Member Article

Safety first: Award-winning housing developer educates local school pupils

David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West is continuing its region wide school engagement scheme by delivering a special assembly on health and safety at Flockton CE (C) First School, near to its Chapel Lea development in the village.

The scheme involves representatives from the five star housebuilder visiting local primary schools across South and West Yorkshire to teach children about the importance of health and safety on construction sites.

Darren Sanderson, Divisional Health and Safety Manager and Marilyn Smith, Personal Assistant to the Construction Director, visited the school to give pupils aged between 5–10 the special assembly. The children learnt about the dangers and hazards of construction sites, as well as the importance of health and safety around them, particularly if they live on or near to one.

During the educational talk, Darren and Marilyn included information on safety warning signs and building machinery. The children also got the chance to get kitted out in protective clothing, high vis vests, hard hats, goggles, ear protectors, dust masks and steel toecap boots. The programme launched at the end of last year, starting at Carleton Park Junior and Infant School in Pontefract.

Darren commented: “The importance of health and safety on and around our development sites is something we feel must be shared with the community and especially with school children, which is why we have launched this important scheme in the region. The children were really engaged with the assembly and very eager to learn more about the subject, which was really great to see. We are now keen to invite some of the children to visit the site, to see the development for themselves and put their new skills into practice.”

Neil Cappleman, Head Teacher from Flockton Primary School added: “Thank you to Darren and the team at Barratt Homes for visiting the school to teach the children the importance of health and safety around developments. It is an extremely vital lesson for all to learn and by having those who work on a site teach them was very valuable. The children are very inquisitive about the work going on next to our school and are keen to continue monitoring the progress of the development”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .