The Prince William County Department of Development Services laid the foundation for our continued safety at its Building Safety Day earlier this month.
According to a release from Prince William County, the event allowed students from Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge and Woodbridge High School to meet with county building officials at Sean T. Connaughton Plaza.
They also learned more about the importance of building safety and the faces behind it.
The President of the Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, Dean Fortney, expressed a need for workers in a statement to the students.
“We need each and every one of you. We need new people, new ideas. New technologies are coming up, and the international electric codes are trying to keep up with them. You, as young high school students, you’re involved. You see these new appliances. You see this new equipment, “ Fortney continued. “You’re the ones that we need.”
Officials explained to the students that the industry is hurting for workers and they hope to encourage students to consider careers in any related fields.
This hope is echoed in the words of Supervisor Maureen Caddigan.
“Schools are doing a great job in promoting the building trades as a career option and helping to fill the shortage of trades workers,” said Caddigan. “I hope many of the students who have visited with us today decide to join these dedicated people and continue the important work of keeping our housing and our buildings safe.”
This article was written by Contributing Writer Patricia Keitz.
