This episode of Grey's Anatomy brought to you by crippling injuries

[thebitterguy]

This is one of several disturbing PSAs produced by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

They're fairly intense, and tend to cause a little controversy for being so. The effectiveness of the shock tactics is probably something better discussed by people qualified to do so. They definitely get a reaction out of people.

Comments

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

I find them odious and am disturbed that our tax dollars are going to fund claptrap which is so clearly meant to capitalize on pop-culture's current apparent fascination with torture pr0n. Colour me reactionary. Feh.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

I keep seeing the one with the chef spilling a giant boiling pot on herself.

Last year they had a radio spot that started out sounding like an ad for a car mechanic or something, and ended with a guy getting his arms trapped in some machinery. They were playing this on the radio at 7:30 in the morning. You know, when people are driving and don't need heart-palpitation-inducing distractions.

[thebitterguy]

I just find you grumpy.

They could always do one for your industry where a guys gets an paper cut that gets infected.

I miss Astar, the robot.

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

They do seem to be having a bit of a mixed-message problem with the new crop of ads. Some people seem to react to the current TV spots as a way of putting the blame for 'accidents' on the victims, disregarding the environment and employer contributions. That radio ad mentioned above is, indeed, very distracting while driving. And as for the print (http://www.prevent-it.ca/flash/downloads/P27384_WSIB_TSA_Manual.pdf) adverts (http://www.prevent-it.ca/flash/downloads/P27384_WSIB_TSA_Sign.pdf).. which are pretty much snuffpr0n.. the 'watch out for yourself and take proactive steps to reduce risk' signal is getting lost in the splatterpunk noise.

Ick.

[thebitterguy]

I think they're slightly less distracting/disturbing than the average Bad Boy commercial.

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

I can't see vids at work but is that the one with the boiling water/grease that the girl pours all over her face, because that is freaking disturbing!

[thebitterguy]

That is indeed the one.

[thebitterguy]

Yeah, in a print ad it's a bit brutal because they can't do the faster cuts.

I don't think it's the victims getting blamed. They're narrating that the dangerous policies of the workplace are putting them in danger, and there you go, hot oil.

[commanderteddog.livejournal.com]

Interesting that you mentioned Astar, because I always found the original version of that ad freaky as a kid. The newer CG one doesn't have the same impact.

The kitchen ad popped up while I was watching the news last night and out of the... uh... two I've seen, it's the most disturbing. The construction site one, however, almost comes across as a horror movie parody.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

My thought about the kitchen ad was that there were several places where someone could have prevented the tragedy, but nobody did. The person who slopped grease onto the floor could have stopped what they were doing to clean it up, or told someone else to clean it or warn people if they couldn't stop what they were doing. Anyone else might have walked that way and spotted it, and cleaned it up instead of making a mental note to do it later.

That could speak to workplace 'policy', but I always thought these ads were more about individual responsibility -- paying attention to policy, but also just being conscientious about where you put things, the condition of your work environment, focusing on the task at hand, etc.

[thebitterguy]

That is true. It's been so long since I had a workplace where anything we used was actually dangerous that I may not be paying terribly close attention.

Now, I want to know when they'll be doing PSAs for tennis elbow. Oy, I get tennis elbow.

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

So, you're The Bitter Guy, and I'm The Grumpy Guy? Hmm... Yes, I think I can live with that.

And as for "my industry", I work in the telecom (cellular) industry, and let me tell you, buddy there's a whole huge world of hurt worse than a "paper cut" that can happen to you around here... 8)

As for missing Astar, yes. Cheeziness can be noticeable, to. "I'm a robot, I can put my limbs back on. You can't." Ah! Nostalgia!

[thebitterguy]

And as for "my industry", I work in the telecom (cellular) industry, and let me tell you, buddy there's a whole huge world of hurt worse than a "paper cut" that can happen to you around here... 8)


I concede your knowledge of local hazards. Please make sure to wear your insulated boots.

Astar was great. And visually engaging. They should have made a movie about that guy. Girl. Robot.

[thebitterguy]

They're powerful stuff. The original Astar was physical animation of some kind, right? Not cel?

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

That one disturbs me a lot... which I guess is the point so it's working. But really I don't want to see that on my television.

Sidenote, are you coming to the tshirt shindig? I have your Y the last man comics for you. I brought them to the marathon shindig but you weren't there :(

[thebitterguy]

I am not. We have something that day.

The Christmas season is so busy.

I'll get them from you in '08.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0GN9dANKe_Y

Man... he still looks really cool.

It's a kid in a robot suit doing gymnastics, bluescreened or something into a background of skiffy machinery and whirling blades.

[commanderteddog.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the original Astar was probably made with a mix of models and a guy in a suit. It's not as polished as I remember it, but still impressive considering it's a PSA aimed at kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paEJPShlA_o
That's the ugly computer animated version used today.

Speaking of dark PSAs, am I the only one that remembers the anti-smoking one that had the voice over listing the toxic chemicals found in cigarettes, only to have people willing dive into a vat of said chemicals? I seem to recall that one being talked about when it first aired.