The Elliott Group is a hands on, family run business operating across the UK and Ireland, attributing their success to adopting strong and supportive bonds with their dedicated team. So, when one of their Irish sites faced a traumatic incident on-site, it was this person first approach that led the Elliott Group to call the Lighthouse Charity for professional support.
In an event that sent shockwaves site wide, one of their subcontractors’ employees suffered a medical emergency whilst entering site. Two operatives noticed he didn’t look well and as they approached him, he collapsed. The site emergency response procedure was activated and trained First Aid responders attended immediately, before emergency services reached the scene. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the operative did not survive.
The loss affected everyone differently and was particularly traumatic for witnesses and responders. Reactions ranged from people being visibly upset, to withdrawal and anxiety – replaying events and worrying about their colleagues. People needed an outlet for their grief.
Displaying remarkable respect for their people, management at the Elliott Group recognised that their teams needed expert support to help them navigate through the trauma. They reached out to the Lighthouse Charity for professional support.
Acknowledging the enormity of the situation, we instigated our Critical Incident Support team who conducted an initial assessment to understand what had happened and in the first instance to provide support and information. In any response our team allows a brief period of time before visiting a site and within a week a trauma specialist was on-site.
The counsellor facilitated group and individual sessions where people could talk openly about the incident in a safe, confidential environment. They were given the opportunity and space to share how they were feeling and have their reactions normalised, whilst also learning practical coping strategies and signs to look out for in the coming weeks. Most importantly, it gave the team permission to acknowledge how they were feeling and have the courage to face it, rather than push it down.
Laura McCooey, Group Environmental & Quality Manager at Elliott Group said, “The arrival of the Lighthouse Charity’s Critical Incident team steadied things. You could see the difference and there was a noticeable shift in how the team interacted afterwards – more open, less tense. It definitely helped them process what had happened.”
Following the incident and to extend the message of support with their teams, Elliott Group hosted our #MakeItVisible team in Dublin. The #MakeItVisible team shared their own lived experiences in a down to earth and relatable way, kickstarting conversations around wellbeing and highlighting the importance of physical wellbeing and site safety.
Elliott’s captured the visit on video which features members of the Lighthouse Charity’s team delivering a clear and practical message around support, awareness and looking out for one another. The video is now being shared across Elliott Group channels, reminding people that support is always within reach.
Laura added, “Having that visible presence makes support feel real and accessible. It reduces stigma. When people can put a face to the service, they’re much more likely to reach out early rather than waiting until things escalate.”
If you have a critical incident on site that affects the team, help is here – call our free 24/7 helpline 0345 605 1956 (UK) 1800 939 122 (ROI) or web chat live with one of our advisors at www.lighthousecharity.org
