Workplace Safety, Soviet Propaganda

Published in Moscow in 1987, this Soviet workplace safety poster warned industrial workers to release air pressure from collection tanks before opening them for maintenance. It was published by Energoatomizdat, a major Soviet technical publishing house, with artwork by K.N. Solomennyy and V.F. Trubanov and text by M.D. Stolyarov. The dramatic illustration shows exactly what could happen if this safety procedure was ignored: a heavy tank lid is violently blown into the air by built-up pressure. Bright green streams represent escaping compressed air, while the flying lid and bold orange warning create an immediate sense of danger. Like many Soviet safety posters, the message was designed to be understood quickly on a busy factory floor. Produced and printed in Tula, the poster was intended for display throughout Soviet industrial workplaces. Dating from the final years of the USSR, it is a striking example of how bold graphic design was used to communicate practical, potentially life-saving instructions to workers. Size: 22.25" x 16.5" Artist: K.N. Solomennyy and V.F. Trubanov Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. General border wear. Small abrasions near center graphic. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.