The villagers of Dakuivuna in Tailevu together with the Fulton Hogan Hiways is working on hedge cutting, clearing debris from drains running parallel to the road and brush cutting in order to pilot its rural mowing programme.
Fulton Hogan Hiways Rural East Manager, Blair Reid says the revived programme strongly emphasises safety for villagers and road users.
He says Fulton Hogan Hiways will manage the site, tasks and the villagers, but the villagers will be responsible for themselves as any other subcontractor.
Reid says they held awareness sessions with a group of 20 Dakuivuna villagers on the importance of wearing PPE or personal protective equipment, identification of worksite hazards, and the correct method of operating the brush cutter.
He says they want to subcontract the road side mowing operations to villagers so that they own the process but participating community members must follow FHH safety procedures.
Reid adds participating villagers will need to supply their own PPE which depending on the work, may include gumboots , hearing protection, eye protection, long pants and gloves.
Reid says depending on how the reintroduction goes, the programme may be implemented in other rural communities and they are pleased to be partnering with this community in carrying out the work needing done for FRA.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations