2026 marks a year of change for SiteZone Safety. Following three successful product launches in the first half of the year, we now prepare to say goodbye to our Technical Director and Co-founder, Nigel Adams, as he retires from the business.
Nigel set up SiteZone alongside Gary back in 2011. Over the past 15 years, he’s helped drive awareness of a critical safety issue while bringing an entirely new concept to market. We spoke to Nigel about the journey, the lessons he’s learnt, and what he’ll miss most.
“One of the best pieces of advice I received early in the business was: preparation is everything. It’s always stayed with me. And it’s how I’ve approached everything I do.
When we first started SiteZone, we were introducing a completely new concept to the market, which is always a challenge when you’re the first. At the time, tag-based RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems were mainly used in mining or on static machinery such as conveyor belts. When we realised we could adapt the technology to warn pedestrians of moving plant, we knew we could make a real difference to site safety.
A defining moment for us was when FCC Environment adopted the proximity warning system and began a national phased rollout. And 12 years later, they remain a key partner — developing products alongside us and helping eliminate plant-to-pedestrian incidents across their sites.
We learnt early on that one size doesn’t fit all. Each site, vehicle, and operation is different. So, we’ve continually adapted the product to meet each customer’s needs.”
An engineer at heart, Nigel has always loved spending time developing and refining products — often from his own shed workshop, where he even created a bin hoist setup to test the RCV Smart Loader. But long before SiteZone began, Nigel understood that the best way to truly understand a product was to see it working in the field.
“I’d like to think people will remember that I always did my bit. I’ve never been afraid to roll up my sleeves and get out on site with the engineers.
From the early days where it was just Gary and me carrying out installations across the country, to more recently where we’ve been working on handbrake integration projects, I’ve enjoyed rising to the challenge of solving problems presented by customers or applications.
But none of it would have been possible without the support of an excellent team. We always wanted to build a business that genuinely cares and makes a difference. And I’m honoured to see that commitment to doing the right thing is rooted in the entire company and will be the values that continue long after I retire.”
And what comes next for Nigel?
“Every day’s a school day, so let’s never stop learning! I’ve learnt a lot from the people around me, and made some strong partnerships, as well as lifelong friends.
But now it’s time to enjoy the more leisurely side of life and catch up on the things I’ve missed – seeing family and friends, golfing, coast walking, and travelling.”
With Dorset being his home county, there’s no better place for Nigel to begin exploring the coastline once again.
Enjoy your retirement, Nigel — you’ll be greatly missed.
