From 27th January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) becomes its own independent body, no longer part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It will report directly to the UK Government.
This change is part of the Building Safety Act 2022 and follows recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The aim is to make sure high-risk buildings – usually residential buildings over 18 metres tall – are managed and inspected more safely.
The move is also a step towards creating a single construction regulator, making it easier for building owners, managers and safety professionals to know who is responsible for what. For anyone involved in health and safety, facilities management or compliance, it’s worth being aware of these changes, as they will affect how dutyholders manage risk and keep people safe in taller or higher-risk buildings.
Staying up to date now will help you plan ahead and make sure your workplace practices continue to meet the latest standards.
We have worked with Safewell for many years and are retained clients, so we have developed an excellent working relationship with the team. However, this really came into its own when Covid 19 appeared.
As a Plumbing and Heating business, we were able to carry on working during the lockdown but only for responding to emergencies. We were obviously very concerned about the health and safety of our employees and before we even had chance to get in touch with Safewell, they had emailed us offering their assistance. It is hard to put down on paper how that made us feel - we like everyone else felt totally at sea, which way to turn, what to do? But Safewell were there guiding, supporting and being totally brilliant. Their attention to detail is very impressive and reassuring and we feel able to ask lots of questions without feeling silly.
During the pandemic Safewell helped us to write risk assessments, safety procedures and protocols. They kept in touch regularly, issuing new guidance as soon as it appeared and checking in with us. They held group Q&A sessions over Zoom which were helpful, and knowing other businesses were facing the same challenges and having the opportunity to discuss issues was invaluable. Their help during the preparation for a full return to work was brilliant, they enabled us to be fully prepared and feel in control, and when we had our first case of Covid within the team, because we had planned our response it felt ok.
I think our team felt very reassured by our robust approach and that our office was Covid secure. We are extremely grateful to all the team at Safewell
0 Comments