ICE comment on government response to final Grenfell report

The government issued its official response to the final Grenfell report. In reply, Séan Harris, deputy director general and director of membership, the Institution of Civil Engineers, said:

“The government is right to describe Grenfell as a systemic failure; it was a tragic event that never should have happened.

“The Institution of Civil Engineers commends the government’s commitment to implement the Grenfell Inquiry's recommendations in full. We particularly welcome the establishment of a single regulator for the construction industry and the introduction of a licensing scheme for contractors working on higher-risk buildings.

“These recommendations align with the ICE’s call for improved governance and competence within infrastructure projects as detailed in our 2018 report, In Plain Sight.

“We have already made some progress. Together with the Institution of Structural Engineers, the ICE has been awarded a licence by the Engineering Council to manage a competency register of members qualified to work on higher-risk buildings.

“But there’s no room for complacency. A safety risk review group, led by Past President Paul Sheffield, is also re-evaluating practice in safety risk management in preparation for a follow up to In Plain Sight, which will publish later this year.

“We remain committed to advancing industry standards and assuring society that professionally qualified engineers remain competent and current, that they prioritise learning, and that they put public safety at the heart of infrastructure development.”  

Notes to editors

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