Bryony Boyce, aged 6, of Cathedral School in Llandaff, Cardiff won a competition by designing a poster to promote child safety in relation to construction sites.
The National Federation of Builders’ (NFB) increasingly popular and multi-award winning STAY SAFE campaign aims to raise awareness and educate children so they know not to enter construction grounds in an unauthorised capacity.
Statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have shown a decrease in the number of children that were injured on construction sites in 2014/2015. 18 non-fatal incidents were reported during this period compared to 31 in the previous year. The 2013/2014 figures were particularly high and, while a decrease is desirable, 18 incidents is still too many.
Bryony designed a poster featuring the NFB’s ‘stay safe’ mascot, Norman, to promote the safety messages of the campaign to other children. The competition is open to schools and community groups across England and Wales and Bryony’s poster was selected by judges to be reproduced and displayed by NFB members at high visibility points outside their construction sites.
As well as winning an Amazon Kindle for herself, Bryony won a £500 donation for Cathedral School in Cardiff. Prizes were presented by Dave Smith of Cardiff-based building contractors Knox & Wells Ltd.
NFB members Knox & Wells completed maintenance work on the school during 2016 and made headteacher Sally Walsh aware of the competition. While work was being completed, Dave and his onsite team ran a programme of activity to complement the stay safe campaign messages.
Guy Leach, managing director of NFB member Knox & Wells Ltd said, “The pupils enjoyed watching their new facility grow and made regular, supervised, visits to the site. This engagement resulted in increasing their interest and awareness of construction which was demonstrated by the high standard of entries, not just from Bryony, but many of her fellow pupils. Congratulations!”
The campaign was this year supported by Go Construct, B&CE, the Yorkshire Builders Federation and the South West Builders Federation.
