Building sites are dangerous places and every year dozens of children are either killed or seriously injured in accidents around the UK. The National Federation of Builders (NFB) believes that raising awareness and educating schoolchildren about the hazards on building sites and how to stay safe, is a positive step to reducing the numbers who end up in hospital every year.
The NFB’s increasingly popular STAY SAFE, STAY AWAY safety poster competition, sponsored by the HSE and by B&CE, and now in its seventh year, has found its winners to coincide with National Child Safety Week and met them recently at Westminster.
Schools across the country were invited to take part and children were busy having fun whilst designing a poster that warns of the danger of building sites and how to keep themselves safe and avoid injury.
Expert judges picked six regional and one national winner from the hundreds of entries submitted. Prizes were donated by the NFB and B&CE, as well as Merlin Entertainments including tickets to Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers.
This year’s national winner is 11 year old Dean Turner from Newquay Junior School in Cornwall. Dean enjoyed a trip to London for a meeting with Health and Safety Minister Chris Grayling MP as part of his prize and his winning poster will also be displayed on building sites around the country by NFB members, illustrating the hazards of building sites to children. As part of his winning entry, Dean will also enjoy a family day out at Alton Towers and his school will receive £500!
Alaina Shafqat from Northbury Junior School in Barking, Essex, scooped the second place spot as national runner up and also enjoyed a trip to London. Her school will receive £200 book vouchers and she will also receive a family pass to Alton Towers.
Julia Evans, Chief Executive of the NFB said:
“I am delighted that our campaign goes from strength to strength every year. Every child who learns about the dangers of building sites is a child saved from injury or worse. Our members work hard to ensure that they operate responsibly and it is great to see thousands of schools passing on the message to pupils. Congratulations to Newquay Junior School and Dean, and Northbury Junior School and Alaina, and well done to all the children who entered..”
New Construction Minister Mark Prisk MP from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills also lent his support and encouragement to the campaign, saying:
“Children see building sites as potential playgrounds and so cannot see the risks involved. Educating children about the hazards on a building site is a constant challenge for both Government and industry. I welcome the NFB’s latest campaign to get children involved in their ‘Stay Safe Stay Away’ initiative”.
Philip White, the Chief Inspector of Construction at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said:
"Building sites can be very dangerous places, even for people who work on them. But for children and young people who shouldn't be there, and don't properly understand the risks, what seems like a bit of an adventure can all too easily end in tragedy. We want children to enjoy playing outside during the summer holidays but it’s vital they stay safe and stay away from construction sites.
Contractors have a responsibility to ensure their sites are left safe and are properly secured when work has stopped. They should also carry out regular site visits to check that fencing is still doing its job."
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) said:
“Child Safety Week helps children learn about real risks and how to stay safe from serious injury, while also having fun. So we are pleased to support the NFB’s Stay Safe, Stay Away campaign, which shares these aims. Building sites are not playgrounds and no child should start the summer holidays from a hospital bed.”
Last year’s campaign indirectly led to the very successful Considerate Constructors’ Scheme. This enables construction companies to demonstrate their consideration for the communities in which they build.
To obtain your copy of the printed poster or obtain more information please contact the marketing department on: 08450 578160 or email marketing@builders.org.uk