Health and safety

Events, such as the Grenfell Tower Fire, the resultant inquiry reports and the death of Awaab Ishak, have starkly highlighted the importance of those in the housing sector complying with their health and safety obligations and the devastating consequences non-compliance can have. The Regulator of Social Housing has also increased its focus in respect of health and safety with the introduction of the revised Consumer Standards, proactive inspections and the removal of the serious detriment test.

Our regulatory team has extensive experience supporting housing providers with health and safety issues, enabling them to understand and comply with their obligations, providing training on safety-related issues and giving expert advice should a serious incident occur. Our team is also able to provide representation for organisations facing enforcement action, criminal prosecution or an inquest.

Health and safety legal support for social housing providers

Our regulatory team can provide advice, support and representation in a number of areas, including: 

• Health and safety obligations in relation to employees, tenants, those to whom services are provided, contractors and the public.
• Property compliance, including gas safety, electrical safety, water hygiene and Legionella, lifting equipment and asbestos.
• Fire and building safety, including obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the Building Safety Act 2022 and supporting legislation.
• Health and safety issues on construction sites, including compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the obligations regarding work at height.
• Internal investigations following serious health and safety related incidents and/or complaints.
• Notifications and referrals to regulators, including RIDDOR Reports and referrals to the Regulator of Social Housing.
• Requests for information, investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Police and regulators, such as the Health and Safety Executive.
• Requests for information from the coroner and inquests.
  Local authority investigations and enforcement action, including notices issued under the Housing Act 2004.
• Reviewing safety and compliance related policies and procedures.
  

Health and safety training for social housing providers

We provide training sessions on safety-related issues for housing providers, covering the areas listed above, amongst other topics. This training can be tailored to your organisation’s needs and to suit any level of the business.

Examples of our health and safety advice to housing providers

• We represented a large housing provider being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive following a fall from height.
• We supported multiple housing providers being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive following reported cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.
• We supported a housing provider following a suspected health and safety breach at one of its properties, which included providing advice in respect of RIDDOR reporting, notifying the Regulator of Social Housing and communications with staff and residents.
• We advised a housing provider in respect of its obligations relating to window restrictors in its properties and reviewed its window restrictor policy, providing comments and amends.
• We assisted numerous housing providers to implement new management agreements and service level agreements that better reflect the complex legal and regulatory framework surrounding health and safety, fire safety and building safety.

Contact us

For more information on health and safety legal support for housing providers, please contact our regulatory team.