Construction Industry Safety Steering Group Reports on Building Safety Progress

In its first report since publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 findings, the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) says “a firmer approach is required” to bring about cultural change in the UK construction industry.

The ISSG was formed in response to the 2017 Grenfell fire which killed 72 people. Working with government, it aims to overcome blockages and speed up culture change in the construction industry, helping it to become a safer and more trusted sector.

In its report, Building safety: The Industry Safety Steering Group’s fifth report for the Secretary of State and the Minister for Building Safety, ISSG says “efforts to encourage industry to acknowledge underlying problems, take ownership, and lead meaningful change has yielded limited results”.

Got Off Lightly

It says the focus on Government-led actions in the Grenfell report has caused many in the construction industry to think they have ‘got off lightly’ and that momentum for change is waning. It recommends more stringent action to address this: “ISSG strongly believes that there needs to be incentives for good practice as well as substantive sanctions for those who fail to meet standards.”

ISSG welcomes moves towards establishing a Single Construction Regulator and the Building Safety Regulator as well as Construction Products Reform proposals, but says it remains concerned about the capacity and independence of testing houses.

It also welcomes the leadership role CLC has adopted, while calling for closer liaison with other industry groups.

Responding to the BSR and gateway system, the ISSG says it is concerned about the rate of failure of higher risk building applications at Gateway 1 and the occupation stage at Gateway 3. Calling for “stronger incentives and enforcement levers”, it adds, “ISSG is concerned that building safety is not being prioritised at either the early or final stages of the construction process.”

Investors and Insurers

The report points to the role investors and insurers can play in incentivising building safety as part of their prerequisites. It also says that clients must start to expect building work will be delivered correctly and that this should be reflected in contracts ending the practice of retentions. It says: “Implementing new forms of contract which encourage the right behaviours at the top of the supply chain will set an example to industry.”

Looking forward, the report urges industry to speed up its efforts and demonstrate real leadership in constructing safe buildings. It also calls on government to ensure effective accountability mechanisms are in place.

It wants to see “an integrated digital architecture” across the construction industry connecting buildings, professionals, and products to drive lasting cultural change in construction. The vision is for a more skilled, productive workforce that supports long-term economic growth, with continued progress helping to attract and retain new talent.

Finally, the ISSG calls for a clear, shared vision of the industry’s future to encourage innovation and opportunity, moving the focus beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements.

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