Construction site injuries are falling thanks to huge efforts on the part of construction industry employers – fatalities dropped by more than a third in the year to the end of March 2017.

However, construction sites are still hazardous places to work and to visit, and as well as protecting their staff, construction companies also go to great lengths to secure their sites against unauthorised access from intruders and even curious children.

To help reinforce the importance of good working practices, construction sites across Wales will now display a new poster designed by a pupil from Coedffranc Primary School, Skewen.  The winning poster will help raise awareness of the potential dangers of construction sites, reminding employees of the need to follow good safety practices on site and wear their provided personal protection equipment, while the competition helped highlight the risks to children who may be tempted to try to play on an unattended site.

The pupil, Tilly Myatt-Cook, designed the winning poster in a competition organised by Welsh construction company JG Hale Construction in collaboration with social housing provider Tai Tarian. This important campaign was to educate children about the dangers of playing on building sites and to inform them of the different job opportunities within the industry.

Tilly also won a digital camera and the runners up were presented with book vouchers. Hale Construction also presented the school with a laptop as a thank you for allowing their pupils to take part in the competition.

David Harrhy, Hale Construction’s Managing Director said:

“As a local company we believe strongly in engaging with the community in which we work and asking the children of Coedffranc Primary School to design safety posters allows us to do just that.  It also reinforces the very important message that building sites are dangerous places. With the summer holidays approaching we felt that it was important that children are reminded of the dangers.”

JG Hale Construction is currently working on more than 25 projects across the whole of South Wales. The winning poster will now be displayed at all of these sites as a warning to children of the dangers.

Steve Grey, Tenant Liaison Officer, Tai Tarian, added:

“We are currently working with Hale Construction to build new homes near Coedffranc Primary. We felt that it was important that children are reminded of the dangers of playing on construction sites.

“We fully supported Hale Construction in running this important campaign as part of the Community Benefits programme, and we were delighted to see enthusiasm and great entries from the children.”