Health and Safety Executive (HSE) News

Using technology to provide the information required under the new Building Safety Act 2022, which has been enforceable since October 1st, can help relieve the pressure on suppliers who are responsible for submitting the data, says Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings.  Building Safety Act The Building Safety Act is designed to take forward a fundamental reform of the building safety system and address the issues identi...

The plan from the Regulator has been consulted on with a Residents’ Panel and agreed by the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities. Its aim is to establish a vision to create a built environment where everyone is competent and takes responsibility to ensure buildings are of high quality and are safe. The Regulator also emphasises its ambition to restore trust in the built environment. The plan sets out its mission for residents and building users to feel confident th...

Hundreds of high-rise buildings are being registered with the new building safety regulator as the stricter regime to protect residents begins. Around 750 applications have been opened with the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) since its registration process for high-rise buildings opened last month. Building Safety Act 2022 All high-rise residential buildings must be registered with BSR by law. Those responsible for the safety of buildings have until the end of September to register or fac...

Those responsible for the safety of high-rise residential buildings in England have six months from April to register with the new Building Safety Regulator. The Building Safety Regulator was established to protect high-rise residents from unsafe building practices in England, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Under the Building Safety Act, high-rise residential buildings which are 18 meters tall or higher, or at least seven storeys, with two or more residential units are defined as &lsqu...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the third edition of their fire safety in construction (HSG168) guidance. HSG168 is aimed at everyone who procures, designs, develops, and manages construction sites, including clients and designers. HSG168 The document explains how everyone involved in construction projects can comply with their legal duties relating to fire risks and is relevant to all construction projects. The main changes to this edition are related to the elimination...

It has been nearly five years since the devastating fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower, which saw the loss of 72 lives. Others lost their homes, possessions, and loved ones, which changed the course of their lives forever. Since the tragic event, a public inquiry was conducted into the cause of the fire, leading the construction industry to come under heavy scrutiny. Hackitt’s Independent Review In May 2018, Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire...

On 9 February 2022, Northern Gas Networks Ltd was sentenced for safety breaches after a fire and gas explosion at residential premises in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, resulted in the death of the homeowner. fire and explosion Leeds Crown Court heard that, on 11 February 2019, West Yorkshire Fire Service was called to a fire and explosion in Huddersfield Road, Mirfield. The occupier, Elena Frunza, was discovered during a search of the property, whilst it was still on fire. She was taken to Pinder...

The Construction Leadership Council welcomed the introduction of the Building Safety Bill to Parliament yesterday by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Alongside the introduction of the Building Safety Bill, some draft statutory instruments on scope, duty holders, and competence; as well as transitional provisions have been published.  new regulatory regime The Bill will define the scope of the new regulatory regime and includes: Establishing the new Bu...

Chris Auger, Director of Schemes, joins Interim Industry Competence Committee (IICC). BAFE is proud to announce that Chris Auger, Director of Schemes, has accepted an invitation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to be a member of the Interim Industry Competence Committee (IICC). The committee has been established to act in an advisory position which will support the HSE’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The committee will aid in developing new regulatory measures regarding l...

BAFE are proud to announce that Chris Auger, Director of Schemes, has accepted an invitation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to be a member of the Interim Industry Competence Committee (IICC). The committee has been established to act in an advisory position, which will support the HSE’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The committee will aid in developing new regulatory measures regarding life safety within the new and current built environment. Chris Auger joins Interim Indu...

The UK Government has published draft legislation that will see planners include fire safety information and consult on it with the Health and Safety Executive, as part of a new gateway-based approach to building safety. This development is in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Safety, where she identified a lack of fire safety considerations at the planning stage for high-rise residential buildings. Gateway review points The government consulted on propose...

This appointment will be responsible for establishing and pioneering the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Buildings to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Peter Baker, HSE’s current Director of Building Safety and Construction, will take up the post with immediate effect. The government asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Buildings to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR). new building safety regulator Peter Baker, HSE’s current Director of Building Safety and Construction, will take up the post with immediate effect. The government asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Futu...