We like to tell the story of our video games, their development, and the creative choices behind the design and music we choose to make them unique. You’ve seen the videos on our TikTok profile, right?

Behind each of our video games there is a message, especially when we create advergames linked to a well-defined communication strategy.

Today we’re telling you about “Zero Deaths at Work The Game”, a video game created for UIL (Italian Labour Union) that allows us to talk about a very important topic such as workplace safety on the occasion of May 1st, the day when Labor Day is celebrated.

Workplace safety in a video game: “Zero Deaths at Work The Game”

According to INAIL data, workplace accidents reported in 2022 were over 697 thousand, with a 25.7% increase compared to the previous year.

These data show how fundamentally important it is to keep the focus on workplace safety and how important it is to communicate the correct procedures to companies and workers.

The video game “Zero Deaths at Work,” conceived and developed for UIL (Italian Labour Union) allowed us to demonstrate the value of a video game on such serious and important topics.

It consists of six mini-games with pixel art design, dedicated to the world of work and its most recognizable sectors: construction, logistics, and office work.

The setting of the video games is within workplace contexts, and to start playing, the player is asked to follow the workplace safety setup procedure.

More specifically, once the player chooses a work area (construction, logistics, or office), they are first of all informed about the employment contract and the guarantees it entails; to play, they must click on “sign contract to play” and access the screen dedicated to checking the minimum workplace safety requirements.

For those who choose construction, a check of gloves, safety vest, and helmet is required. For those who choose logistics, a check of gloves, earmuffs, and helmet is required. Finally, for those who choose the office, a check of the ergonomic chair, proper monitor lighting, and appropriate computer equipment is required to avoid ergonomic issues. Once the check is done, you can play by following the instructions provided in the tutorial.

The objective of each video game is to achieve the highest score by collecting bonuses and avoiding obstacles that, in each area, a worker encounters in their work environment: from physical hazards to office work-related stress.

The two video games dedicated to workplace safety in logistics

For the two video games created for the logistics sector, the setting reproduces the classic warehouse with vehicles and tools used by workers in this sector. Before starting to play, the player must check personal safety equipment: gloves, earmuffs, and helmet, and then enter the game area.

In the first mini-game, the player is inside a factory where workers are on forklifts and at conveyor rollers. The video game is specifically about workers at the roller and consists of moving defective boxes onto the red platform; if they are placed on the wrong platform, the player will receive a penalty. During the game, multiple-choice questionnaires will also appear with questions related to workplace safety in logistics.

In the second game, the player takes on the role of a worker driving a forklift and must collect as many packages as possible during the game, avoiding obstacles encountered along the way.  In this case as well, questionnaires appear during the game on topics related to safety in the logistics sector.

The two video games dedicated to workplace safety on construction sites

The two video games created for the construction world reproduce the work environment and the dangers connected to it. In the first video game, the player must first ensure the minimum safety equipment on site: gloves, safety vest, and helmet, then access the video game.

Once inside a construction site, the player must watch out for blocks falling from machinery, and once on the ground must jump on the blocks to climb higher and higher. When a block hits the character, the game is lost. Inside the video game, a multiple-choice questionnaire is proposed on topics regarding workplace safety on construction sites.

In the second mini-game dedicated to construction, the player is in an environment that reproduces a construction site with scaffolding. In fact, the player must place small ladders to climb to the upper level, taking care to place them where there are no other construction objects; otherwise, while climbing, the game will be lost. In this mini-game as well, the player must demonstrate knowledge of workplace safety on construction sites through a multiple-choice quiz.

The two video games dedicated to workplace safety in the office

For the office world, we created two mini-games that reproduce the work environment and its health risks. Once the check of minimum safety requirements is completed—ergonomic chair, proper lighting, and suitable devices—you actually enter the game area. In the first mini-game, the player enters a virtual open space where a group of workers is busy working. The video game aims to reproduce the need to take breaks from screen work, indicated by the green, yellow, and red emojis that appear in the balloon next to each worker. The player must click on the stressed worker with the red balloon to collect points and avoid clicking on yellow and green emojis to avoid penalties.

During the game, they must then answer multiple-choice quizzes on topics related to office workplace safety to earn bonus points.

The second mini-game dedicated to the office world, on the other hand, features a single worker focused on working at a computer. It is a click game in which the player accumulates points by clicking on the keyboard but must pay attention to the worker: when he turns red due to work-related stress, you must stop or lose. In this case too, the video game is interrupted by a workplace safety quiz, and then continues if the answer is correct.

‍

Within each of the video games just described, the player must test their knowledge of safety practices and procedures through small multiple-choice questionnaires that are submitted during the gameplay session to obtain bonus scores. In case of a wrong answer, the player can learn the correct information.

With this educational game, we have shown that important topics such as workplace safety can be addressed and managed in a playful way. Communicating with workers in a fun way makes it simpler and more immediate; doing so through a video game makes it possible to expand one’s knowledge by fostering learning.