On Friday 28 April, Ann Mackay should be celebrating her wedding anniversary. Instead, she will be attending a Workers Memorial Day event in her native Scotland. She will be there to remember her husband John who – together with Tommy Williams – died in an horrific demolition accident at the Teesworks facility in Redcar back…Read moreRead more
Accident
EXCLUSIVE – A widow’s story
An ill-timed interview
Outgoing NFDC CEO Howard Button has granted an interview to industry magazine, Construction News. In the interview, he talks about a possible retraction of the UK demolition industry and about the fact that 10 NFDC members were fined almost £60 million for their part in a bid-rigging, price-fixing and collusion scandal. However, also says that…Read moreRead more
Fatal accident on Collard site
A man has been killed in an accident on a site operated by Hampshire-based R Collard. The accident occurred yesterday afternoon at a site in Slough, Berkshire. No details of the incident are available at this time. However, R Collard has issued a statement that reads: It is with great sadness that we confirm that…Read moreRead more
£1.0 million in damages over fatal Longannet fall
The family of grandfather who died after falling almost 30 feet from a platform at Longannet power station has received £1 million in damages. Gary Robertson, from Cowdenbeath, died from serious injuries in 2019 when working at the decommissioned power station. Brown and Mason were previously fined £5,000 after bosses admitted health and safety failings….Read moreRead more
Firm fined over Shannon incident
A demolition firm has been fined and one of its directors ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work after a 20-year-old worker was crushed back in 2020. Ace Demolition Services Ltd had been contracted by Southend Borough Council to demolish Futures Community College, in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea. Shannon Brasier, who was 20 years old…Read moreRead more
What can we learn from the rail sector?
In the rail sector, an accident has been thoroughly investigated, findings published and recommendations announced in under a year. In the demolition industry, we have been waiting almost seven years to learn the cause of an accident that claimed the lives of four men. Why is there such a disparity?
Misinformation over death of demolition worker
A jury has concluded that demolition worker who died three weeks after breaking his leg at Ironbridge Power Station died from the “combined effects of an accident and natural causes”. But the jury of 10 men and women were unable to conclude how Paul Wilson had suffered a broken right tibia (shinbone) on Valentine’s Day…Read moreRead more
Access sector sets safety standard
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has placed accident reporting at the very heart of its activities; and that information is now used to hep develop training. The global demolition industry would do well to follow the access industry’s lead.
Fatal accident on Esher demolition site
A 50-year old demolition worker has been killed in an incident on a site in Esher, Surrey. It is believed that the man was working for NFDC-member company, Rye Group. The incident took place on Thursday 29 September near the headquarters of Elmbridge Borough Council and roads in the area were initially closed in both…Read moreRead more
Fines of $1.2 million over demolition death
The demolition company involved in the fatal collapse at the Government Center in Boston faces almost $1.2 million in fines for “wilfully exposing workers to hazards”. A heavy equipment operator – 51-year old Peter Monsini – doing demolition on the eighth floor of the Government Center garage in downtown Boston died on March 26, 2022,…Read moreRead more
