Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
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I have lectured at several schools over the past few years, it started with one and then the 'jungle drums' start and well, you see where it goes.
I used to be fairly boring when I started; this was easily deduced by kids dropping off to sleep and slinging pellets of ink soaked card on the elastic bands (no not me ever, honest I was a good kid!) so I figured I need to make this more interesting and moved into a slightly more graphic way of teaching, you know the accident scenario, oh yes...that soon got them interested.
I then thought well lets see if the youngsters are any good at proposing suitable control measures, and yes you guessed it, many excellent replies and most more than suitable to be included in a RA. It wasn't long before the regs were being quoted, such as, 'oh yeh, well where does it say that then'? I usually reply by saying that if I say it is then it is and if I can be proven wrong then you win!
Silence fell at the next lecture, 'ere, ow does you remember all them act things'? Not easy young person, not easy, but lets have a test next week and see who can beat me; you guessed it, there is no brain like an interested youngster, they won, I lost, darn it these kids are good!
I could go on but don't panic, I won't; go with the flow, give a little, take a little, but most of all make it interesting for them, they will reward you with their attention and participation. I now do this for several schools, once a month for 45 minutes a time, and NO, I get paid diddley squat, and that suits me sir cos the fun I ave beats earnin dosh anyday.
One wonders if this will make the ol elf an safety a job to be considered instead of the train driver and the hairdresser, me? I always wanted to be a Trumpton or a beach bum and here I am a bloomin H&S consultant, still, would not have it any other way....I think!
TTFN
Charles