In the demanding and high-risk world of demolition, safety is critical. J Freeley founder John Freeley explains how health and safety has changed over the past 50 years, and why it’s vital to the company’s continued success.
The construction industry, particularly demolition, is inherently high risk. The latest HSE statistics show a clear trend; fatalities in construction increased by over 50% from the previous year, 29 to 45. The three leading causes – falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle and flying or falling objects – are hazards our operatives face on demolition projects.
People joining the industry today might be surprised to hear that before 1974, there were no work at height regulations governing construction or demolition work in the UK. It was also common for workers demolishing a building by hand to stand on a wall up to 20-25 metres above the ground and demolish it brick by brick without any scaffolding or protection. Roof work was similarly perilous, so falls were often fatal. Back then, accidents were seen as inevitable. After all, we were working in a dangerous industry. There was no formal training; people just learned on the job.
Thankfully, the industry has changed significantly over the past 50 years. Working practices and attitudes to safety today are light years away from those early years. This is partly due to the introduction of tighter regulations, including the Health & Safety at Work Act, the Work at Height Regulations and stricter enforcement and prosecutions by the HSE.
In our sector, the NFDC (National Federation of Demolition Contractors) has worked tirelessly to support UK demolition companies and raise standards within our industry. J Freeley, in common with all the major UK demolition companies, are corporate members of the Federation, and Michael Freeley is currently vice-chairman of the North West region.
Training is central to a safe and competent workforce on our sites
The NFDC has developed a training body, the NTDG (National Demolition Training Group), the industry’s leading training provider. As a member of the NFDC, we have access to NTDG, which enables our operatives to receive training specific to their role and competency level and obtain the relevant CCDO cards.
As our work also involves mobile access towers and powered access equipment such as mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), anyone using these types of equipment receives the relevant PASMA and IPAF training.
We also undergo independent assessment from recognised industry schemes to ensure we maintain the highest safety, health, environmental and quality standards. These accreditations include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, SafeContractor, Constructionline, SSIP, and Achilles, and annual on-site audits conducted by the NFDC.
Support from leading industry associations and bodies
In addition to training, the NFDC also undertakes research and is a valuable source of guidance for our industry. The Federation publishes guides such as “Guidance on the Demolition of Tower Blocks,” offering practical advice and outlining safe working practices. Along with the NFDC, there is also a separate body, the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE), which provides invaluable training and support to members.
Through our membership and support of these organisations, we share knowledge and best practices and find out about developments within the wider UK demolition industry. We also have the opportunity to share knowledge and engage with European and American companies through the NFDC’s links with their respective overseas trade bodies, the European Demolition Association (EDA) and the National Demolition Association (NDA). Both of these were represented at the NFDC convention in Ireland this summer. We fully support the industry’s engagement on a global basis, as we share common challenges and problems and can learn from each other’s experiences. That we have a demolition industry today is largely down to the tireless efforts of the NFDC and IDE.
Learning from other industries
Whilst we can be proud of how knowledge is shared within our industry; it can also be said that we can be inward-looking. So, at J Freeley Ltd, we look beyond the confines of our sector to understand how other industries have successfully reduced workplace accidents. For example, we have worked for chemical industry clients on COMAH sites and learned from the impressive safety culture in that industry.
Looking at the airline sector, it is widely acknowledged that its excellent safety record is mainly due to its open and transparent culture. Pilots are generally candid about any incidents or near misses. Failure is not seen as a criticism of the specific pilot or airline, but a precious learning opportunity for all pilots, airlines and regulators. This method of learning from mistakes has been applied to commercial aviation for decades with remarkable results.
Applying these insights at J Freeley
At J Freeley Ltd, we place a strong focus on ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations on all our sites. We also recognise the importance of reporting near misses and the most minor of accidents. This enables these incidents to be investigated and analysed. After all, today’s near miss could be tomorrow’s fatality.
Our main objective is to learn lessons from such incidents. Where appropriate, we modify procedures and systems to prevent recurrences. We can only guess the number of such incidents that go unreported daily in the demolition and wider construction industry and the missed learning opportunities these present.
Whilst everyone at J Freeley Ltd can rightly be proud of our excellent health and safety record, there must never be room for complacency. As a professional and responsible contractor, we must continue to provide safe systems of work, ongoing training and professional development and all necessary resources to ensure safe working conditions for our personnel.
We must also be willing to embrace new technologies to improve safety and make our operations more sustainable. We’ve come a long way in the last 50 years, and I’m excited to see how our industry progresses over the coming years.
