Accountable, appointed, designated, engaged, responsible persons and duty holders

[edit] Accountable persons

A reformed building safety regulatory system, Government response to the ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in April 2020 defines the 'accountable person' as: ‘The duty-holder during a building’s occupation.’ In most cases this will be the freeholder or head lessee or a management company.

It suggests that; ‘The Accountable Person will be legally responsible for ensuring that they understand fire and structuralrisks in their buildings and to take appropriate steps and actions to mitigate and manage these fire and structural risks on an ongoing basis so the building can be safely occupied. The Accountable Person will be required to appoint a competentBuilding Safety Manager, approved under a system agreed by the Building Safety Regulator, to support them in carrying out the day to day functions of ensuring that the building is safely managed. However, ultimate accountability will reside with the Accountable Person for assessing and managing fire and structural safety risks.’

The Building Safety Act 2022 states that the “accountable person” for a higher-risk building is—

(a) a person who holds a legal estate in possession in any part of the common parts (subject to subsection (2)), or

(b) a person who does not hold a legal estate in any part of the building but who is under a relevant repairing obligationin relation to any part of the common parts.

See also: Principal accountable person and Government guidance 'Safety in high-rise residential buildings: accountable persons'

[edit] Appointed persons

Appointed person can be a general term for someone who is given the authority and responsibility to assess, plan and organise a particular project, piece of work or task.

The term might more specifically used in construction with reference to lifting operations where is they are the person responsible for the execution and safety of a lifting operation, though duties may be delegated to others, but the appointed person retains the responsibility of the operation. An appointed person may also be a crane supervisor or crane operator in addition to being an appointed person and must have good working knowledge of lifting operations and safe working.

see article Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) or Crane regulations.

The term might also be used with reference to a first-aider. An appointed person is someone who is in charge of first aid arrangements, including looking after equipment, facilities and calling the emergency services. There can be more than one appointed person and they don't need to have any formal training but must always be available whenever people are at work. See article First aider.

[edit] Designated persons

A designated person can refer to a person whom is selected or named for a task or role, it is many respects similar to an appointed person but less formal or specific often designation may be through a verbal instruction rther than written.

The term designation is more commonly used in association with objects in design and construction such as designated areas, designated sites, designated land or designated powers.

[edit] Engaged persons

[edit] Responsible persons

[edit] Duty holders