The Health and Safety Executive has appointed Andrew Bulmer as a member of its newly created Industry Competence Committee (ICC), with its first meeting to be held in September.
The Committee, formed by a requirement of the Building Safety Act 2022, will have a role in advising both the built environment industry and the Building Safety Regulator within HSE on matters of competence.
The committee will support the work of the Building Safety Regulator by providing insights and guidance to facilitate an improvement of competence across industry.
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘Building a Safer Future’ review of building regulations and fire safety, a lack of skills, knowledge and experience across industry was identified as contributing to poor safety and standards in buildings.
Anyone involved in design or building work must be competent to do their job properly and comply with building regulations to ensure safe and high-quality buildings.
Andrew Bulmer is a chartered surveyor, has an extensive background in property management and is the current CEO of The Property Institute, a professional body formed by the ARMA & IRPM membership groups. ARMA and IRPM members manage millions of leasehold properties across England, Wales and Scotland.
Andrew will bring an understanding of the competence required within the occupation phase of buildings to the ICC.
On his appointment, Andrew Bulmer said, “I’m honoured to be invited to sit on the ICC and will enjoy the opportunity to help promote higher safety standards across the built environment sector. Competence will be the linchpin to the success of the new building safety regime. It’s critical that property professionals and all others involved in its delivery possess the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours. In the case of property management staff, this relates particularly to BSI Flex 8670 and PAS 8673. The ICC, as a group, will help achieve this competence among both individuals and firms.
‘Competence is not a choice; the Grenfell tragedy has made it clear what can happen when we don’t get things right. It will save lives. Furthermore, many professionals are now liable under the new regime. All this makes the work of the ICC vital.
‘The benefits of competent staff stretch beyond high-rise buildings within the built environment. The processes and ways of working will have wider benefits to the construction and management of blocks of all sizes, types and heights. It will save time, money, drive efficiency and ensure that all buildings are managed safely.
‘Being a part of the Committee presents the opportunity to engage with the regulator as well as to raise awareness of the challenges facing property management sector in the regime’s delivery, and collaborate with other members on the Committee. I’m looking forward to continuing to highlight the importance of competence across the sector to ensure residents are kept safe now and in the future.”
The full list of members is below:
· Jon Vanstone (Chair) – Tech Influence
- Sandra Ashcroft (Vice-Chair) – Health and Safety Executive
- Jay Parmar – Joint Industry Board and CSCS Alliance
- Lorraine Turner – UKAS
- Steve Evans – National House Building Council
- Lorna Stimpson – Local Authority Building Control
- Wendy Belfield – InTandem Systems
- Pete Dawber – Solvere Ltd
- Ruth Devine – SJD Associates Ltd
- Richard Harral – Chartered Association of Building Engineers
- Nick Coombe – National Fire Chiefs Council
- Dennis Davis – Fire Sector Federation
- Alasdair Perry – British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association
- Andrew Bulmer – The Property Institute
- Anthony Taylor – Building Safety Alliance
- James McNay – Hydrock
- Kate Milford – Milford and Marah Ltd
To read the Government press release click here.
