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Making the case for safety in the face of ambiguity
What is the collective noun is for a group of engineers? A solution, a tolerance, an alternative load path? I’m supporting the Institution of Structural Engineers on guidance for assessing risk in existing buildings and also contributing to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ ALARP working group. I haven’t been surrounded by this many engineers since my days flying helicopters and most conversations back then were one sided discussions about which part of the ageing L
emilyharbottle
5 hours ago5 min read


The Building Safety Regulator moves to MHCLG: what does it mean in practice?
There’s been a lot of commentary lately about the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) becoming a standalone organisation under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), but for those of us trying to deliver compliant, safe buildings the more interesting question is: what changes in practice ? The short answer is probably not a huge amount; but not nothing either. From HSE to MHCLG The BSR’s move out of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is significant
emilyharbottle
9 hours ago2 min read


Building Safety Case Reports: 5 Myths Debunked
The Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced new compliance requirements for higher-risk buildings (HRBs), including the need for a...
emilyharbottle
Mar 19, 20253 min read


What the Nimrod Disaster Can Teach Us About Improving Building Safety Culture
Raising a teenager is an adventure, isn’t it? One moment, they amaze you with their independence and unfiltered humour; the next, you’re...
emilyharbottle
Mar 17, 20254 min read


Accountability: The Key to Improving Safety Culture in the Built Environment
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 22) has placed a clear emphasis on accountability, embedding it into the fabric of safety management...
emilyharbottle
Feb 27, 20252 min read


Training and culture - lessons from aviation
In the building sector, competence has never been under greater scrutiny. High-profile incidents and tightening regulations have made it...
emilyharbottle
Jan 12, 20252 min read


Why Building Height Shouldn’t Define Safety Policies - The flawed logic of PEEPs
Why Limit PEEPs to High-Rise Residential Buildings Over 11m? Today, the Home Office published its response to the Emergency Evacuation...
emilyharbottle
Dec 2, 20243 min read


Do leaders in the housing sector need technical competencies?
I am seeing much discussion around competency within the Housing sector and what it means to be competent. The dictionary definition of...
emilyharbottle
Oct 28, 20243 min read


Why I don’t agree with quantifying risk
I am writing this following a LinkedIn comment that misunderstood what I was trying to say about Bowties. In my opinion, a bowtie is a...
emilyharbottle
Aug 27, 20245 min read
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