CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, has welcomed the second and final report of the Grenfell Competence Steering Group (CSG) Setting the Bar which places an emphasis on independent accreditation to improve competence and safety. 

Published in October 2020, Setting the Bar is an update of the CSG’s Interim Report, Raising the Bar, released in August 2019, which was initiated by the recommendations in Dame Judith Hackitt’s review Building a Safer Future.

The objective of Setting the Bar was to formulate a national competency framework with the report setting out a proposed overarching system made up of four key elements: 

•  A new Competence Committee that will sit within the Building Safety Regulator’s ambit at the Health and Safety Executive

•  A national suite of competence standards (including new sector-specific frameworks developed by 12 dedicated Working Groups)

•  Arrangements for independent assessment and reassessment against the competence standards

•  A mechanism to ensure that those assessing and certifying people against the standards have appropriate levels of oversight

Commenting on the publication of the report, CHAS Managing Director, Ian McKinnon, said: “CHAS welcomes the publication of Setting the Bar and the recognition of the role of independent accreditation in enabling industry to demonstrate competence. 

“Trade contractors routinely expect to be asked for independent verification of their competence and commitment to safe operating standards in order to qualify for building work. It therefore makes sense to apply the same approach to contractors involved in the design and building management phase of a project. 

“As the founder of third-party accreditation for trade contractors, CHAS has a wealth of experience in establishing and running accreditation schemes so we will share this as much as is needed to ensure the report’s recommendations can be taken forward as efficiently and effectively as possible.”