NOTE: The earlier release had the incorrect location for one of the high schools. Please use this updated release.

(Salem) -- High school students across the state created videos that are full of drama, music, humor, and captivating characters to bolster awareness about workplace safety -- all with the central message, "Speak up. Work safe." The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]) sponsors the annual video contest to engage teen workers, who are twice as likely to be injured on the job, according to federal studies.

The top seven finalists are now posted on YouTube for viewing:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM75uPd4sBhyrd3HoiMliiaX_EhuJCn6y

The finalists are:
* "Memories" -- Summit High School, Bend
* "Phone Drones" -- Parkrose High School, Portland
* "Regrets" -- West Albany High School, Albany
* "Safety Joe" -- Crescent Valley High School, Corvallis
* "The New Guy" -- Dallas High School, Dallas
* "The Silent Condition" -- Sprague High School, Salem
* "Welcome to Recyc Corp" -- Parkrose High School, Portland

The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500 and will earn a matching amount for their school. O[yes] organizes the contest, which is sponsored by Oregon OSHA, SAIF Corporation, local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU, Hoffman Construction, Central Oregon Safety & Health Association, the SHARP Alliance, the Construction Safety Summit, Northern Lights Theatre and Pub, and SafeBuild Alliance.

The contest, open to all high school students in Oregon, tasked students with creating a 90-second or less video based on the concept of speaking up about hazards at work. Participants were encouraged to get creative while emphasizing ways to protect themselves -- and their co-workers -- from getting hurt on the job. The videos were judged on originality, youth appeal, overall production quality, and effective use of the "Speak up. Work safe" message.

Contest winners will be announced during an awards ceremony to be held later this spring.

For contest information, go to http://youngemployeesafety.org/contest.

###

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit www.osha.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]) is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing young worker injuries and fatalities. O[yes] members include safety and health professionals, educators, employers, labor and trade associations, and regulators. For more information, go to http://youngemployeesafety.org/.