Wash., Ky., Neb., Nev. Children Win National ASSE ‘Safety-on-the-Job’ Poster Contest

Be safe at work was the resounding message of the winners of the American Society of Safety Engineers'(ASSE) third annual kids’ ‘Safety-on-the-Job’ poster contest.

The winners are six-year-old Kai Gamble, Vancouver, Wash; eight-year-old Cailey Lord, Ashland, Ky; 10-year-old Allegra Trites, Omaha, Neb; and 11-year-old Lia Yateman of Henderson, Nev. They are the first prize winners in their age groups each winning a savings bond, a spot on the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week 2005 poster as well as having their poster displayed at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. in May, officials announced.

The poster contest that runs from October through Valentine’s Day is open to ASSE members’ children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and has four age categories for entrants: ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and, 11-12. The contest is part of NAOSH Week activities, a week dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of workplace safety and preventing injuries. NAOSH Week runs May 1-7 of this year.

The winning posters best illustrate workplace safety. Kai’s winning entry is titled “Safe Cranes Are Steady and Stable.” Kai’s mother is ASSE member Kimberly Gamble, the safety and health director at Andersen Construction Company in Portland Ore.

Caily’s winning poster is titled “Safety Comes in Cans.” Caily’s father is ASSE member George Lord, the safety specialist for Findlay, Ohio-based Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC.

Allegra’s winning poster focuses on several safety measures and states “Your brain is your best PPE (personal protection equipment). Use it first.” Allegra’s step-dad is ASSE member Steve Finkey, the manager of safety and wellness for the Omaha Public Power District.

Lia’s winning poster is titled “Wear Your Safety Stuff, It Doesn’t Mean Your (sic) Not Tuff!” Lia’s dad is ASSE member Mark Yateman, the health and safety coordinator for Levi Strauss & Co.

Runners-up in the poster contest are: age 5-6 – first runner-up Alexa Harris, 6, of Morgantown, W. Va. for her poster “Be Safe on a Farm, Use a Roll bar” and second runner-up Siena Mayer-Costa, 6, Oakland, N.J., for her poster “Drive Safely”; age 7-8 – first runner-up Daniel Hales, 7, Louisburg, N.C. for his poster “Mom & Dad – Wear Your Safety Glasses So You Can Watch Me Grow Up” and second runner-up Nick Woltersdorf, 8, Hansville, Wash. for his poster titled “Tie or Die”, age 9-10 – first runner-up James Kriner, 10, Anderson, Ind., for his poster titled “Always Wear Fall Protection” and second runner-up Jalexys Smith, 9, Washington, N.C. for her poster “Medical Laboratory Safety – Stick It, Click It, Flip It” and special mention for the first-ever bilingual poster entry Allie Zoia, 10, Arlington Heights, Ill., for her poster “Chemicals Can Be Dangerous/Quimicas Pueden Ser Peligrosas; age 11-12 – first runner-up Aaron Trites, 12, Omaha, Neb., for his poster “Cutting Corners Can Save a Minute, But Your Life is On the Line” and second runner-up Taylor NyBlom, 12, Plano, Texas for her poster “Save Lives!”.

The runners up, along with all entries, receive a gift certificate and will have their posters displayed at the DOL. The posters are judged by a three-member independent panel.