Officials are facing increasing pressure to address safety concerns at the government building in Treforest following several incidents involving falling windows. The new building only just opened in 2020. It is home to about 1,600 employees. It has experienced several window-related mishaps, sparking fears for the safety of employees and visitors alike.
In July one window dropped out from the CG building’s 4th floor. Then, in August, a second window dropped out from the third floor. These incidents have raised important questions about the quality of construction and their current maintenance practices.
The crisis deepened in October 2023, when a piece of glass cracked inside the structure. As of this writing, three of our window panes have cracked or fallen out. This disquieting development has made headlines. To address safety concerns, on-site office attendance is currently limited to 40%, mirroring what most employees are comfortable with.
“We take staff and customer safety seriously. The site has reopened after being declared safe.” – DWP spokesperson
Even with the constant reassuring statements from officials, there seems to be a growing frustration among employees. Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), expressed frustration with the ongoing problems, stating, “The DWP office at Ty Taf has been a disaster since it first opened. Despite PCS raising several health and safety issues over the years, the DWP has failed to remedy the problems.”
The pattern of multiple events happening and continued community outcry indicates that this case may be worse than first reported. The Treforest building’s management now have to face these challenges in-person to guarantee the safety and confidence of its employees.
