Building Safety Regulator Misses Targets as BAC Refusal Rate Hits 66%
Published on 07/27/2026 at 15:07 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is falling significantly behind schedule on its five-year plan to assess 12,500 high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) in England, with fewer than 2,000 buildings called in for assessment so far. Data from 2026 shows that 66 percent of Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) applications have been refused, while processing times are running twice as long as initially anticipated.
The regulator is now resetting its strategy to a more risk-based approach in response to core capability gaps that are slowing the process. Industry reports suggest that while Residential Management Companies (RMCs) often serve as the principal accountable person, they frequently lack the specific expertise required for these assessments. Legal duties for these entities remain unchanged despite the regulatory challenges.
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Workplace Fatalities Edge Down, But Falls from Height Remain Top Killer
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reported that 126 workers were killed in workplace accidents between April 2025 and March 2026 — a slight decrease of two fatalities compared with the previous year. The construction sector accounted for 25 of these fatal injuries, significantly lower than the five-year average of 37 deaths for that industry.
Falls from height remain the primary cause of workplace mortality, representing approximately 25 percent of all fatalities. Combined with accidents involving moving objects and vehicles, these three categories account for 60 percent of all workplace deaths.
To improve data quality, the HSE is proposing clarified guidance for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) to reduce unnecessary reports. Some officials have expressed concern that this could lead to a short-term spike in reporting numbers.
Food Safety Incidents Rise 14% Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) reported a 14 percent increase in food and feed safety incidents across England, Northern Ireland, and Wales for the 2025-2026 period, with total incidents reaching 2,073 — up from 1,825 the prior year. The agency noted an increase in high and medium priority incidents with the potential for severe impact on public health, attributing the growing complexity to global supply chains and the proliferation of online marketplaces.
In specific enforcement actions:
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Middlesbrough: The Bazaar Restaurant in Captain Cook Square received a zero food hygiene rating following an inspection on May 5, 2026. The restaurant voluntarily closed to overhaul its protocols and has since confirmed improvements, but the initial inspection found major deficiencies in food safety management and hygienic handling.
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Barrow-in-Furness: Ofsted suspended the registration of Bright Horizons Nursery at Furness General Hospital for six weeks starting July 22, 2026. The regulator cited a reasonable belief that children may be at risk of harm, though the suspension is intended to allow for further inquiries.
NEBOSH Updates General Certificates as Facility Management Sector Eyes New Standards
The workplace safety sector is seeing updates to professional qualifications. In February 2026, NEBOSH began teaching its updated National and International General Certificates, introducing revised unit names and assessment methods including open-book exams and practical risk assessments. The final assessments under the previous specification are scheduled for August 6, 2026.
With regulatory expectations rising across the safety landscape, having the right documentation in place is essential. A free health and safety toolkit provides risk assessments, checklists, and toolbox talks that help you comply with key UK regulations including the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and COSHH. Over 37,000 UK businesses already rely on it. Get the free Health & Safety Toolkit
In the facility management sector, industry experts are increasingly recommending the integration of ISO 22301 for business continuity with ISO 41001 for facility management. The move toward localized sourcing and redundancy comes as the C-suite increasingly views resilience as a core asset class following recent global supply chain disruptions and climate-related events.
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