Video | New scaffold safety guidance for demolition sector

The National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) has worked with contractor McGee to issue a new safety guidance video for the use of scaffold protection during demolition works. 

The seven-minute-long animated video demonstrates the process to follow when determining risk control measures and has been produced after McGee itself suffered a scaffolding collapse in Reading last year, in which three people were injured.

Clarifying the purpose of scaffold in demolition, the guidance explores the hazards and alternatives to be considered to reduce or eliminate risks.

The video has been distributed to NFDC’s membership of 145 UK demolition contractors and made available to anybody working in demolition via the Federation’s website and Youtube channel, with a sub-titled version also available via NFDC’s Youtube channel.

Spearheading the new safety guidance initiative is Nick Taylor, demolition director at McGee. Following the Reading accident in 2019, the team at McGee has played an instrumental role in the production of new best practice guidance. 

Taylor said: “Safety in our industry is paramount, which is why it’s critical that on the extremely rare occasion an incident occurs, we all learn from them. Not just demolition engineers but an industry as a whole. The comprehensive NFDC video guidance for Use of Scaffold in Demolition has been developed with a team of experts including the National Association of Scaffolding Contractors (NASC) and other NFDC accredited demolition contractors. It is our aim to circulate the new guidance as far and wide as possible, in order that future incidents may be prevented.”

Howard Button, CEO at NFDC, added: “This video guidance is another excellent deliverable in NFDC’s Safety Guidance series and I would like to thank all those who have played a role in its development. The Federation is committed to increasing the sharing of knowledge and best practice with the wider demolition industry through the provision of quality safety guidance that helps contractors to assess and reduce risk when carrying out demolition works. A written guidance will follow in due course.”