Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer
When you've been doing the same job for years, does experience make you safer, or can it make you complacent?
In this episode, Gavin Coyle welcomes John Egan, Executive for Safety, Health and Skills at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), as the podcast returns to the studio.
John discusses some of the biggest challenges facing construction safety in Ireland, from workforce competence and the loss of experienced workers to the dangers of complacency and the importance of speaking up on site.
With concerning figures surrounding construction fatalities, Gavin and John explore why experience alone doesn't guarantee safety, why procedures and paperwork can only go so far, and how stronger leadership, open communication, and a willingness to challenge one another can make a real difference.
The conversation also highlights CIF's 2026 Construction Safety Campaign, encouraging the industry to get back to the fundamentals of keeping people safe at work.
You'll Learn:
- Why complacency can become a risk for even the most experienced construction workers
- What construction fatality figures reveal about age, experience, and workplace safety
- Why competence involves more than training certificates and qualifications
- How mentoring can help preserve the knowledge of experienced construction professionals
- Why speaking up, challenging unsafe practices, and improving communication matter on site
- How CIF's Back to Basics campaign encourages the industry to look beyond compliance
Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:00 Coming Up
00:57 Meet John Egan – The Role of CIF
10:53 Workforce Challenges, Competence and Leadership
22:36 CIF's 2026 Construction Safety Campaign – Back to Basics
24:08 Construction Fatalities in Ireland
26:35 Experience, Risk Perception and Complacency
28:02 Speaking Up and Challenging Unsafe Practices
31:48 Leadership, Communication and Safety Culture
Connect with John Egan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-egan-05191a21/
Construction Industry Federation: https://cif.ie/
About CIF's Construction Safety Campaign 2026
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is running its annual Construction Safety Campaign from 12th–23rd October 2026, under the theme “Back to Basics.” The campaign encourages construction companies and workers to refocus on essential safety practices, promote open communication, and strengthen shared responsibility for keeping everyone safe on site.
Learn more and access campaign resources: https://cif.ie/safetycampaign/
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/
About the Podcast
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Listen on:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast
Website: https://www.imthegaffer.com
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