Temporary Works Risks and How to Manage Them

• Temporary works must be properly designed, checked and maintained to prevent collapses or other dangerous failures.
• Unauthorised changes to temporary works on site increase risk; all modifications must go through the design and approval process again.
• A Temporary Works Coordinator should be appointed to ensure that temporary works designs are properly implemented and that necessary checks are made.
• Weather and ground conditions must be assessed before installation and monitored throughout use to avoid instability.

Temporary works are structures or features that enable building work, maintenance or demolition. They provide access for workers or support for permanent works, plant, or equipment during construction.

Common types of temporary works include:

• Scaffolding
• Formwork and falsework
• Excavation supports
• Temporary platforms
• Hoardings and fencing
• Temporary roads or bridges
• Lifting and access equipment foundations

Temporary works aren’t designed to last, but people still work in, around and on them, so stability and safety are crucial.

Whenever temporary works are used, the following regulations apply.

CDM 2015 establishes a framework for managing health and safety across construction projects. Key duty holders have specific responsibilities when it comes to temporary works:

• Clients: Must ensure that arrangements are made for managing projects safely, which includes appointing competent designers and contractors. For projects involving temporary works, this may involve appointing a Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) to oversee their management.
• Principal Designers: Responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the pre-construction phase, which includes identifying and eliminating foreseeable risks associated with temporary works.
• Principal Contractors: Must plan, manage and monitor the construction phase, coordinating matters relating to health and safety. This includes ensuring that temporary works are properly designed, installed and maintained, often in collaboration with a TWC.
• Contractors: Required to plan, manage and monitor their own work to ensure it’s carried out safely. They must cooperate with the principal contractor and other duty holders, following the agreed procedures for temporary works.

These regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. When temporary works involve working at height, such as scaffolding or formwork, the regulations require that:

• Work at height is properly planned and organised
• Risks are assessed and managed
• Those involved in work at height are competent
• Equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained

PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work is:

• Suitable for the intended use and installed correctly
• Safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and subject to regular inspections
• Used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training

This includes temporary structures like platforms or supports used during construction activities.

LOLER applies to lifting equipment and operations, including those involving temporary works. The regulations require that:

• Lifting operations are properly planned by a competent person
• Lifting equipment is used in a safe manner
• Equipment is subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by competent persons

While not a legal requirement, BS 5975 provides widely accepted guidance on managing temporary works. It outlines best practices, including:

• The appointment of a Temporary Works Coordinator to oversee temporary works procedures
• The use of a Temporary Works Register to track and manage temporary works
• Procedures for the design, checking and implementation of temporary works

Following BS 5975 can help demonstrate compliance with legal duties under CDM 2015 and is considered industry standard.

Because temporary works aren’t made to last, they don’t always receive the same level of attention as permanent structures. But cutting corners on temporary works can lead to serious safety risks, including

• Weak or missing designs
• Lack of inspections
• Poor communication between contractors
• Untrained workers
• Ignoring weather or ground conditions
• On-site changes without checks

Each of these creates risks that can lead to accidents, including falls from height, which accounted for 36% of all work-related deaths last year.

Scaffolding provides temporary access at height and is widely used across construction sites. But it can collapse without proper design, erection or maintenance.

Common causes include missing guardrails, improper bracing, unstable foundations or placing too much weight on the structure. Wind or poor weather also affects stability.

To manage the risk, scaffolding must be erected by competent workers following recognised industry guidance, such as TG20 and SG4 from the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC).

Scaffolds must also be inspected by a competent person at set times:

• Before first use
• At least once every seven days
• After any event that might have affected stability, such as bad weather

On top of these inspections, basic checks at the start of every workday are considered best practice.

Employers must also ensure that scaffolding users have suitable safety training under the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Excavation work can be hazardous. Trenches can collapse without warning, burying workers and equipment.

Key causes include unsupported sides, water build-up and plant vibration near edges. Even shallow excavations can be dangerous if the soil is unstable. These collapses often happen suddenly, giving little chance to escape.

You must assess ground conditions and design proper support systems. Shoring, trench boxes or battering should be used as needed. Workers must be trained on the relevant hazards and emergency procedures before entering an excavation, and a competent person must inspect the area daily.

Falsework holds up structures like concrete slabs or walls while they cure. Formwork supports the shape of poured concrete and needs to withstand high pressure. If they fail, structures can collapse mid-construction.

Failures are often caused by incorrect assembly, unstable foundations or mistakes as the falsework or formwork is removed.

To prevent this, falsework and formwork must be designed by a competent engineer and built to design specifications. Changes should never be made on-site without approval. Inspections before pouring concrete are also vital.

British Standard 5975 covers falsework, including guidance on its design, use and dismantling.

Temporary works often involve several parties – designers, contractors, subcontractors and labourers. If groups don’t coordinate, there can be misunderstandings around load limits, design changes or site conditions.

Appointing a Temporary Works Coordinator is one of the best ways to manage communication. The TWC ensures that all temporary works are safely planned, checked after installation and used as intended during the project.

Workers are often expected to finish tasks quickly. This pressure can lead to unauthorised changes such as moving support frames, removing braces or altering scaffolding to access another part of the site.

Quick fixes aren’t acceptable when it comes to temporary works. Every change must go through the design and approval process again.  A clear permit system can help prevent unsafe modifications.

Many temporary works failures are linked to weather or ground conditions. Heavy rain can soften soil, making it unstable. Frozen ground can cause supports to slip. Wind can destabilise tall or lightweight structures.

To mitigate these risks, ground investigations must take place before installation, and wind loads, water levels and soil types must be considered during the design stage.

CDM 2015 also requires dutyholders to assess and control site risks, including those related to the environment, so monitor conditions regularly, especially during or after bad weather.

To keep workers and projects safe, follow these basic principles:

The TWC ensures that temporary works are carried out in line with approved designs and procedures. Their role is to ensure that all temporary works are properly planned, checked, used only as intended and removed safely.

Designs must be completed by competent persons and checked independently if needed.

No work should begin without formal approval. A permit to work system helps control high-risk jobs by making sure proper checks are done before work starts.

Inspections must be carried out regularly. For scaffolding, this includes daily checks plus full inspections every seven days or after any change or event that might have compromised the structure, such as adverse weather.

For other temporary works, inspection frequency should be based on risk and defined in the temporary works procedure, under the supervision of the TWC.

Document all designs, approvals and inspections to meet legal obligations.

Ensure everyone involved understands the risks associated with temporary works and their responsibilities.

Temporary works risks can be reduced, but only when everyone involved knows what to look for and how to act. Training plays a major role here. When your team understands the risks and control measures, they’re less likely to make mistakes that cause incidents.

Our online Temporary Works Awareness training gives workers a basic understanding of temporary works safety.

The course explains:

• What temporary works are and why they matter.
• Duties under CDM 2015, Work at Height Regulations and BS 5975.
• Common causes of failure
• Control measures and inspection requirements
• How permit to work systems help keep control

Enrol your staff in the course to help them understand and manage the risks associated with temporary works and ensure a safe working environment.