ABOUT

HSE needed to update Asbestos Essentials, a task manual aimed at building and maintenance trades.

While staying within HSE’s branding and communication guidelines, the design, content and marketing of the guidance had to convey the prevalence of asbestos and to target the variety of trades most at risk. It had to work well in print and online formats, be durable and easy for workers to carry with them.

I first read recent research prepared by the Institute for Employment Studies (RR558) to understand the principal reasons for risk-taking behaviours of maintenance workers. I edited and designed the project in collaboration with industry experts and external stakeholders to ensure the text remained technically accurate while engaging readers at all levels to combat the effects of peer pressure and lack of understanding.

Clear instructions were written to fit with illustrated tasks, breaking down a complex message into one easily understood by the target audience.

The printed book was designed with durable, fold-out covers showing crucial information and in a ring-bind format to allow flat, easy opening to any page in a working environment.

The project was completed to deadline and to budget. The book exceeded sales margins within weeks of being published and all stocks supplied to HSE’s stand at that year’s Health and Safety Expo were sold out over the three days of the exhibition.