Oregon Students Invited to Create Heat Safety Media for Young Workers
High school students across Oregon are encouraged to use their creativity to promote heat illness prevention through the 2026 Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition Media Contest, organized in partnership with Oregon OSHA.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Oct 16, 2025
High school students across Oregon are invited to combine creativity and safety awareness in the 2026 Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition Media Contest. The competition challenges students to design a compelling video or graphic ad encouraging young workers to complete Oregon OSHA’s online heat-illness prevention course.
The goal: inspire teens to protect themselves from heat-related hazards on the job—especially during Oregon’s increasingly hot summer months.
Participants can submit either a graphic design or a video under 90 seconds, using their own theme, message, or tagline to motivate young workers to take the course. Submissions should use positive, constructive messages that emphasize prevention and empowerment.
Top winners in each category will receive cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500, along with matching awards for their school, club, or organization. Winning entries may also be featured in statewide safety campaigns.
The contest is now open, with a submission deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026. Entries must be submitted online.
While creating their projects, participants are reminded to follow safe production practices—no one should be put at risk while promoting safety.
Sponsors include local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Oregon OSHA, SAIF Corporation, Hoffman Construction Company, SafeBuild Alliance, and other safety and health organizations.
To learn more, including rules, resources, and past winning entries, visit the O[yes] contest page at labor.oregon.gov/employment/roadtocareers.shtml.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.