Organisations working in the construction industry would be well advised to prepare themselves for sector reform and more stringent regulations in the future, following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report… all 58 recommendations of which the government intends to adopt.
The inquiry itself was set up to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire, in which 72 lives were lost, including the cause and origin of the blaze that took hold of the tower on 14th June 2017… and it was found that the events leading up to the tower refurbishment and the fire were demonstrative of behavioural patterns from an industry lacking in integrity.
For example, misleading marketing of products and test data manipulation resulted in the use of products unsuitable for high-rise buildings, seemingly motivated by pursuit of profits over resident health and safety.
The governmental response to this final report means that a new single construction regulator will be set up to assume the roles and responsibilities that are currently carried out by various different organisations, including local authorities, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, and the Building Safety Regulator.
This regulator will be responsible for construction product regulation, as well as building control regulation and oversight, and contractor licensing for higher-risk building work.
Furthermore, a Regulatory Reform Prospectus consulting on the design of this regulator is due to be published later this year, with plans in place to strengthen investigatory powers to ensure that any serious incidents are looked into efficiently and with greater transparency.
It is expected that implementation of these recommendations, among others, will begin in mid-2025, with a three-phased approach in place to deliver the reforms.
Between now and 2026, the government will prioritise its current programme of regulatory reform and then between 2026 and 2028, it will work on other proposals required to achieve the recommendations. From 2028 onwards, government efforts will be focused on implementing the reforms previously introduced.
Commit to health and safety with the NEBOSH construction certificate
The NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate is one of the most well-respected qualifications of its kind for the construction industry, covering all the core issues in the industry to help you manage hazards, identify risks and assess safety in relevant environments.
Including this course in your training programme at work will help you to improve the safety culture of your organisation, minimise workplace risks and injuries, and ensure compliance with regulations.
The course content includes managing change and procedures, excavation, demolition, work equipment, mobile plant and vehicles, working at height, electricity, fire, load handling, musculoskeletal health, physical and psychological health, and chemical/biological agents.
It takes around 118 hours of study to complete this course, including a minimum of 70 taught hours and 40 hours of private study/background reading.
If you’d like to build your health and safety knowledge further, our NEBOSH General Certificate course is a great place to start. It’s designed for anyone looking to develop practical skills and gain a respected qualification in workplace safety. To find out more, get in touch with the ACT team today.
