An independent review of building regulations and fire safety is an “important step” towards ensuring that tragedies such as Grenfell Tower do not happen again, said the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
The UK government has announced that former Health and Safety Executive chair Dame Judith Hackitt will head up the review, from which a final report is expected next spring.
It will examine the regulatory system around the design, construction and on-going management of buildings in relation to fire safety. It will also look at related compliance and enforcement issues, as well as international regulation and experience in this area.
Richard Jones, Head of Public Affairs at IOSH, said: “IOSH welcomes the government’s announcement of an Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
“This is an important step towards ensuring that the adequacy, implementation and enforcement of relevant fire, health and safety and building regulations is reviewed and that international lessons are learned.
“These are all key areas that IOSH called for in our submission to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Team and we are pleased to see that Government action is being taken.
“IOSH notes that the Government expects an interim report from this review before the year end, with a final report by spring 2018. And importantly, that it has promised to act swiftly on any recommendations that it makes.”
