Local children involved in a scheme to promote road safety visited Drax Power Station recently (19 November) where they were promptly rounded up by the ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and made to swear an oath of allegiance to always wear their seatbelts.

A total of 42 pupils representing 20 schools from the Selby, Tadcaster and Sherburn areas came together for the ‘JRSO Day’ to learn about safety techniques as part of the North Yorkshire County Council Junior Road Safety Officer scheme, which is sponsored by Drax.

The event started with a ‘getting to know one and other’ session giving the young JRSOs the opportunity to meet each other and swap ideas. This was followed by talks from Drax health and safety operatives, fire and ambulance crews and practical workshops. To round the day off the JRSOs enjoyed a guided tour of the power station.

Drax occupational health adviser Catherine Kelsey said: “Health and safety is a vital aspect of the operational culture at Drax and whether at work or play everyone can learn valuable lessons about staying safe. The day was a great success and the children really enjoyed getting involved in the practical activities.”

This is the second year Drax has hosted the JRSO Day and the fourth year it has sponsored the scheme which gives two year 5 pupils from each participating school the responsibility to organise safety initiatives to encourage road safety among fellow pupils.

For more information, please contact:

Melanie Wedgbury/Rachael Hudson
Drax Power 01757 618381

Lisa McGauley/Richard Harrison
Imagen PR 01943 468778

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. Drax Power Limited is the owner of Drax Power Station, the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal fired power station in the UK. The output capacity from the station’s six generators is 4,000MW. At current output levels it supplies some 7% of the UK’s electricity needs.

Left to right: Catherine Kelsey, Occupational Health Advisor Drax, Denton Snowden, Riccall Primary School, Georgia Watkinson, Hambleton Primary School, Neale Smith Fire Team Drax