Children in Huddersfield have been given a lesson on the dangers of playing on building sites this summer in a series of health and safety talks and a visit from construction mascot, Ivor Goodsite.

Local contractor, Wates Living Space, popped into schools in Lowerhouses, Lepton and Oakes to educate the pupils on the importance of staying safe throughout the summer holidays and teach them about the risks associated with scaffolding, heavy machinery, bricks, pipes and sand. Wates was accompanied by costumed character, Ivor Goodsite, who showed the children how to dress to avoid injury.


After dressing up in hard hats, high visibility jackets and safety goggles, the children were also invited to ‘hunt the hazard’ in a building simulation on a nearby Wates site.

Wates is currently working across Kirklees delivering the Excellent Homes for Life project for Kirklees Council. This will see the construction of 466 new Council homes for rent.

Joanne Jamieson, Regional Managing Director of Wates Living Space, added: "Our first priority on any project is to ensure the safety of local people. We believe this extends beyond the processes we have in place on a building site to reinforcing the importance of health and safety within the communities in which we are working. Ivor Goodsite helps us to do this in a fun and entertaining way. I’d like to thank all the children for being so attentive and understanding that our work in Kirklees is not a place for play this summer."

(CD)