The film festival was an integral part of the 18th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, which was hosted by South Korea from June 29 to July 2. The congress is held every three years with the objective of providing a forum for exchanging information about practices aimed at promoting safety and health at work. It is the world's largest international event in the field of occupational safety and health, and is organized by the International Labor Organization and the International Social Security Association.
Entitled "The Nick of Time," the institute's prize-winning film uses animation to "present the many risks facing workers, and how their attitude to safety is critical in preventing accidental injury," the IOSH said in a statement. The film's "star" is death, as represented by an animated figure that lurks about factories and attempts to snare workers in industrial accidents.
"The difficulty in making films on safety and health in the workplace lies in how to convey an educational topic with life-and-death implications in a fun and illuminating way," Ho Jiune-jye, an institute researcher, said Aug. 22. The IOSH film impressed judges on the panel to such a degree that it was selected as a finalist in the competition after its initial screening, Ho said. Films normally receive up to three viewings before being selected as a finalist. The judges chose "The Nick of Time" as one of the festival's three top films because it took "a very different approach," the IOSH quoted the festival's jury as saying.
However, the awarding of the prize was accompanied by some of the political wrangling that Taiwan often faces when taking part in international events. Although "The Nick of Time" earned the highest score in the second and final round of the competition, some of the 15-member jury panel raised questions regarding Taiwan's eligibility to take part in the contest, as the country is not an ILO member nation, Ho said.
Another penalist, however, successfully persuaded the group to set aside such political concerns. "Taiwan has made major contributions to occupational safety and health with the goal of protecting workers through advances in science, innovation and education, and its achievements deserve proper recognition," Ho quoted the member as saying, adding the institute was informed of the dispute between judges only after the festival.
"Fatal Connection," another film produced by the institute, was selected for opening screening at the festival. While "The Nick of Time" educates workers about avoid injuries caused by becoming caught in industrial machinery, "Fatal Connection" focuses on preventing life-threatening workplace falls. Being crushed by machinery is the No. 1 cause of occupational injuries in Taiwan, while falling is the No. 1 cause of workplace fatalities, IOSH statistics show. The institute operates under the aegis of the Cabinet-level Council of Labor Affairs.
The IOSH began making films to raise public awareness about workplace safety in 2003. Ten films have been produced so far, and all are screened regularly at the institute's exhibition hall at Sijhih Science Park in Taipei County. The ISSA and countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, Germany, Poland and Switzerland have made enquiries about exchanging films or gaining authorization to show the two Taiwan-made films since their initial screening in Seoul, the institute said.
This year marked the first time that the ROC has participated in the competition, which attracted 115 films and 50 multimedia creations from 25 countries in 2008.
The two other entries selected as the festival's top films were Switzerland's "Act to Prevent Sexual Harassment in Enterprises" and Singapore's "Animation in Safety@Work."
Write to Author at june@mail.gio.gov.tw