Recent revelations from the London Fire Brigade highlight a disturbing truth: years after Grenfell, buildings across the UK remain at risk due to major safety flaws. This news underscores the urgent need for action within the construction industry to ensure safe, compliant and robust buildings for all.
We caught up with Danny Mackie, Director at Hamilton to get his thoughts.
“At Hamilton, we believe building safety isn’t just a requirement – it’s a responsibility. Grenfell was a tragedy that shook the nation, and the legacy of that event must be a commitment to never allow such a failure to happen again.
However, the fire chief’s update reveals that progress is still too slow. Many residential towers continue to rely on unsafe materials or suffer from poor design choices that compromise fire safety. This is simply unacceptable.
As contractors, we play a vital role in ensuring the safety of buildings from the ground up. At Hamilton, we’ve taken proactive steps to prioritise safety and compliance across all our projects:
Material Selection: We carefully vet all materials used in our projects, ensuring compliance with fire safety standards.
Rigorous Audits: Our teams conduct detailed inspections at every stage of construction, leaving no room for error.
Ongoing Training: We regularly train our staff on the latest safety regulations and best practices, ensuring a culture of accountability.
But this issue extends beyond individual efforts. It requires collaboration across developers, contractors and policymakers to truly make a difference. Only by working together can we create safer spaces for everyone.
I urge all industry professionals to prioritise safety – not just as a box-ticking exercise but as a fundamental part of how we build. Lives depend on it. Let’s honour the memory of Grenfell by creating a future where such tragedies are impossible.”
