Bilfinger has supported a series of life saving defibrillator and first aid initiatives on a major construction project in East England, following a medical emergency that reinforced the critical importance of rapid response, training and community preparedness.
The initiative is being supported by the wider project HSE team, with Gary Ablett, UK HSE Advisor, playing a key role in driving the programme forward. During the incident, Bilfinger personnel were first on scene and immediately administered first aid, CPR and used an onsite defibrillator before HFR Solutions CIC arrived and took over until county paramedics attended.
Speaking about the experience, Gary Ablett said:
“Despite the swift and professional response from all involved, the incident prompted reflection and a determination to ensure the highest possible levels of emergency preparedness going forward.
“It really reinforced how critical early intervention, training and access to equipment are. I wanted to make sure we took the learning forward in a positive way.”
Motivated by this, Gary began working closely with HFR Solutions CIC to strengthen defibrillator awareness and first aid capability on site. As part of this collaboration, HFR Solutions has delivered free defibrillator awareness training to Bilfinger and contractor personnel, with further sessions planned, as well as a programme of accredited first aid training courses. To date, more than 30 personnel have received defibrillator awareness training through HFR.
Working in partnership with the project client, Gary also proposed expanding defibrillator provision across the construction site. As a result, four additional defibrillators have now been installed, positioned at the four cardinal points of the project to ensure full site coverage, alongside an existing unit located in the welfare village.
The impact of the initiative extended beyond the project boundary. After attending defibrillator awareness training and seeing survival rate data demonstrating the significant increase in outcomes when defibrillators are used early, Gary reviewed the availability of public access defibrillators near his home in Marton, Middlesbrough.
“I was genuinely shocked by how much survival rates improve with early defibrillator use,” Gary said. “When I checked where the nearest defibrillator was to my home, I realised it wasn’t as close as I’d expected – particularly given a well-used route into parkland. In an emergency, distance and accessibility really matter.”
Following discussions with neighbours and his local councillor, it was identified that installing a defibrillator on a domestic property would be the most practical solution for the area. While self-funding was initially considered, an opportunity emerged during a subsequent training course with HFR Solutions CIC, a not-for-profit organisation that reinvests surplus income back into communities.
After discussing the situation with HFR Solutions CIC, funding for a community defibrillator was approved.
The defibrillator has now been installed on Hammond Close, Marton, Middlesbrough, adjacent to a heavily used pedestrian route into Fairydell parkland. The unit will be registered by Humber Fire and Rescue Service on the national emergency services (999) database to ensure rapid access in an emergency.
A spokesperson from HFR Solutions CIC said:
“HFR Solutions CIC is a Community Interest Company with strong emergency services roots, originally developed from a concept within the fire service. Our mission is simple – to make the Humber region a safer place to live and work.
“We deliver a range of services including emergency response, safety training and consultancy to high-risk industries across the UK. What makes us different is that any surplus generated through our commercial activities is reinvested directly back into the community.
“Gary’s defibrillator is a great example of this in action. Through our work with industry partners like Bilfinger, we’re able to reinvest into initiatives that have a genuine, lifesaving impact – in this case, providing a publicly accessible defibrillator in an area where coverage was limited.
“We’re really pleased to support Gary’s initiative and the wider awareness work taking place on site.”
This employee led initiative highlights Bilfinger’s commitment to safety, learning and community engagement, demonstrating how individual leadership, backed by strong partnerships, can deliver lasting impact both at work and at home.