TRAINING SAVES: Case Study

How Custom Training PSAs Reduced Injuries and Workers' Comp Costs  

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) takes workplace safety seriously.  Through a collaborative effort between OPRD's safety team, Delicious Design and Wahoo Films, OPRD developed an innovative training program that has dramatically improved worker safety outcomes. This case study explores how OPRD's internally developed training content, brought to life through professional graphics and video production, helped improve worker safety through training videos for their broader Go Home Healthy Campaign. In this blog post, we’ll explore the success story of how OPRD utilized these training resources to significantly reduce injuries and Workers' Compensation (WC) claims—and how this translated into cost savings and improved employee well-being.

The Challenge: Worker injuries cost a lot of time and money

At OPRD, employees are regularly tasked with physically demanding work, including lifting heavy logs, cleaning facilities, managing storm damage, and clearing trails. These tasks, while critical to maintaining Oregon’s parks, expose workers to a high risk of injury—particularly back and shoulder injuries, which are among the most common and debilitating.

Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2023, OPRD had numerous Workers’ Compensation claims which inspired them to try a new tactic: an ongoing training campaign. 

The Solution: The "Go Home Healthy" Campaign

OPRD launched the comprehensive "Go Home Healthy" Campaign, which combines their safety expertise with our professional video production services.

To address these challenges, OPRD embraced the Go Home Healthy Campaign, a comprehensive safety initiative designed to reduce workplace injuries and improve overall employee well-being. As part of this campaign, OPRD implemented concepts from SAIF’s Safety in Motion (SIM) Training, a four-module program focused on teaching safe movement and lifting techniques. 

These techniques are visually shown and they align with the key messages from the Go Home Healthy training videos, which helped employees integrate proper ergonomics and lifting methods into their daily tasks.

By incorporating concepts from SIM Training into our safety video series, OPRD was able to provide consistent, comprehensive training that could be immediately applied in the field.

The Solution: Custom Training Videos

Wahoo Films led the video production process, collaborating with OPRD and Delicious Design to transform safety protocols into engaging visual content. Wahoo's production team worked closely with OPRD's safety expert, Robert Smith, and Delicious Design’s team to refine scripts and ensure the training videos would effectively communicate proper techniques. Delicious Design led the visual elements and graphics process to create dynamic and compelling visual content.

Multi-Angle Technique Demonstration

Our camera work captured lifting movements from multiple perspectives to give employees a complete understanding of proper form. Side-angle shots with graphic overlays clearly showed leg positioning and back alignment, while front views demonstrated correct foot placement and weight distribution. This comprehensive visual approach eliminated any ambiguity about proper lifting technique.

Motion Graphics Enhancement 

We integrated clear, simple motion graphics to highlight the "Green," "Yellow," and "Red" work zones. These visual overlays provided by Delicious Design showed optimal working areas and danger zones, making abstract concepts immediately understandable. Dynamic graphics traced proper movement patterns, helping employees visualize safe paths of motion.

Real-World Application Footage

Rather than rely on staged demonstrations alone, we captured footage of actual workplace scenarios. This authentic approach showed employees how to apply proper techniques with their specific equipment and in their actual work environments, which makes the training directly relevant to their daily tasks.

Streamlined Scripts for Quick Learning Each training segment was crafted to be concise and focused, typically running just 1-2 minutes. This efficient format allowed staff to quickly review proper techniques before attempting challenging lifts or movements, which made the training both practical and immediately applicable in the field.

By combining these professional production elements, we created training content that doesn't just explain safety protocols—it shows exactly how to implement them. 

The Results:

Go Home Healthy Campaign Drives Impressive Safety Improvements

These short videos are being delivered quarterly to staff and management so as not to overwhelm or confuse them. The consistent timing of these PSAs contributes significantly to the program's success, as these periodic reminders help reinforce key messages.

The safety training initiatives delivered substantial improvements across all key metrics in the first half of 2024:

29% Reduction in Workplace Injuries Worker compensation claims dropped from 24 to 17 in the first half of 2024, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our enhanced safety training and awareness programs.

Dramatic Cost Savings First quarter injury costs decreased by 51% compared to historical averages, while second quarter costs showed an even more dramatic 99% reduction. These improvements reflect both fewer incidents and less severe injuries when they do occur.

These results validate the impact of OPRD’s comprehensive safety training approach, particularly the emphasis on proper lifting techniques and injury prevention awareness.

Conclusion: A Culture of Safety and Well-being

The reduction in injuries, time loss, and the costs associated with Workers' Compensation claims demonstrates the power of training, awareness, and consistent messaging when it comes to workplace safety.

A special note of thanks goes to Robert Smith at OPRD for championing the training video series for the Go Home Healthy Campaign, and to OPRD’s executive leadership for providing unwavering support. The involvement of key leadership in delivering consistent safety messages played a pivotal role in engaging employees and fostering a culture of safety. Also, special thanks to Delicious Design for leading the way on the project, and for providing amazing graphics and visuals that brought the videos to life. 

By implementing SAIF’s Safety in Motion (SIM) Training, alongside the training videos on proper lifting techniques, OPRD has made great strides in reducing injuries and improving the overall health and well-being of its employees. These results serve as a reminder that investing in safety training is not only the right thing to do but also a smart business decision—leading to fewer injuries, lower costs, and a more productive workforce.

Interested in learning more about how training videos can help improve safety at your organization? 

Reach out to us today at wahoofilms.com/contact to see how we can support your efforts to create a safer and more productive workplace. 

Together, we can help your employees, Go Home Healthy every day.

‍