What ICE’s new safety action plan means for the construction industry

In July 2025, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) unveiled a renewed safety action plan, prompted by escalating concerns over infrastructure safety standards across the UK. The initiative stems from a comprehensive sector review conducted in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and openly concedes that previous efforts to enhance safety have fallen short.

What is the ICE Safety Action Plan?

The ICE Safety Action Plan is a new initiative that aims to embed safety more deeply into engineering culture, professional standards, and everyday practice, and was developed in response to systemic risks and high-profile failures.

The three pillars of ICE

ICE’s core mission and activities revolve around three foundational themes that underpin its role in the civil engineering profession:

Competence

• Independent verification of skills for safety-critical roles.
• Stronger training and accreditation standards.
  
  

Learning from failure

• Embedding lessons from past incidents into everyday practice.
• Encouraging open reporting and knowledge sharing.

Culture and practice

• Challenging harmful norms.
• Promoting a proactive, safety-first mindset across all levels.

Why has ICE’s plan come into place now?

Several key factors prompted the timing of the ICE Safety Action Plan:

• Post-Grenfell accountability: Eight years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the civil engineering sector has faced criticism for its slow and insufficient response. ICE acknowledged that efforts to improve safety have been inadequate and that a stronger leadership stance was needed.
• Ageing infrastructure: Many critical assets have exceeded their design lifespans, increasing the risk of structural failure. The need to repurpose or extend the life of existing infrastructure, rather than build new, has introduced complex safety challenges.
• Changing risk landscape: The frequency and severity of extreme weather events, combined with squeezed maintenance budgets, have made infrastructure more vulnerable. ICE’s review found that safety risks have actually increased since Grenfell.^[1]
• Legal and moral obligations: The Building Safety Act 2022 reshaped expectations for safety across all infrastructure, not just buildings. ICE’s plan helps members meet these evolving legal and ethical standards.
• Cultural and operational reform: The review highlighted harmful industry norms that prevent engineers from fully applying their expertise. ICE is now pushing for a culture of learning from failure, improving competence, and challenging outdated practices.

What does the ICE Safety Action Plan mean for the construction industry?

The ICE Safety Action Plan signals a major shift for the construction industry, as it is not just about compliance, but about culture, competence, and accountability.

• Higher standards for safety risk management: Construction firms will need to adopt more rigorous safety protocols, especially for ageing infrastructure and repurposed assets. The plan pushes for better tools, frameworks, and training to manage complex risks.
• Competence over credentials: The plan calls for independent verification of professionals in safety-critical roles, ensuring they’re genuinely equipped to handle high-risk tasks.
• Learning from failure: The industry must proactively study failures, near misses, and precursor events to prevent future incidents.
• Cultural reform: Harmful norms, like sidelining safety to meet deadlines or budgets, are being challenged. ICE wants engineers to feel empowered to speak up and apply their expertise without compromise.
• Legal alignment: The Building Safety Act 2022 has broadened safety obligations across infrastructure. The ICE plan helps firms align with these evolving legal and ethical expectations.
• Public trust and reputation: Firms that embrace the plan’s principles may gain a reputational edge, showing clients and regulators they’re serious about safety and sustainability.

How the construction industry can prepare for the ICE Safety Action Plan

There are several ways in which construction businesses can prepare for the sweeping changes of the ICE Safety Action Plan:

• Review internal safety protocols and training standards: Conduct internal reviews to identify cultural and operational norms that may hinder safety, such as prioritising deadlines over risk mitigation.
• Prepare for audits or new verification processes: Use these audits to challenge outdated practices and embed a culture of learning from failure.
• Engage with ICE’s upcoming resources and CPD opportunities: Safety risk management will become a mandatory CPD topic for ICE members.
• Foster a culture of openness and continuous improvement: Engage with professional bodies, regulators, and peer organisations to share insights and align on best practices.

Curious how these changes might impact your construction liability or insurance cover?

Our specialist team is here to help you align your policy with the latest safety standards from ICE. Just give us a call on 0330 828 5378 to find out more.

About the author

Alison Wild BCom (Hons), FMAAT, MATT, Taxation Technician is a highly respected industry professional who has been working with and advising SMEs in areas including tax, pensions, insurance and marketing for over 25 years. She is a Fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) and also has 20 years' experience as a residential landlord.

Source

[1] https://www.ice.org.uk/news-views-insights/media-centre/press-releases-list/infrastructure-safety-risks-have-increased-since-grenfell-tragedy-says-institution-of-civil-engineers?form=MG0AV3

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