Building a culture of safety and trust through the Golden Thread
The author participated in a panel discussion on the Golden Thread at the Building Safety Conference hosted by Westminster Insight. The conversation explored practical approaches to building safety, highlighting cultural shifts and technology’s critical role.
Panel Members:
- Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive, Construction Products Association
- Aman Sharma MBE, Building Regulations Advisory Committee Member
- Jonathan Zokay, Safety Case Manager, Clarion Housing Group
- Ben Mark, Partner, RiskFlag
- Paul Vain, Head of Growth, Findable
What Is the Golden Thread?
The Golden Thread represents a structured approach to managing building records throughout a facility’s lifecycle. It extends beyond regulatory compliance to create a system demonstrating building safety at any point in time.
Jonathan Zokay emphasized the concept isn’t merely documentation for regulators but rather “a clear, organised system” ensuring safety information flows from design through occupancy. The implementation requires organized, accessible systems rather than checklist compliance.
Safety as a Cultural Shift
Aman Sharma stressed that asset owners must “own, manage, and present it clearly to the regulators,” making the case for full compliance. The Building Safety Act 2022 represents a fundamental shift from minimum compliance thinking to systemic risk management.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2017 interim report highlighted a “widespread culture of waiting to be told what to do by regulators rather than taking responsibility.” The Golden Thread requirements support this necessary cultural transformation.
Ben Mark drew parallels to military aviation safety culture, where reporting risks and learning collectively matters more than assigning blame—a model residential real estate should adopt.
Technology’s Role in Compliance and Transparency
Digital tools help automatically track compliance elements, identifying gaps in documentation. Technology reduces personal burden by having systems flag non-compliance automatically rather than relying on individual whistleblowers.
Centralized, digitalized systems storing all files in one location improve accessibility. AI capabilities can instantly summarize documentation, helping teams understand building information better.
Peter Caplehorn noted that managing health and safety well represents sound business practice. Modern inspectors require documentation proving compliance rather than accepting unsupported sign-offs.
What Does “Safe” Really Mean?
Ben Mark observed that “safety is absolutely not absolute!” Nothing achieves 100% safety; instead, safety involves balancing risks and rewards. The Golden Thread enables demonstrating that organizations have mitigated risks appropriately and made decisions based on available data.
Overcoming Siloed Information
Fragmented safety data across departments creates knowledge gaps and non-compliance. The construction industry must accelerate digitization, adopting fresh approaches from other sectors.
Breaking down silos requires engaging residents, contractors, and all staff levels. As Ben Mark noted, these groups provide valuable property insights. Digital tools centralize information, strengthening regulatory readiness.
Conclusion
The Golden Thread reshapes building safety approaches as the industry embraces its broader impact. Continued progress requires driving cultural change, leveraging technology fully, and embedding safety across all building lifecycle stages. True success means designing genuinely safe buildings rather than merely meeting regulatory requirements.