IOSH statement on Grenfell Tower inquiry report

“We are very concerned by the findings in the final report from the Grenfell Tower inquiry, particularly the flagrant disregard of safety from those involved. Let’s be clear, chances should never be taken when it comes to people’s safety.

“What we now must make sure of is that there is never a repeat of that awful night in June 2017. Though we are now several years on, we hope the published report will give much-needed impetus to the crucial work and development of standards that are needed to make buildings safer across the UK.

“The remedial work following Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations in 2018 has been far too slow; we are still plagued by unsafe buildings. This was clearly demonstrated by the fire in Dagenham on 26 August.

“Put simply, people’s lives are at stake, so we want to see increased momentum given to the removal of dangerous cladding, to learning lessons, and to implementing recommendations from the report. All stakeholders have a role to play in this; safety, including fire safety, is everyone’s responsibility. It must be actioned throughout the lifecycle of a building, from the planning and design stage, through construction and to its use, including any remedial or renovation work.

“We call on the Government to provide more clarity on the action they are taking as soon as possible, and we want assurances that the building regulator has the necessary resources it needs.

“We also note the keenness of the Government to build 300,000 new homes across the country under the New Homes Accelerator Programme. As the findings of the Grenfell inquiry report suggest safety was ignored, delayed or disregarded due to the regulation agenda at that time, the Government must ensure that any plans which are put in place have robust building and safety management at their very heart.

“The UK has a legacy of poor-quality housing stock. We must learn lessons and strive for a meaningful reset to build better and safer, and for the Government to ensure we have high-quality, safe housing for future generations.

“No matter who was responsible for the Grenfell Tower fire, the root cause determined in the findings was sloppiness and turning a blind eye to safety risks. We cannot let that happen again.”