New Chair and Deputy for CIC’s Health and Safety Committee

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has elected Paul Bussey and Philip Baker as the new Chair and Deputy Chair of the CIC Health & Safety Committee.  

The CIC Health and Safety Committee, which provides a forum for health and safety representatives of CIC member institutions and to meet, shape policy, discuss initiatives and develop responses on behalf of CIC and built environment professions, is CIC’s longest standing Committee. 
 
Paul, who was previously Deputy Chair of the Committee, is an Architect and Senior Technical Consultant at AHMM Architects and has worked in architectural practices globally for more than 40 years, on many types and sizes of projects in a variety of architectural and construction roles.  

Paul has specialist expertise within the fields of Fire Engineering, Construction Design and Management (CDM), Accessible Design and the application of Building and other Regulations. He is leading the way for the RIBA to embed the new Building Safety Act extended role of Principal Designers into everyday architectural practice by his authorship of a book on CDM 2015 and developing and delivering courses for active Architectural Principal Designers.  He is also currently visiting lecturer on CDM and Fire issues to 10 UK University Schools of Architecture.

“I have been a member of the Committee for some 15 years and coming towards the concluding chapter of my career I have been energised with a wish to use my experience to embed the findings of the Grenfell Tower disaster and the Building Safety Act into the Built Environment in general,” he said. “Being the CIC Health & Safety Committee Chair and working with CIC I hope to help to make a substantial improvement to our industry for the benefit of all. 

“The Principal Designer role was always intended to reside with the active “principal” or “lead” designer with knowledge and control of all aspects of the design and hence leading the ‘Design Risk Management’ process. There is of course a place for Building Regulations and CDM advisers, alongside other specialist consultants on many projects to assist the dutyholders with holistic design delivery. Working with the CIC, RIBA CIAT and the HSE and other organisations, together with the PI Insurance industry, I hope to establish a functioning industry that recognises the cultural change that is very much required.”
 
His colleague Philip Baker, who takes up the appointment as Deputy Chair, currently sits on this CIC Committee representing the Institution of Structural Engineers. He is also a senior industry practitioner and trainer.  

Philip has 40 years’ experience in the construction sector, and has spent more than a quarter of a century embedded in CDM related matters. He has delivered, advised and supported all the duty holder roles. Philip specialises in improving outcomes for construction workers and has been involved in setting industry standards in the UK and Europe. He is a former president of the Association of Project Safety (APS) and sits on their Board.
 
Commenting on his new role, Philip said: “This is an exciting opportunity for me to work more closely with Paul to continue to drive forward on the work of CIC and in particular to champion the importance of design and construction health and safety risk management amongst built environment professionals through the work of their professional bodies.  The competency framework that has come from the tragedy at Grenfell Tower gives CIC Members an imperative to stand back and revisit the guidance that they provide to their members and CIC Health and Safety Committee are delighted to be able to help them to deliver consistent standards across this, one of the most important industry sectors in the country.”

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