• The new Building Safety Regulator held its first conference in Westminster
• Over 900 practitioners attended the event to prepare for the new building safety regime
• Minister for Building Safety, Lee Rowley said: “We need to ensure that those working in the building industry have the knowledge and confidence to properly engage with this new regime and make it a success.”

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) held its first national annual conference to support industry and dutyholders prepare for new building safety regulations in England.

The event, held at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, saw more than 900 practitioners come together including architects, landlords and building control professionals – all keen to raise their awareness and understanding of what the BSR will expect from them over the next 18 months.

This is the largest event held by the regulator since being established, and as such it provided the first opportunity for representatives from across the industry to engage with those leading the regime.

The conference featured a topical programme of information, learning and interactive Q&A sessions with senior BSR policy leads, and key industry representatives, who offered delegates valuable insights into the robust regulatory regime and guidance on the legal duties and requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022.

A notable session was headlined by Dame Judith Hackitt on the Industry Safety Steering Group’s third report in which she discussed culture change in the built environment industry.

The conference comes at a ‘milestone moment’ for building safety as the registration process for high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) is set to begin in April.

Owners and managers of approximately 12,500 HRBs in England will have until the 1 October 2023 to register with the Building Safety Regulator or face investigation and prosecution.

Key information around this crucial registration stage was covered in detail throughout the event to help dutyholders better understand how to comply. Other sessions that proved popular with delegates included presentations on the HRB planning, design and construction gateways and the drive to increase competency across the industry.

In his keynote speech, Minister for Building Safety, Lee Rowley MP set out the importance of collaboration to delivering better standards: “We need to ensure that those working in the building industry have the knowledge and confidence to properly engage with this new regime and make it a success.”

HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon said: ““Over the past 18 months, we have been talking directly to residents and to resident groups – listening to their concerns, trying to understand what would give them the reassurance they need, and to make sure we take the steps needed to get this right. People must be safe in their own homes – and they must feel safe too.

“You all have a really important part to play in ensuring that we can set up this new regime successfully and that HSE can continue, through the BSR, to protect people and places.”

Chief Inspector of Buildings Peter Baker said: “The regulatory reforms that will start from April will ensure that you all lead the behaviour change that is needed and do what is required to protect residents. They also introduce a new regulator ‘with teeth’ to hold to account those who chose not to learn the lessons and improve.”

Conference sessions will be available to view online in the next few weeks.

Sign up to get further updates on BSR.

About BSR: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is an independent body established by the Building Safety Act, 2022, and is part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). BSR will raise building safety and performance standards and oversee a new stringent regime for high-rise residential buildings, as well as overseeing the wider system for regulating safety and performance of all buildings and increasing the competence of relevant regulators and industry professionals.

About HSE: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.

About the Building Safety Act, 2022: The Building Safety Act gained Royal Assent on the 28 April 2022 and makes ground-breaking reforms to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections. The Act overhauls existing regulations, creating lasting change and makes clear how residential buildings should be constructed, maintained, and made safe. Full implementation of the Act is in October 2023, which means each building owner should have their building safety regime in place by this time.

HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A major pipeline transportation company has been fined £2.3million for safety breaches after its employees were exposed to risk of serious injury and even death while working on a leaking pipeline containing petrol under pressure.

Workers at Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, formerly known as CLH Pipeline System (CLH-PS) Ltd, were excavating a suspected pipeline leak in the woodland adjacent to the B1398 and M180 near Holme, North Lincolnshire, between 7 to 10 March 2018. The employees were working in an area where a previous repair had taken place.

The risks arising from the excavation work and exposure were significant. An unknown defect on the previous repair of the pipeline which contained petroleum under high pressure had the potential to form a flammable cloud extending over several metres from the work area, causing those in the immediate vicinity to potentially be covered in a heavy spray of petrol and engulfed in petrol vapour. If ignition had occurred before the area could be evacuated, then there would have been a very high risk of death or serious injury.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that Exolum Pipeline System Ltd failed to properly identify and control the risks associated with carrying out a pipeline repair.

Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, of King William Street, London, was found guilty of an offence contrary to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and an offence contrary to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following a trial at Grimsby Crown Court. The company was fined £2.3million and ordered to pay £157,431 in costs at Grimsby Crown Court on 24 March 2023.

HSE inspector Mark Leadbetter said: “This incident had the potential to cause serious injury or death to multiple casualties and could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A Kent waste company has been fined £150,000 for several health and safety breaches.

City of London Magistrates’ Court heard that a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection in August 2020 found that employees of BSP (Knockholt) Limited manually sorting through waste in its yard near Orpington were at risk of being struck by heavy machinery moving next to them. It also found that there were inadequate rest facilities for employees to use during break times.

Two improvement notices were served on the company in September 2020, and a date for compliance in October 2020 was set. However, a further site inspection in February 2021 found that the company had not complied with either notice.

At City of London Magistrates’ Court on 22 March 2023, BSP (Knockholt) Limited, which went into liquidation in October 2022, was found guilty of failing to comply with two Improvement Notices.

It was fined £140,000 for failing to comply with a notice served under regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regarding segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, and £10,000 for a notice served under regulation 25(1) of the same regulations regarding welfare facilities. Costs of £2,459 and a victim surcharge of £190 were also awarded.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Gordon Carson said: “BSP (Knockholt) Limited showed a disregard for the safety and health of its employees by failing to take action, when required by HSE, to ensure they were not at risk of being struck by heavy plant, and provided with adequate and clean welfare facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“HSE will not hesitate to take action against duty holders where they have placed their employees at risk and have decided not to comply with enforcement action.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Further information about HSE improvement notices is available

A Derbyshire property owner has been given a community order after a father-of-two sustained life changing injuries when a wall collapsed on top of him during a barn conversion.

Nigel Edwards failed to have a structural assessment of the outbuildings carried out as part of his planning for the project at his home in Woodhouses. The outbuildings were being converted into holiday let accommodation when a stone wall collapsed on 40-year-old Steven Tyson on 8 October 2021.

The married father of two daughters from Melbourne, suffered a catalogue of serious injuries, including a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones, including 11 of his ribs. He was rushed to hospital, where he spent the next 18 days in “immense pain”.

He said: “The pain was made worse by the fact I was unable to see my daughters in hospital due to the Covid-19 restrictions on visitors.

“I am still in pain today and struggle to put weight on my right ankle.

“Due to the traumatic head injury, I was unable to drive for six months.”

Derby Magistrates Court heard how the building had undergone significant structural alterations. It was while Mr Tyson was clearing up outside, that the external face of the stone gable wall collapsed on top of him causing life threatening injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Nigel Edwards had failed to have a structural assessment of the outbuildings undertaken prior to starting the work. As a result, no measures had been identified or implemented to stabilise the building while underwent the alteration. Similarly, there was no plan in place for dismantling parts of the building safely, exposing workers and members of the public to the risk of injury or death from the full or partial collapse of the structures.

Mr Tyson, who has been left blind in one eye as well as losing hearing in his right ear, went on to say how the incident had left him unable to work in the construction industry.

“I might never be able to,” he added.

“The injuries have also impacted on my hobbies, which included karate, dog walking and metal detecting.

“I have also had therapy sessions to try and come to terms with the physical and psychological impacts of what happened.

“This is something I thought I would never have to do.”

Nigel Edwards of Tutholme, Woodhouses, Melbourne, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 19(1) and 20(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. He was made the subject of a 12-month community order and told to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay costs of £4,097.94.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Robert Gidman said: “It is vital that all demolition and dismantling is adequately planned and that a competent structural engineer is engaged by those in control of work where there is the risk of collapse of any structure.

“If this project had been planned effectively, engaging the right people at the right time to ensure a suitable safe system of work was implemented, the life changing injuries sustained by the injured person could have been prevented.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Further information about structural safety is also available.

The first Building Safety Conference, hosted by HSE’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is taking place today, Wednesday 22 March 2023, at Central Hall, Westminster

BSR was created following Dame Judith Hackett’s review and part of the building safety reforms since the Grenfell tragedy.

The event will see nearly 1,000 practitioners gather together to hear directly from the new regulator about the important changes that will come into effect from April 23, under the new Building Safety Act 2022.  Throughout the day, delegates will develop their knowledge and understanding of how the reforms will impact on them and their organisation.

As high-rise residential building registration for all Accountable and Principle Accountable Persons opens in April, the conference will provide insight and develop the knowledge of these individuals and organisations in relation to their responsibilities. 

There will also be an opportunity to hear more about the changes that will come into effect later in the year, with sessions from industry experts and keynotes speakers including our Chief Inspector of Buildings, Peter Baker.  The day is aimed at helping Accountable Persons, Building Control professionals and Construction and Design professionals, who will take on various new roles and responsibilities needed to comply with building safety law. 

Sign up to get further updates on BSR.