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Today 4th September 2024 saw the publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inferno that killed 72 people, and destroyed the lives of their families, friends, and loved ones.
 The conclusions of the report made it clear that everyone of those people died needlessly, and because of lies, deceit and greed by the building companies involved with the installation of flammable cladding, the local council of the richest borough in London, and successive Governments, including Labour hell bent on privatisation and deregulation.
Responding to the report, Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
Today is a sobering reminder of the tragic deaths of 72 people, and the deep scar that the Grenfell Tower fire has left on the community. The FBU shares the grief and anger of the bereaved, survivors and residents, and we call for justice for those who were killed by this entirely preventable fire.
The FBU has always argued that the fire was the result of decades of failure by central government to regulate the building industry – the privatisation of private profit over human life.
This report completely vindicates that position, demonstrating beyond doubt that an agenda of deregulation cost lives. Construction companies gamed the system to maximise their profits. A system of semi-privatised building control put commercial interests ahead of regulatory duties.
 Firefighters and fire control staff were put in an impossible position, forced to respond to a fire in a high rise building effectively wrapped in petrol. Again and again, residents and firefighters warned of the dangers of combustible cladding but were ignored.
The FBU is still digesting the report’s recommendations, but the government must go further than what is set out in this report. The deregulation of recent decades must be comprehensively reversed. The systems for delivering building safety must be brought under public ownership and must be given the resources they need.
The lessons of the Grenfell Tower fire are relevant to fire and rescue services across the UK. To implement them, we need national standards set by a statutory advisory body on fire policy, giving a voice to firefighters and control staff and drawing on the best expert advice.
Seven years on from this horrific event, our thoughts and solidarity are with the victims of the fire.”
Whilst in Parliament today, PM Keir Starmer apologised for the families who lost their loved ones, and stated the obvious - they were let down - the question is just what changes will be made to Health and Safety legislation, the huge cuts in Firefighters across the UK, the laws around company CEO responsibility; and the lack of preventative action by the HSE and the enforcement of H&S legislation?
Click the pic above to download the FBU report
Download the Grenfell Tower Report:
See the Unionsafety E-library for more reports on the Grenfell Fire including the FBU's investigation into the changes made by Labour and Tory Governments which have weakened Health & Safety regulations and enforcement that has, predictably cost lives!
Source: FBU / Unionsafety / Gov.uk
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