An organisation promoting behavioural change in construction has named the first companies to complete its new building safety culture change assessment scheme.
Building a Safer Future (BSF) was established to raise standards in construction and promote culture change in the built environment. In 2019, it launched a charter to help companies identify potential issues and develop continuous improvement plans to advance their approach to building safety.
Originally, 12 companies agreed to take part in the ‘champions’ scheme. So far, nine have been awarded the champion status: Barratt Developments, Galliford Try, Hill Holdings, Martin Arnold, MHS Homes, Morgan Sindall, Orion Fire Engineering, Persimmon Homes and Salix Homes.
Dame Judith Hackitt and the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG), in their August 2020 report, highlighted the BSF Charter as a key mechanism for leading the culture change required for industry.
BSF launched a pilot in 2021, the ‘champion assessment process’. This gives companies information and advice on building safety culture and equips them with the necessary resources to help them review and upgrade processes and regain public trust. Once completed, companies are awarded ‘champion’ status.
Hackitt endorsement
Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the independent review of building regulations and fire safety and chair of the ISSG, recently told CM that the BSF charter is a good practice example that construction companies could follow – but that the “culture change” is not happening fast enough.
“Every journey of culture change starts with an open and honest assessment of where you are today,” said Hackitt of the BSF announcement. “All of the companies that have achieved champion status have shown the courage to look at themselves and understand the steps they need to take to improve and are now embarked upon that journey.
“Their leadership and the benefits they can demonstrate already from setting out on this journey should be a wake-up call to everyone else to get on board.”
