What is the Building Safety Act?

The Building Safety Act 2022 marks a transformative shift in the UK's approach to health and safety in the built environment. Designed to address significant shortcomings highlighted by the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Act introduces rigorous new standards and a regulatory framework to ensure safety across all building types, particularly high-risk structures.

Compliance with the Act is not just a legal obligation for businesses, contractors, and property managers; it's a moral imperative. As a trusted health and safety software provider, Work Wallet is committed to empowering organisations to meet these challenges effectively, mainly through features like Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR).

Key Aspects of the Building Safety Act 2022

1. Creation of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR):

Under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Building Safety Regulator oversees building safety and enforces compliance, particularly for high-risk residential buildings (HRBs). The regulator monitors all safety processes, ensuring strict adherence to the new rules and acting as a central point of accountability for the entire construction and property management industry.

2. Introduction of Mandatory Occurrence Reporting:

A critical requirement under the Act is the implementation of Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR). This involves promptly reporting safety incidents, defects, or near-misses that could pose a risk to occupants. MOR ensures transparency and allows regulators to act swiftly, reducing potential hazards. Work Wallet's digital reporting tools enable businesses to log, track, and manage these occurrences seamlessly, ensuring compliance and fostering a proactive approach to safety.

3. Enhanced Competence Requirements:

Professionals working on high-risk buildings are now required to meet strict competence standards. This affects architects, surveyors, project managers, and contractors, ensuring that only qualified personnel manage safety-critical tasks. Work Wallet's Competency Management System provides an easy way to track employee qualifications, certifications, and training records, ensuring all team members meet regulatory standards.

4. Leaseholder Protections:

The Act introduces protections for leaseholders, limiting their financial liability for safety defect repairs. This shift places greater accountability on developers and property owners, ensuring they bear the bulk of remediation costs. This underscores the need for robust safety management systems for property managers to avoid costly penalties or legal action.

5. Remediation Orders:

Under the Act, landlords and developers are compelled to rectify building safety defects. Remediation and cost contribution orders ensure swift action and hold those responsible for safety breaches accountable. Digital tools like Work Wallet's Incident Analytics help identify trends and track progress in remediation, making it easier to demonstrate compliance to the regulator.

The Role of Work Wallet in Meeting MOR Requirements

Implementing Mandatory Occurrence Reporting requires organisations to adopt efficient, real-time reporting mechanisms. Traditional paper-based systems can no longer meet the demands of the new regulatory framework. Work Wallet offers:

• Digital Incident Reporting: Enable workers to report safety occurrences immediately via a mobile app. This ensures that no critical detail is missed and allows managers to act swiftly to mitigate risks.
• Analytics for MOR Compliance: Analyse reported incidents to identify recurring issues, enabling businesses to address root causes and enhance overall safety performance.
• Centralised Record-Keeping: Store and manage all MOR data securely in one platform, providing clear evidence of compliance during audits or investigations.

Why Work Wallet?

The Building Safety Act is a call to action for businesses to prioritise safety like never before. With features like Mandatory Occurrence Reporting, digital safety audits, and competency tracking, Work Wallet helps organisations stay compliant while creating safer environments. The time to act is now—don't leave safety to chance.

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