Oregon Opens Annual Student Workplace Safety Contest
High school students in Oregon are invited to create digital media promoting heat-illness prevention for young workers.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should local student contests offer cash prizes to encourage public safety awareness?
The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition has launched its 19th annual media contest for high school students. Participants are tasked with creating video or graphic design advertisements that highlight the importance of heat-illness prevention for teenagers entering the workforce.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to educate young workers about workplace dangers during the summer months when heat-related hazards are most prevalent. By leveraging student-led creative projects, the coalition hopes to increase safety awareness among youth.
The 19-year-old contest allows video submissions up to 90 seconds in length. Winning students receive cash prizes between $300 and $500, with their schools receiving matching financial awards.
The players
Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition
This organization facilitates programs aimed at reducing workplace injuries and illness among young employees throughout the state.
The details
High school students across Oregon must submit their video or graphic design entries through the organization's official online form. The coalition will utilize the winning submissions as professional advertisements to promote workplace safety practices.
Timeline
February 12, 2027: Contest submission deadline at 5pm
Summer months: Period when heat-related hazards occur on the job
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the broader societal trend of promoting youth workplace safety through peer-to-peer messaging. It extends the NIOSH Young Worker Health and Safety initiative by localizing outreach efforts to address specific regional heat hazards.
Students across Oregon can participate in the contest to win cash prizes for themselves and their schools. Those who enter must ensure their digital designs or videos are submitted via the online form before the deadline.
The takeaway
Participating students play a direct role in creating safety content that reaches their peers before the summer work season begins. Creating entries that clearly explain heat-illness symptoms can help improve workplace outcomes for all teen workers.
What happens next
The contest submission window closes on February 12, 2027, at 5pm.
Further reading
For more information on youth initiatives in the state, visit Oregon Secondary Education.
More information
Review the full requirements on the [O[yes] online contest page](https://yourdosh.org/index.php/contest-rules).
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cascade Business News.
Live Poll
Should local student contests offer cash prizes to encourage public safety awareness?
