IMPROVING TEAM WELL-BEING/BUILDING SAFETY REGULATOR UPDATE 27-03-2026
Workshop Summary
Date: 27 March 2026
Duration: 2 Hours 3 Minutes
Workshop Objective
Workshop 4 focused on the human and regulatory aspects of building safety. The session explored how improving wellbeing, organisational culture, and behavioural change can reduce health risks within the construction industry, while also providing universities with direct guidance from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on complying with the Building Safety Act for higher-risk student accommodation.
- Wellbeing and Behavioural Change in Construction
Peter Crossland and Tony Putsman highlighted that construction safety should extend beyond preventing physical injuries to protecting workers' physical and mental wellbeing. They explained that modern building safety requires organisations to manage stress, fatigue, psychological wellbeing and workplace behaviours alongside traditional health and safety risks. The speakers stressed that changing organisational culture is essential for achieving safer projects and improving long-term performance.
- The Growing Impact of Occupational Ill Health
The workshop examined national health statistics showing that occupational illness now presents a greater challenge than workplace fatalities. Particular attention was given to stress, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders and suicide within the construction industry. The presenters explained that although fatal accidents have significantly reduced over recent decades, mental health issues continue to rise, creating substantial human and financial costs for both organisations and society.
- CDM Differently – Building the Team Before the Project
Tony Putsman introduced the "CDM Differently" approach, encouraging organisations to focus on collaboration, trust and early project planning rather than excessive bureaucracy. The speakers promoted building effective multidisciplinary teams at the earliest project stages, ensuring clients, designers and contractors work together to identify significant risks before design and construction begin. Practical resources, toolkits and guidance were presented to help organisations adopt this collaborative approach.
- Building Safety Regulator Guidance for Universities
Andrew Saunders and Josh Paulin from the Building Safety Regulator responded to questions raised by the university sector regarding higher-risk student accommodation. They clarified expectations relating to:
- Resident Engagement Strategies.
- Safety Case Reports.
- Building Assessment Certificates.
- Principal Accountable Person responsibilities.
- Resident communication.
- Large Panel System (LPS) buildings.
- Regulatory charging and assessment processes.
The regulator acknowledged the unique characteristics of student accommodation, including transient occupancy and academic operating cycles, while confirming that statutory duties remain the same and should be implemented proportionately.
- Building Control, Gateway Applications and Maintenance Work
A significant discussion focused on Building Control requirements for Higher-Risk Buildings. The Building Safety Regulator confirmed that replacement of fire doors and similar works generally constitute building work, requiring Building Control Approval before work starts, unless emergency repair provisions apply. Universities were encouraged to plan maintenance programmes strategically, grouping planned works into larger Gateway applications where possible to reduce administrative burden.
- Practical Collaboration Between Universities and the Regulator
The session concluded with an open discussion on improving collaboration between universities and the Building Safety Regulator. Participants discussed sharing good practice, producing practical guidance for resident engagement, improving communication throughout regulatory assessments, and developing sector-specific solutions that reduce unnecessary costs while maintaining compliance with the Building Safety Act. The regulator expressed willingness to continue engaging with the university sector through future workshops and follow-up meetings.
Key Takeaways
Workshop 4 demonstrated that effective building safety depends on both people and processes. Organisations must actively manage wellbeing, behavioural culture and competence while also complying with evolving Building Safety Act requirements. Universities were encouraged to strengthen collaboration with regulators, adopt proactive competence management, improve resident engagement, and integrate building safety considerations into all stages of project planning and maintenance.