350 children in play safe, stay safe initiative

350 children in play safe, stay safe initiative

6 November 2019

IN connection with ongoing work to bring mains gas to Dundrum and Castlewellan, the company behind the multi-million pound investment has been hoisting construction site awareness sessions in local primary schools.

Representatives from Phoenix 

Natural Gas recently visited Sacred Heart PS in Dundrum and St Malachy’s Primary in Castlewellan.

Around 350 pupils took part in the gas company’s ‘play safe, stay safe’ initiative which aims to help children understand the hazards of playing on or near construction sites.

The initiative was launched last year to primary schools in the area as Phoenix works to extend the natural gas pipeline and bring the benefits of natural gas to an additional 28,000 properties across the district.

To date, the programme has been delivered to 11 local schools with those in Dundrum and Castlewellan the most recent to participate.

Phoenix’s health, safety and environmental manager Adrian McNeilly, said that as a construction company, safety is its number one priority.

“Our ‘play safe, stay safe’ programme and safety code has been designed to help educate primary school children about natural gas and keeping safe in areas where we are working, which are often residential streets,” he explained.

“Construction sites are hazardous places, particularly for children, who may not be aware of the threats that they pose. Our sessions are designed to be fun, interactive and engaging, whilst delivering an important message to help protect children in our local communities.”

Sacred Heart teacher, Laura Murray, said with construction works ongoing in the village, the school was keen to make use of the play safe, stay safe sessions to ensure pupils are aware of the dangers associated with building sites. 

She added: “The pupils really enjoyed the presentation and learning the safety code and it was great to have a safety expert deliver the session.”

St Malachy’s teacher, Odette Clarke said it was great to see the commitment from Phoenix Natural Gas to educating local children on the dangers of construction sites.

She added: “I would highly recommend this programme to other primary schools in the area.”

Phoenix says that it is committed to upholding the very highest standards in health and safety, which has been recognised internationally through numerous awards. 

To date, the ‘play safe, stay safe’ educational programme has been delivered to over 1,000 children and runs throughout the school calendar year.