A chemical engineer, Dame Judith Hackitt spent more than two decades running major hazard manufacturing facilities. She then joined the Chemical Industries Association where she became Director General and championed the industry wide Responsible Care programme. She also served as a member of the then Health and Safety Commission from 2002-2005 before moving to Brussels to work for the European Chemical Industries body – CEFIC. More recently, she spent nine years as Chair of HSE, where she set up the high profile Myth Busters group.
In July 2017 Dame Judith was asked by the Government to conduct an independent review of building regulations and fire safety in high rise buildings in the wake of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower and the report was published in May this year.
Dame Judith’s opening remarks in the report read:
“I have been asked to present timely recommendations to provide assurance to everyone, and in particular to residents of high-rise buildings, that urgent steps are being taken to improve the safety of buildings and to address what could be seen as evidence of systemic failings in the regulatory system and deeper problems in the industry.
“This tragic incident should not have happened in our country in the 21st century. We now all have the opportunity to respond in a way that will lead to lasting change that makes people safer in the future. I have seen the improvements in safety in the oil and gas industry that followed the Piper Alpha oil production platform disaster in 1988 and I hope this review can have a similar impact.
“As the review has progressed, it has become clear that the whole system of regulation, covering what is written down and the way in which it is enacted in practice, is not fit for purpose, leaving room for those who want to take shortcuts to do so.” she added.
