Paul Dockerill Award advances silica dust awareness

It is my great pleasure to introduce Dr Scott McGibbon MCIOB, Managing Director of Pvotal Consultancy, as the recipient of the annual Paul Dockerill Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing health and safety in the construction industry.

With a career spanning more than 38 years in the built environment, Dr McGibbon’s journey as an apprentice, stonemason, project manager, lecturer, and researcher has uniquely positioned him to drive industry innovation. His passion for bridging academia and industry is evident in his work with micro and SME construction businesses, focusing on innovation, process improvement, and skills development.

Dr McGibbon’s leadership and commitment have been further cemented through his role in several UK construction leadership working groups, where his expertise in health and safety and systems thinking has been invaluable. 

However, it is his dedication to addressing the severe risks posed by silica dust exposure that has earned him this award. Having firsthand experience with the devastating impact of silica dust, both personally and professionally, Dr McGibbon has taken up the mantle of raising awareness and promoting prevention strategies for what is now being termed “the new asbestos.”

The award, which provides up to £10,000 to fuel innovation, resident engagement, and an increased focus on fire safety, celebrates Paul Dockerill FCIOB, who passed away suddenly in November 2022. Paul, a CIOB Trustee, was a visionary and a dedicated professional, and the award reflects his passion for innovation in building safety. 

Silica dust risks

Silica dust exposure affects over 2.3 million workers globally each year, with thousands of preventable deaths caused by this occupational hazard. Despite these alarming figures, awareness and mitigation strategies remain inadequate. Dr McGibbon’s SAFE (Silica Awareness for Everyone) project is designed to bridge this critical gap by creating a targeted toolkit aimed at raising awareness among residents, clients, and construction professionals. The toolkit will serve as an educational resource, providing practical solutions to mitigate silica dust exposure across the construction industry and beyond.

Over the next 18 months, Dr. McGibbon will focus on four key objectives:

• Investigating Awareness: Conducting in-depth research into current awareness, skills, and practices related to silica dust exposure.
• Developing the SAFE Toolkit: Creating a comprehensive resource aimed at residents, clients, and construction professionals to increase knowledge about the dangers of silica dust and effective mitigation strategies.
• Evaluating Impact: Collaborating with key stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of the toolkit and make necessary refinements.
• Publishing Research: Sharing his findings through a journal article that will contribute to both academic and industry discussions on construction health and safety.

This project will not only have a lasting impact on the construction industry but will also contribute to greater public safety by raising awareness of silica dust dangers in various environments, from workplaces to recreational spaces. Dr. McGibbon’s vision is to reshape how we approach construction health and safety, ensuring that the risks associated with silica dust are met with appropriate preventative measures and strategies.

We look forward to the progress of his project and the positive change it will bring to the industry. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Scott McGibbon on this well-deserved recognition and his commitment to advancing construction health and safety for all.