THE SILENT PROGRAM THAT SET A SAFETY BENCHMARK
The background
Hansen Yuncken is one of Australia’s largest construction companies, operating in environments where high-risk activities are part of daily work. Managing those risks depends on workers quickly understanding and applying critical controls.
With an employee workforce of 650 people and thousands of contractors coming on and off sites spread right across Australia, getting everyone on the same page with safety was no small feat.
Traditional safety training often relied on long procedures and technical jargon — which is hard to recall on site at the point of risk. Hansen Yuncken saw the need for a clearer, more visual approach that would cut through and make safety second nature.
The CHALLENGE
In 2022, as part of a SafeWork NSW Enforceable Undertaking, Hansen Yuncken set out to transform critical risk communications — for the entire Australian construction industry.
To drive real behavioural change, the materials needed to be clear, visual, and actionable. Additionally, the comms and training needed to engage the widest possible audience while still ensuring workers could understand and apply the critical risk controls on site, no matter their background.
OUR Approach
We had to go back to square one — identifying the six critical risks before we could communicate them effectively. Across three days of workshops with the frontline workforce, we mapped the points in daily work where risks were highest and the controls needed to manage them. The risks included:
Transport & Deliveries
Cranes & Lifting
Traffic Management
Mobile Plant
Electrical Supply & Equipment
Work at Height
Underground & Overhead Services
We then transformed the risks and controls into training into a mix of animated videos and toolbox talks. We analysed work sites and used real situations to make sure the materials were universal but not generic — practical, engaging, and relevant for every construction worker.
The animations contained no scripts or voiceovers, relying purely on visual storytelling. By focusing on visuals, the material was accessible to all workers and encouraged active observation, helping them absorb and apply the information on site.
What’s more they were embedded into a simple, accessible microsite — the HY Workzone — that houses all of Hansen Yuncken’s high-risk standards, the HYer Standards, and delivers critical info on safety controls in seconds.
The impact
Despite the workforce of 650 people, the critical risk animations have been viewed thousands of times within the first few months.
And the approach has drawn industry attention and is being evaluated by a University of Newcastle PhD student for its impact on safe work behaviour, so watch this space for measurable impacts.
Across HY and the industry, the feedback so far is that:
⟶ Workers are more engaged in safety conversations and show greater awareness of critical risks.
⟶ The training has created safety advocates throughout the workforce, encouraging proactive risk management.
⟶ Highly visual, story-driven learning has redefined how familiar topics are communicated, making safety training more effective and memorable.
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