“Jim’s Story”: getting to the heart of health & safety
Posted by Tess at 4.21pm on 19 March 2009
Telling stories about the personal impact of accidents on individuals is a powerful way of getting people to sit up and take notice. Jim’s Story is a play that we’ve used often with transport employees (on trains and buses) to bring home to them the reality of being involved in an accident. The effect is to make employees realise the personal responsibility they have in improving health & safety practice.
Jim’s Story was originally developed for our work with First Group and their injury prevention programme. Jim who is a bus driver who knocks over and kills a little girl. Through a series of scenes we explore the conseqences for Jim, his family, his work colleagues and the organisation as well as the consequences for the little girl’s mum. In between these scenes the delegates discuss critical questions around health & safety using World Cafe methodology. In this way, the drama brings delegates face to face with the human cost of health and safety breaches.
“Forum Interactive are exemplary and inspiring. Their work at our annual safety conference was emotionally, personally and professionally touching and powerful.” Steve Wallace, Vice President, Safety First Transit Inc USA
“Another valuable and successful day delivered by your team with such professionalism.” Stewart Barr, Head of Occupational Safety, First Scotrail
Since its inception, Jim’s Story has been used in many different ways with transport workers to deliver behaviour change around health and safety. The original story has developed in line with the needs of the groups we’ve been working with (e.g. The Mother’s Story).
For further information about this work look Drama to Avoid Crises or contact me (Tess).
A case study of our work with First Group is featured in our DVD showreel. Please contact us for a copy.
Tags: storytelling, world cafe