What was the brief?

Produce an impactful safety-based drama that will challenge unsafe behaviours and promote a safe working environment.

How did we do it?

BBVS are a contractor tasked with building the new Old Oak Common station in West London on behalf of HS2. As part of an ongoing safety drive, they commissioned White Hart to create a drama that depicted a real-life incident or near-miss that occurred on the Old Oak Common project. In this case, we focused on an incident where a work team carried out an unplanned trench excavation, narrowly missing live high voltage cables. To highlight the serious risks to the audience, we made the decision depict the worst-case scenario outcome and include a fatality.

Filming took place on site at Old Oak Common over three days. We cast professional actors as the main roles, supported by BBVS staff as extras. We hired a professional makeup artist to create the elaborate burn injuries. While the finished drama is highly impactful and relatable, they also engage the project workforce whilst presenting underlying safety messages and specific learning objectives. After watching, the project workforce will understand what went wrong and what the potential impacts were. Viewers are also able to identify how to avoid similar incidents happening in the future.