Pupils taught the dangers of building sites

Pupils from St. Lawrence's RC Primary School in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne were taught the dangers of playing on building sites when a team from community regeneration specialist, Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East dropped in to take assembly.

Always keen to get involved in the communities where it works, the Wearside-based firm joined in with assembly to talk to the children from years one to six.

The pupils were shown an interactive DVD which highlighted the dangers of playing on building sites, health & safety and the importance of site security. The safety brief inspired pupils who then designed a poster to communicate the dangers to other children living in the area.

FHM’s resident liaison officer Lyndsey Leitch, a former pupil of the school who carried out the Health & Safety talk said: “It is important to highlight the dangers of building sites as children see them as ideal playgrounds. The children were very interested in hearing our presentation and asked lots of questions.

“We gave them the task of designing a poster about safety on building sites incorporating Byker and the designs were excellent. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the pupils for participating in the poster campaign and congratulate Emily Webb on her winning design.”

Headteacher Bernadette Lamb for St. Lawrence’s RC Primary School said, “I think it is very important for the health & safety talks to be presented to the children especially as it was given by a former pupil who they could relate to.”

FHM are working in Byker delivering the modern homes programme for Your Homes Newcastle. The work, which is due to be completed in 2012 includes the regeneration of an estate with Grade 2 listings and the modernisation of 390 properties on Byker Wall which involves the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms and electrical rewires.