Project Safety Journal

Cladding remediation underway at a UK residential high-rise. Image: Richardjohnsonuk | Dreamstime.com. The latest building control Gateway 2 update from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) shows a continuing de-gumming of this new and complex process. In the 12 weeks to 30 May, approval rates increased across all application categories, including existing building safety projects, after BSR introduced an external remediation improvement plan in April.

New foundation excavations had been dug for the building footings, but they crisscrossed the site without any designated safe walkways. Image: HSE A construction company has been fined after a man drowned when he fell into an exposed excavation at night on a site described as a ‘death trap’ in Hertfordshire. Mykhalio Hustei, 35, had been working for Alchemist DB Ltd as a labourer on a project building several flats on the High Street in Bovington.

Two construction companies have been fined after a drilling operative sustained fractures to his neck and back when a temporary platform loaded with concrete debris collapsed on top of him. Steve Zschoch, now 60, was working for contractor Diacutt on 23 February 2024 at a construction project at Paxton House in the City of London. Image: HSE Steve Zschoch, now 60, was working for contractor Diacutt on 23 February 2024 at a construction project at Paxton House in the City of London.

Image: Diego Vito Cervo | Dreamstime.com Three men have been sentenced for helping more than 500 people cheat a construction health and safety exam following a joint investigation by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Essex Police. The investigation began in August 2022 after CITB identified suspicious activity at an Internet Test Centre in Halstead, Essex.

Thoughtful change is key to building safety improvement, says Andrew Leslie Reform is on everybody’s radar and not just on the political scene, but let’s leave the latter to the politicians. Since the Grenfell tragedy, there has been a mood to reform the way the built environment is designed, built and occupied towards enshrining skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours into measurable individual competence and organisational management of competence.

As temperatures rise on construction sites, planning, communication and a strong safety culture are key to mitigating heat stress. Mark Glover finds out more. For construction workers working in Faversham on 1 July last year, shade, water and plenty of breaks were essential as the Kent town recorded the UK’s hottest temperature, nudging the mercury to a sweltering 35.8°C.

Concerns around transfer slabs have been raised by the Building Safety Regulator. Trevor Rushton at Watts Group analyses the latest position. Towards the end of last year, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) issued a letter highlighting risks identified in reinforced concrete multi-storey buildings that incorporate transfer slabs. The concerns centre on the lack of a consistent design methodology and the potential for collapse due to punching shear.

Anthony Hayes on a potential pitfall for those hoping to avoid the Building Safety Levy through staged submissions. The forthcoming Building Safety Levy as well as recent changes to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) position on staged submissions has generated much interest in the industry.

How should construction managers prepare for medical emergencies and trauma response on site, and what rules do they need to follow? Mike Dowson explains A bleed control kit on a Graham Nottingham site. Image: Turtle Medical Construction professionals manage risk through established health and safety systems designed to prevent harm on site. However, compliance and prevention measures cannot eliminate all incidents, including cardiac arrest.

Following her analysis of the 2025 amendments in the previous issue, Rubina Zaidi explores proposed General Safety Requirements and wider construction products reform. The regulation of construction products is undergoing its most significant reset in decades. The government has published its Construction Products Reform White Paper, alongside a consultation on the introduction of a General Safety Requirement (GSR) for construction products.