me don’t apologize for bringing up the safety issue again. In February, we spoke to victims of the 2016 Didcot disaster about their agonizing wait for answers to the question: ‘What went wrong?’ Our function finds that this case is not unique. The data shows that the Health and Safety Executive takes more than a year to investigate around 20% of fatal cases.
Something is wrong with the current system, which serves neither the victims nor the survivors of the accidents. But it’s also failing individual companies, whose reputations may hang under a cloud until things clear up. It is impossible to solve a problem without knowing what it is. How can companies effectively respond to incidents in this information vacuum?
Of course, investigations can be complex, but we find that safety probes in other sectors, particularly rail, shipping and air transport, report quickly, without having to wait for the outcome of criminal investigations which can sometimes take time. years. Urgent action is needed to align the construction sector with this good practice.
The most prominent case where the parties have waited too long for answers is the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In early May, it was announced that the final report on the disaster will not be published this year, as originally planned. However, this is an area where, perhaps, the government cannot be accused of complacency. Last year’s Building Safety Act is possibly the most important piece of legislation to hit the industry since World War II, and its impact is already beginning to bite.
Our feature takes a look at where we stand with the act and the “known unknowns” that still surround it. At the time of publication, construction companies were still awaiting regulations and guidance to cover a number of knowledge gaps. But we find that, as is often the case, companies are taking a pragmatic approach and getting on with the task of responding to the “known knowns” contained in the act.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, lawyers are somewhat less optimistic and identify a number of potential areas of uncertainty. Most laws go through a period of testing in the courts, and this case law is, of course, vital to justice. But the industry must ensure that, in the coming years, legal conflicts do not get in the way of doing the work needed to make our high-risk buildings safe.
