keep their mobiles on their persons during working hours.

In short, No. Just because something is possible, that doesn't necessarily mean somebody should do it (although as a species this is a concept we struggle with). Health & Safety isn't a religous sect. Inform those that need to be informed and let the others seek it themselves if they wish. If I got a random text message telling me I should bend at the knees when lifting, my phone would become a short ranged missile. And I work in this sector. I know all here have an interest in H&S but to look at it from a different perspective, think how you would feel if political parties started bombarding you with texts asking for your vote?

I now have visions of my phone telling me to make sure I put a hat and a scarf on before I go outside in November! ;-)

Not an occupational safety application but http://www.safetymap.co.uk/ describes plans for a system where people can use the latest technology to obtain information about dangers associated with water based locations. If you want to find out why they are doing it look at http://www.riverandseasense.com/