STEAM Challenge: How should we work collectively to develop and maintain competency across the Built Environment to become compliant with the Building Safety Act 2022?
What’s this STEAM Challenge about?
In June 2017 the Grenfell Tower disaster claimed the lives of seventy-two people, a tragedy caused by unclear, unsuitable and unregulated building practices. Richard Millett QC, the lead counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, described how a “long run-up of incompetence” led to the deadly events, calling every death “avoidable”.
The Building Safety Act 2022 aims to create a change in culture, behaviour and working practices across the Built Environment to ensure that through increased competence the events which happened at Grenfell do not happen again. The associated introduction of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and the Office for Product Safety Standards (OPSS) aims to encourage increased competence and will be given powers to enforce the rules and act against those that break them.
The new rules and practices which come into play by October 2023 and every employer across the sector must work at speed to change the way they do business, the standards they uphold and the way in which they manage their workforce, to protect innocent lives and create a Built Environment to be proud of.
What’s a STEAM Challenge?
STEAM Challenge Events are in-person open innovation events. They bring together stakeholders from a range of sectors to tackle complex business or social challenges. The purpose of these sessions is to inspire new thinking on local and global issues, align stakeholders, build relationships and generate meaningful action.
What will happen during the STEAM Challenge?
During this STEAM Challenge, participants will work collaboratively with the key stakeholders, including the HSE, manufacturers, designers, installers, insurers, regulators, training providers and accreditation bodies to address key issues in the definition, implementation and management of competence and define what “good looks like”. Together you’ll get a deeper understanding of the challenge and play a role in developing opportunities to support a workable, safer Built Environment for all.
What is STEAMhouse and what do we do?
At STEAMhouse we make innovation happen. Alongside Birmingham City University, we support people, businesses and organisations to understand systems and challenges and develop new products, services and programmes in response.
Who should attend?
This STEAM Challenge Event is for any individual or business affected by the Building Safety Act 2022.
When is it?
Date: 20th September, 09:30 – 16:00 BST
