# Behind the lens: capturing farm safety in Finland with SafeHabitus

> An exploration of the video production process for the SafeHabitus project, focusing on livestock health and safety in Finland.

## Project Overview
The SafeHabitus project, dedicated to enhancing work health and safety on farms, embarked on a filmmaking journey to create a series of short videos. The project focused on livestock production in Finland, specifically the dairy sector. Filming took place from 2–4 June 2025, led by video director Fabrice Wagner and the FinCoP SafeHabitus team.

## Key Contributors and Perspectives
The video project brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders to address farm safety:

*   **Global to local perspective:** Professor Risto Rautiainen (Nebraska University) provided an overarching view of work health and safety in European livestock production, focusing on trends and challenges in northern Europe.
*   **From farm to shelf:** Valio and Tero Kanala offered a vision of dairy production, emphasizing the role of farm management and attention to detail in ensuring safety and high-quality milk production.
*   **Understanding our animals:** Veterinarian Iris Kaimio illustrated the importance of understanding animal behavior to prevent accidents, particularly in "situations of a rush," and demonstrated safe animal handling.
*   **Farmers leading by example:** Finnish farmers Sini Ryymin-Murtorinne and Laura Parmainen shared their best practices and commitment to improving farm management and safety standards.
*   **Nurturing the future:** Heli Wahlroos, Principal of Savonia School of Agrology, outlined how the institution addresses work health and safety education.
*   **Translating knowledge into practice:** Research Manager Ardita Hoxha-Jahja emphasized the importance of integrating the latest research and project insights into classroom lectures.
*   **The broader support system:** Kati Partanen, Senior Lecturer at Savonia and board member of the World Farmers Organisation and MELA, highlighted the role of governmental support and available tools for farmers.

## Lessons Learned
The team identified several key takeaways from their first experience in professional filmmaking:

*   **Trusting the process:** Relying on the professional guidance of the director helped the team overcome initial uncertainty.
*   **Preparation and open-mindedness:** While meticulous planning was essential, maintaining creative flexibility during shooting was equally important.
*   **The power of visuals:** The team confirmed that high-quality visual storytelling is more effective than text alone.
*   **Resilience:** The team successfully navigated challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain and thunderstorms.
*   **Cooperative subjects:** The livestock were cooperative, and the production was also joined by a friendly dog and a charismatic rooster.

## Conclusion
The project was described as a highly rewarding experience characterized by cooperation, trust, and creativity. The team remains positive about the final outcome and looks forward to sharing the completed videos with the public.

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*Article by Agnieszka Laherto, Communication specialist in the SafeHabitus project, Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu.*