HSE receives prestigious international award for asbestos campaign
10:33 - 01/01/2010
HSE receives prestigious internationa...
A campaign by the Health and Safety Executive to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos has won the European Excellence Award in recognition of its outstanding success.
The European Excellence Awards, which are held in Vienna, honour exceptional achievements in public relations and this year they awarded the highest accolade in their health category to the HSE’s ‘hidden killer’ asbestos campaign.
The campaign, launched in autumn 2008, aimed to prevent another generation of workers falling prey to asbestos-related diseases. The HSE collaborated with communications agency MS&L;to devise the PR campaign and the launch was advertised through broadcast, print and online media, including the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and GMTV. They even brought ex-England footballer Ian Wright, a former plasterer, on board to front the campaign, which used a football analogy in order to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
The ‘hidden killer’ campaign has resulted in a 100% increase in the number of calls made to Infoline and an amazing 600% increase in the number of page requests on the campaign microsite. As well as the European Excellence Award it was also highly commended at the PR Week Awards in October and was shortlisted for a PRCA Award in November. The print advertisements for the campaign have also received accolades from ANNA (Awards for National Newspaper Advertising).
Considering the fact that around 20 tradesmen still die every week in the UK due to asbestos-related illnesses Steve Coldrick, HSE's asbestos programme director, believes that the success of the ‘hidden killer’ campaign is extremely important. He said:
"Asbestos remains Britain's biggest workplace killer, but with the perception that it is largely a risk of the past we needed a hard-hitting PR campaign that would capture the imagination of tradesmen, particularly young ones. We're pleased that our approach has been recognised and commended by experts in the communications industry."
We now offer an Asbestos Awareness training course through E-learning. This can complement campaigns such as the HSE’s in helping to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Pete Stock, E-Learning Account Manager, explains: “It is essential that all companies who come into contact with asbestos make their employees aware of the risks. Our E-Learning course covers exactly this, and can be completed by anybody with internet access. Training staff to be aware of the dangers of working with as dangerous a substance as asbestos can help them work safely which will save companies valuable time and money.”
In addition to the Asbestos Awareness E-learning course we can also deliver training at your premises for up to 12 delegates. For further information, contact us today.
The European Excellence Awards, which are held in Vienna, honour exceptional achievements in public relations and this year they awarded the highest accolade in their health category to the HSE’s ‘hidden killer’ asbestos campaign.
The campaign, launched in autumn 2008, aimed to prevent another generation of workers falling prey to asbestos-related diseases. The HSE collaborated with communications agency MS&L;to devise the PR campaign and the launch was advertised through broadcast, print and online media, including the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and GMTV. They even brought ex-England footballer Ian Wright, a former plasterer, on board to front the campaign, which used a football analogy in order to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
The ‘hidden killer’ campaign has resulted in a 100% increase in the number of calls made to Infoline and an amazing 600% increase in the number of page requests on the campaign microsite. As well as the European Excellence Award it was also highly commended at the PR Week Awards in October and was shortlisted for a PRCA Award in November. The print advertisements for the campaign have also received accolades from ANNA (Awards for National Newspaper Advertising).
Considering the fact that around 20 tradesmen still die every week in the UK due to asbestos-related illnesses Steve Coldrick, HSE's asbestos programme director, believes that the success of the ‘hidden killer’ campaign is extremely important. He said:
"Asbestos remains Britain's biggest workplace killer, but with the perception that it is largely a risk of the past we needed a hard-hitting PR campaign that would capture the imagination of tradesmen, particularly young ones. We're pleased that our approach has been recognised and commended by experts in the communications industry."
We now offer an Asbestos Awareness training course through E-learning. This can complement campaigns such as the HSE’s in helping to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Pete Stock, E-Learning Account Manager, explains: “It is essential that all companies who come into contact with asbestos make their employees aware of the risks. Our E-Learning course covers exactly this, and can be completed by anybody with internet access. Training staff to be aware of the dangers of working with as dangerous a substance as asbestos can help them work safely which will save companies valuable time and money.”
In addition to the Asbestos Awareness E-learning course we can also deliver training at your premises for up to 12 delegates. For further information, contact us today.
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