ROOFER WHO BROKE HIS BACK IN AN 8M FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING THANKS BOB
Volunteers have come together to finish a small extension at the home of a North Lanarkshire roofer who was left unable to complete the project he started after breaking his back and neck in a fall from 8m high scaffolding at work.
Jim Gallacher had started building work at the front of his Bellshill home – and then in April 2023, he fell 8m from scaffolding and landed on an Armco barrier in a freak accident at a retail park in Bristol.
Although the 53-year-old has confounded medical experts with his recovery, he has been told in no uncertain terms that he will never be able to lift anything heavy or work at height – and any slip or trip could result in him being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. As a result, he has had to close his roofing business.
With the front of his house left like a building site, Jim and wife Debbie called on Band of Builders for help - and 20 volunteers answered the call to complete the project in time for Christmas.
Jim had dug out the foundations, installed the drainage and got the brick and block work to waist height – but it had been left abandoned with materials and uneven ground. The entrance to the front door was via a sloping catwalk board to an unfinished porch floor with a gazebo above it, which was low, and anyone entering the house needed to duck down to go in the door.
The volunteers finished the porch – including rendering, plastering and adding outdoor lights. They also landscaped the garden over three weekends.
Marvelling at the finished work, an overwhelmed Debbie Gallacher said she can’t thank all the volunteers from Band of Builders enough.
“Being able to walk safely through your own front door may not mean much to most people – but to us, it’s life-changing,” she said. “We used to live with the constant worry that Jim may slip or trip outside – which meant he didn’t get out of the house much. But that’s all changing as he can get around safely.
“What has been most amazing has been the amount of people who don’t know us but volunteered their time to help us. We are so, so grateful.”
Jim’s story
Jim Gallacher from North Lanarkshire built a small, prosperous roofing business over a number of years and secured contracts with national retailers – and other projects for all industrial roof types.
He was working with his team on a project in Bristol in April 2023 and was on the roof when he started to make his way back down a ladder that was within the scaffolding. In a freak accident, the pocket of his trousers snagged on a safety clip, meaning that he missed the first rung of the ladder going down. He fell and landed on an Armco barrier on the floor.
As well as dialling 999, his colleagues flagged down a passing ambulance to summon help, and he was rushed to A&E. He had broken his back and neck. He had also broken his collarbone and three ribs. He was in intensive care for six days and had surgery on his spine, with two rods inserted.
Jim was in hospital in Bristol for six weeks, and wife Debbie travelled down as often as she could to see him before he was allowed home. He was in a collar for 13 weeks and under the care of the spinal injuries team at Glasgow hospital. He has subsequently had CT and MRI scans, which suggest he also has nerve damage as a result of the fall.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the accident and found there was no negligence – which has left Jim unable to make any insurance claim, and he did not have keyman insurance.
BoB completes 41st project
This is the 41st project completed by BoB, and Jim’s plight has attracted construction industry support, including from Tarmac Blue Circle and SIG Roofing, which jointly sponsored the project.
Tarmac Blue Circle is a keen supporter of BoB and has worked with the charity in a number of ways over the past few years. From being a regular project sponsor to providing product donations, Tarmac Blue Circle is living its core ‘One of the Family’ values, such as support, reliability and trust, in continuing to partner with BoB.
Discussing Tarmac’s support, Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director at Tarmac, said: “The impact that Band of Builders has is immeasurable, not only for the industry but also for families and real individuals like Jim. We are extremely proud to be supporting Band of Builders in helping to complete the work already started on Jim’s home and to also make it much more accessible going forward.”
SIG Roofing recently became a partner of BoB with a plan to support projects, provide product donations and run fundraising events in its 100+ roofing branches across the UK.
Charlotte Pritchard, Head of Marketing for SIG Roofing, said: “We are delighted to be on board working with Band of Builders to help with projects like Jim’s. The impact of the work Band of Builders carries out is felt throughout the industry by contractors and colleagues alike, and we are really pleased to be able to help make a difference.”
BoB Operations Director Tony Steel said: “This is the 41st project we have completed, and along with tradespeople giving up their time, it was also supported by Jewson, Talasey, Rolawn, Reconomy Trade, Marshalls, Lee Brothers, Regatta, Vantage Windows and Doors, Langs Builders and Bellside Building Supplies.
“This is another great example of how the Band of Builders community has come together to support a fellow tradesperson who needed our help.”