Batty-about-site-safety-1
3rd November 2016

Why we’re batty about site safety

We treated the children at a primary school in Beeston, Nottingham to a Halloween themed health and safety talk on Tuesday, having started refurbishment works at the public library adjacent to the school.

Round Hill Primary School in Foster Avenue is located next to Beeston Library, which is currently undergoing a £1.3m refurbishment, incorporating new windows, heating, roofing and a more accessible entrance.

As works are carried out, the children at Round Hill need to be aware of the potential dangers of a building site and so our site manager, Andy Woodward, spoke to the pupils in an assembly about how to stay safe near the site.

Andy also told the pupils about some very special lodgers at the library – a family of bats which are nesting in the eaves – and it was suggested that, as the children have been asked to design a mascot for the new library, it could have a link to the bats.

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive for Scape, said a central part of Arc’s work is to deliver projects which create wider benefits for local people, wherever possible and had this to say,

“Once complete, the refurbished Beeston Library will be a creative hub for reading and learning for children from Round Hill and other surrounding schools as well as for their parents, grandparents and the wider community.

“Offering a health and safety talk to the children at Round Hill was a great way for the Arc site team to meet their neighbours who they will be working alongside for the next eight months and to simultaneously teach the children the really important do’s and don’ts when near an active building site.”

Esme Gale, 9, in year five at Round Hill said she enjoyed the assembly and now knew exactly how to keep safe when going in and out of school.

She said: “It is very important to be aware of vans and trucks coming in and out and to remember our road safety rules. I liked the assembly and will make sure I keep safe near the site.”

Head teacher at the school Adrian Nash added,

“We’re really pleased that Arc is keeping us constantly in the loop about the building works and that we have got to know them as our neighbours over the last few weeks.

“The safety talk was very useful and the mascot competition has already got all the children talking. We’re looking forward to visiting the refurbished library once the works are complete.”

The refurbishment work at Beeston Library is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2017. In the meantime, we hope the bat family continue to thrive in their surroundings.