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The fire which occurred at Lakanal House, almost a decade before that which occurred at Grenfell, resulted in a coroner, Frances Kirkham, cautioning the government that all parts of a building should be examined in fire safety inspections.
There were no changes to fire examinations, and a review of building regulation management had not been completed.
A barrister representing some of the bereft and survivors at the Grenfell inquiry, said David Cameron should appear before the inquiry over remarks made in 2010, ‘ridiculing’ health and safety, seven years before the fire.
Cameron is also said to have remarked that “Britannia didn’t rule the waves with arm bands on”.
Mr Mansfield argued that these observations were, “ridiculing, humiliating health and safety, and regulating citizens, as it were, to effectively a bonfire”.
In an opening statement at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, victims’ Barrister, Ms Barwise, said Grenfell was a “predictable, yet unintended consequence of a combination of the laudable desire to reduce carbon emissions, coupled with an unbridled passion for deregulation”.
She also argued that: “Government’s response on realising the extent of the problem was to react by concealment instead of candour.
“The result is a prolonged period of concealment by government, which should properly be regarded as one of the major scandals of our time.”
During the next few months, a series of former government ministers and senior officials are expected to provide evidence in the inquiry.
In a response, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy must never be allowed to happen again, and we remain absolutely committed to helping the Inquiry get to the truth.
“The role of central government will be considered in this module and we continue to support the Inquiry throughout its investigations.”
The Future of Fire Safety: download the eBook
Is the fire protection industry adapting to the post-Grenfell reality fast enough? At FIREX International 2019, Europe's only dedicated fire safety event, some of the world's leading fire safety experts covered this theme. This eBook covers the key insights from those discussions on the developments shaping the profession, with topics including:
Grenfell Inquiry must yield “bedrock change” – and soon
After Grenfell: Jonathan O’Neill OBE on how austerity and policy “on the hoof” are hampering progress
Hackitt’s Golden Thread: Fire, facilities and building safety
Fire safety community has to “get on board” with technological changes
Grenfell Inquiry: Government “hid” fire safety risks to buildings Consecutive governments have been accused of “deliberately covering up” the dangers posed to combustible materials before the Grenfell Tower fire.
Chrissie Joslin
IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources
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