September 12, 2012

Before Day's End focuses on the impact of workplace accidents

Before Day's End is not just another health and safety training video says its creators. The documentary film aims to leave a lasting impression on viewers so they can better understand the impact of workplace accidents and fatalities on the families of victims.

KELLY LAPOINTE

DCN staff writer

The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) hopes that genuine emotion in a new documentary film will be a better teacher about workplace safety than any "boring" training video.

“I never had a meaningful conversation with him after that day,” said a father in the film whose son was pinned and suffocated by a malfunctioning lift. It led to a coma and eventually death.

“There was a point in time where I guess my prayers might have turned from ‘Let’s get him back’ to ‘Let’s let him go’,” he said.

The movie shows others who have been impacted too.

“I can’t take that day back, I cannot reverse time,” said a young man, who was seriously injured on a jobsite.

Before Day's End, commissioned by CLAC, focuses not on the worker, but the impact that a workplace injury or fatality has on their family.

CLAC director of communications and marketing, Alex Pannu, said the true stories about an ordinary day on the job turned tragic drive the message home.

“What we wanted to do was something that would leave a lasting impression on them,” he said.

“We see real people. We see people who were injured on the job. We see a mother and father whose son was tragically injured and died. It’s all very genuine.”

Pannu had a unique set of instructions for the four young Toronto-based filmmakers, who worked with producer Carolina Saffioti, CLAC marketing specialist.

“I said ‘I want you to make me cry. That will be a successful video if you can do that,’” he said.

“They did a terrific job.”

The film does not only apply to the construction industry, said Pannu.

“There’s all types of terrible accidents that take place in manufacturing and even retail sectors. There are silly accidents that result in death and injury,” he said.

“In any workplace, workers can’t be thinking ‘that’ll never happen to me’ or ‘this has never happened before’, ‘I’m young and indestructible.’ Don’t think about yourself, think about your family, your children, your wife, your husband, your mother, father. What’s the impact on them if you aren’t safe?”

The film was released on Labour Day, Sept. 3.

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