---
title: Safety first keeps him on the job
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/safety-first-keeps-him-on-the-job-1942/
description: 'Public Health Service poster for war workers: the cartoon worker grins while holding up a swollen, injured thumb with small radiating lines.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Safety first keeps him on the job

[![Safety first keeps him on the job, 1942 US poster: Public Health Service poster for war workers](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/safety-first-keeps-him-on-the-job-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/safety-first-keeps-him-on-the-job-1942.jpg)

# Safety first keeps him on the job

Public Health Service poster for war workers: the cartoon worker grins while holding up a swollen, injured thumb with small radiating lines, and a white sign at upper left reads FIRST AID with an arrow pointing to the left. The headline links safety to staying at work. The injury is shown comically, not graphically; the technique is faint.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
FIRST AID
[arrow pointing left]
Federal Security Agency
U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
[signature: H. PRICE]
Safety first
keeps him on the job
[imprint: U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-485813]
WH 8
```

[← Russian War Posters (magazine page reproducing Soviet posters)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/russian-war-posters-magazine-page-us-1942/) [If it'll save a second, it's a great idea - let's have it! Short cuts can shorten the war →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/save-a-second-great-idea-1942/)

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- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)