A light at the office had been on at midnight for several days at the CCCC First Harbor Engineering Company Ltd.’s project department in Papua New Guinea. It was for safety officer Liu Shunnian, who was preparing for a safety lecture for pupils at the Dumu Primary School.
The West Highland Highway project contracted by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. and built by CCCC First Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. included renovation of both sides of the two-lane highway. Once operational, the highway is expected to become an economic corridor connecting the western highland, which is the geographic center of the country, and the port city of Lae, driving rapid development of the local economy.
The highway stretches in front of the gate of the Dumu Primary School and that was the start of the story of Liu and the school.
Renovation of the highway included widening the road and building drainage ditches. Liu was concerned about the impact the engineering might have on education at the school when the construction work at the school gate started.
Therefore, he surveyed the area around the school and met with the head of the school together with Yuan Wei, a technician at the project department.
The school Head explained that some classrooms had to be removed for the engineering, which would impact the normal teaching of nearly a hundred pupils.
Liu said that education is also important and tried to communicate with the engineering supervisor and the designers.
Yuan investigated the surrounding area of the school and came up with the idea of replacing drainage ditches with pipes as there is a slope on the way to school.
The Head also wrote a letter to the supervisor, explaining the situation. Thanks to the efforts of all parties, the plan was approved.
Liu Shunnian, safety officer of CCCC First Harbor Engineering Company Ltd.’s West Highland Highway project in Papua New Guinea, gives a vivid safety-themed lecture at the Dumu Primary School. [Photo provided to sasac.gov.cn]
Later, Liu noticed that most of the pupils got to school on foot, which meant once the engineering started, it could be dangerous for them to walk through the construction site.
Therefore, Liu decided to give them a lecture on safety and stories of construction. In addition, Liu, together with volunteers at the project department, purchased some stationery, sports goods and snacks for the pupils. The school supervisor and local doctors were also invited to the lecture.
After the safety lecture, Liu told the pupils that they could contribute to the development of their country by their own hands.
Before leaving, Liu was given a handmade album, which was a collection of the best paintings drawn by pupils at the school to express their gratitude to the project department.
For Liu, that is the most valuable gift he has ever received.
Liu explains safety matters for teachers and pupils at the Dumu Primary School when the project was underway near the school. [Photo provided to sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
