Fire Aware backs BSR drive to raise competence across fire safety
Iain Hoey
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BSR and Fire Aware’s position
Fire Aware has announced support for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as part of its campaign for cultural change across the fire safety industry.
The position was set out in a Fire Aware statement on its work with the regulator.
The organisation noted that the BSR became a formal standalone arm’s length body in January, operating under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after transferring from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Fire Aware added that it is advising member organisations across multiple sectors on engagement with the regulator.
Gavin Skelly said: “We fully endorse the move towards cultural change.
“We must remember – those who hold a duty of care at all levels are working in a vocation, and not just a job.
“We are working with our members to improve the standards of our buildings old and new and to improve the competence of those working within them who hold a duty of care.
“The essence of the BSR’s aims are aligned with our own.
“Fire Aware would support this requirement and direct any of its members involved in the Gateway system to help the regulator achieve its goal, similar to that of Fire Aware’s mission, to primarily uphold public safety.”
Skelly also commented that all parts of the supply chain across multiple sectors should adopt the same vocational approach to duty of care.
Charters and duty of care
Fire Aware described its campaign as focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.
The body said it intends to introduce a moral code of conduct through a series of charters aimed at shaping how member companies behave when upholding their duty of care.
Fire Aware characterised itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of public safety.
The organisation’s stance links its internal charter programme with the regulator’s expectations for those submitting safety cases to the BSR.