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James Moore is the Managing Editor of IFSEC Insider, the leading online publication for security and fire news in the industry.James writes, commissions, edits and produces content for IFSEC Insider, including articles, breaking news stories and exclusive industry reports. He liaises and speaks with leading industry figures, vendors and associations to ensure security and fire professionals remain abreast of all the latest developments in the sector.
April 28, 2023
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Chief Inspector of Buildings, Peter Baker, retires from HSE and new Building Safety Regulator regime
Peter Baker, the Chief Inspector of Buildings for the (relatively) newly launched Building Safety Regulator, has retired after 38 years of service with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
HSE’s current Director of Regulation and former Head of Construction Division, Philip White, has now taken up the role of Director of Building Safety pending recruitment of the next Chief Inspector of Buildings.
The processes and plans for the launch of the new regulator are all in place and underway, IFSEC Global has been told by the HSE. A spokesperson added: “The Building Safety Regulator will continue to work closely with government and industry, and the HSE expects the regime to be fully operational by April 2024.”
Chief Inspector of Buildings role
Baker took up the role of Chief Inspector of Buildings, which leads the Building Safety Regulator programme, in February 2021. During that time, he worked to develop the formation of the regulator role and its surrounding infrastructure.
Much has changed since he took over the role, with the publication of the Fire Safety Act 2021, the Building Safety Act 2022 – which enshrined the role of the Building Safety Regulator in law – and the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 that came into force earlier this year.
A key aim of Baker’s when he took over was to ensure collaboration took place in the industry and for the sector to think differently about risk. In the interview, which took place in March 2021, he commented:
“We want to get away from the checklist. While it’s important to have technical precautions, these changes are much more about competence, leadership and a holistic management approach to a system – thinking of the risks as an outcome of ensuring a safe building. This requires a very different approach to simply box-ticking that the system is compliant with the minimum standards expected.”
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
Chief Inspector of Buildings, Peter Baker, retires from HSE and new Building Safety Regulator regimePeter Baker has retired from his role as Chief Inspector of Buildings for the newly launched Building Safety Regulator at the HSE.
James Moore
IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources
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