HSE appoints CROSS-UK as official voluntary building safety reporting body

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has formally appointed Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) as the official Voluntary Occurrence Reporting System (VORS) operator for structural and fire safety until at least 2028.

This appointment follows a competitive tender process and builds on CROSS-UK’s interim role as VORS operator since April 2023.

CROSS-UK’s role was created under the 2022 Building Safety Act as part of reforms implemented after the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.

The Act mandates an official VORS, but requires it to operate independently from both the regulator and central government. CROSS-UK’s function provides a secure, anonymous platform for professionals to report structural and fire safety issues.

Although appointed by the regulator, CROSS-UK will maintain operational independence. It is hosted by the Institution of Structural Engineers and receives support from the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Fire Engineers.

CROSS-UK Head of Operations Paul Livesey said: “CROSS has always championed the power of sharing knowledge to prevent future failures, and this appointment reinforces the critical role of confidential reporting in driving a safer built environment.”

The current term for CROSS-UK’s appointment runs to at least 2028.