Valley Park High School Job Shadowing
In October, Valley Park High School sent 25 Students to Kozeny-Wagner for a day of job shadowing. The school conducted a study to determine the best fit for the students to get a hands on experience that aligned with their career path. Based on the results, those interested in the built environment (construction, engineering and architecture) were bussed over for a day in the life of a general contractor/ civil contractor. We wanted to educate them in an interactive way, while touching on several facets of real construction responsibilities. The day consisted of a live excavation, group build activities, and wrapped up with a lunch and learn with a Union Carpenter rep, open conversation with Kozeny employees, and information shared by Construction Forum.
Upon arrival, the students were greeted and led through a Job Safety Analysis (JSA). During the JSA we reviewed the tasks for the day and reviewed the hazards associated with the work being performed. We covered the importance of locates prior to the any excavation and ways to safely dig around utilities if they are in your work zone. The students were provided high-visibility shirts, gloves, and safety glasses.
After we completed the JSA we headed to the excavation and backfill demo, where a Kozeny operator dug a trench and backfilled it, showing spoil pile before and after compaction. Once the hole was backfilled, the students climbed into the seats of an excavator, crane truck, and some tried their hand with the remote compactor.
Next, the group was split in half and moved into hands-on construction. One group erected concrete forms, similar to those used in a foundation pour. This included acquiring tools, materials, reading plans, and working as a team. The second group constructed ladder golf sets out of PVC, including obtaining the right materials and following instructions. The students were able to take the game back to school and we encouraged them to use this as a conversation piece.
After all the hard work was done, the kids played ladder golf and enjoyed an interactive lunch where they took away a load of information and some fun swag. Valley Park High School and the Kozeny staff worked together to create a memorable experience for these students. Special thanks for a gracious donation from NuWay for the use of their excavator and forms, along with the time and resources from the Carpenters of St. Louis and Construction Forum.
