Construction students gain first-hand experience of health and safety on-site
North Notts College students were invited by Willmott Dixon this week to visit University Centre Rotherham (UCR) to see the latest development of the build, as well as learn more about health and safety in the workplace. The aim of the visit was to put theory into practice, giving students the chance to experience a real-life building site that they are likely to work on once they leave education.
Students were firstly given an introduction to the site by Alan Neal, Construction Manager for Willmott Dixon, who spoke to the students about the importance of health and safety on a construction site, how to spot a hazard and avoid serious incidents. Alan said, “we’re not just responsible for ourselves, we’re responsible for everyone else. Health and safety is first priority, and it’s important to have this mind-set and behaviour from the beginning.”
Students were then taken up to the second floor of the build, and were asked to point out any potential hazards they had noticed and how to overcome them. Alan also invited students to ask any questions they may have about working on a building site, as well as the career path of a Construction Manager or any other potential job roles in construction.
Alan added, “It’s all about what you want to get out of your course and what you want to achieve in your future career. If you are dedicated to trying hard and working well with your team, you will go far and get to take on a variety of interesting projects.”
Before the end of the visit, students had the chance to watch a short video of the development of UCR and the process of the build, showing plans of what UCR will look like in completion. Rob Parkin, Bricklaying Tutor at North Notts College said, “This will be just one of the visits students will have to a real-life site, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for students to gain this kind of experience that you simply cannot get from a classroom setting.”
To find out more about the construction courses North Notts College offers, visit: https://www.nnc.ac.uk/courses/construction/