FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

Safety Animation Award sponsored by UL Solutions

We are excited to announce the theme for the 2024 Safety Animation Award sponsored by UL Solutions: Safety – Full STEAM Ahead!

Engineering is synonymous with creativity. When communicating the need for safe behavior and practices, the most effective messaging is often the most creative. If we truly want to encourage safe behaviors, making messages creative and connecting them to our emotions makes the messages more memorable. Creativity and inspiration can come from anywhere.

For the 2024 Safety Animation, we challenge teams to encourage safe practices by tapping into their creativity and influencing emotions and actions. The winning animations will allow the most creative members of your teams to share their talents. Stun us with your stimulating visuals, build a crescendo with your original soundtracks, and influence us to be safe with your poetic words. Engage the senses and make safety memorable!

UL Solutions will provide restricted grants to the Winner and Finalists. The Winner will receive $500 and each of the two Finalists will receive $250 towards registration in 2025. Thank you, UL Solutions!

Submissions for the Safety Animation Award will be accepted beginning Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM, Noon ET through Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET. Teams can submit the animation through the FIRST^® Dashboard and it must be submitted by the Student Award Submitter or lead mentor 1 or 2.

Safety Manual

Teams can check out the details about the Safety Animation Award criteria as well as the 2024 Safety Manual on the FIRST^® Robotics Competition Safety page. Be sure to read through this manual for important safety information, as it provides a basic set of requirements to maintain a safe environment during the build season, at competition events, and throughout everyday life!  

UL Solutions and FIRST Safety Learning Portal

And don’t forget that team members can take online safety training to enhance your team’s safety program on the UL Solutions and FIRST Safety Learning Portal. This training is designed to complement a team’s current safety program by providing more in-depth training on the following topics:

• Safety Manual Training
• Fire Extinguisher and Safety Awareness
• Hand and Power Tool Safety Awareness
• Hazard Communication – Safety Data Sheets
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Awareness
• Recognizing Electrical Hazards Awareness
• Lockout/Tagout Awareness
• Hearing Conservation Awareness

As we ramp up for the upcoming season, remember: Safety FIRST!