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Driving best practice in fire door specification and competence

Third-party certification of fire doors provides robust evidence of performance and traceability to aid compliance with the ‘golden thread’ of information required for higher-risk buildings post-Grenfell. New research reveals that while more professionals responsible for specifying fire doors recognise the value of third-party-certified fire doors and traceability, gaps in specification and in understanding of how to check the competence of installers remain.

By Helen Hewitt, British Woodworking Federation (BWF) on 31 August 2026

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Bridging competence: strengthening fire risk assessment capability

With the UK Government confirming that mandatory competence requirements for fire risk assessors will be introduced, and independently verified by UKAS-accredited certification bodies, it is vital that fire risk assessors and those commissioning assessments begin pursuing the relevant qualifications and certifications now.

By Jess Mullis, Fire Protection Association on 01 September 2026

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Competence expectations – now for organisational management of individual competence

The new building safety regime aims to improve the competence of everyone working in the built environment, and two new guidance documents seek to support this by setting out how organisations such as construction contractors can demonstrate their staff and supply chain are competent to deliver the work the organisation is appointed to do.

By Sofie Hooper, Association for Project Safety & Anthony Taylor, Resolve Risk Ltd on 31 August 2026

News

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British Safety Council calls on UK Government to ban silica-containing materials

British Safety Council has called on the UK Government to ban the import and export of high silica-containing products within the next five years to protect workers from the risks associated with high-concentration silica-containing materials.

By British Safety Council on 20 August 2026

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Hidden Hazards. Recognise Risks. Protect Lives

By British Safety Council on 01 August 2026

Features

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The Unipart Way: our journey to Zero Harm

Achieving safety excellence involves creating an environment where every single employee feels a genuine sense of ownership – both for the safety of themselves and all their colleagues.

By Kirsty Summerby, Unipart on 08 September 2026

Prosecutions

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Company fined £300,000 after surgeons forced to save man’s arm after it is severed by machine

A clinical waste disposal company has been fined £300,000 after a court heard how surgeons had to spend six hours re-attaching a man’s arm after it was severed below the elbow in an unsafe machine.

By Thomas Tevlin on 02 September 2026

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Opinion

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Learning that saves lives

Success can sometimes be a problem. The better we become at preventing incidents, the harder it can be to see what is actually preventing them.

By Mike Robinson, chief executive, British Safety Council on 11 September 2026

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