Temporary works are an important part of the construction process where due care and attention must be given. In this week’s blog, we explain temporary works and some of the most common temporary works training courses available, such as TWCTC.

What Are Temporary Works?

Temporary works, often referred to as ‘TW’ are the temporary parts of the construction process that are needed before permanent works can start. Temporary works will be removed once the project is completed. A common example is the erecting and then removing scaffolding.

Other forms of temporary works include props, shoring, falsework and formwork, and excavation support. There may be times when the TW are incorporated into the permanent works, for example, haul road foundations that may be used for permanent access roads.

Temporary works are often only in place for a short amount of time so there could be a tendency to assume that they aren’t as important as permanent works, but this is a mistake; the exact same care and attention should be given to TW.

A lack of regard for safety or improper planning of temporary works could cause structures to fail or put workers at risk of injury. Accidents and poor planning can also cause project delays; as TW are just one aspect of a construction project, a delay will have a knock-on effect which can set entire projects back.

For these reasons, it is necessary that a site or a project has a trained person in place that will plan, and be responsible for the temporary works.

Do I need a Temporary Works Coordinator Onsite?

BS 5975 - Code of practice for temporary works procedures and the permissible stress design of falsework outlines a way to manage TW that has been found to be successful on medium and large projects. Whilst it isn’t a legal requirement, the standard recommends someone onsite with the title of Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) or Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS). 

As mentioned, this isn’t a legal requirement, but the standard is generally considered by the industry to be good practice and is adhered to.

When it comes to the laws around TW, you are required to ensure that work is allocated and carried out in a manner that does not create unacceptable risk of harm to workers or members of the public.  On smaller projects with simple temporary work needs, you might choose not to appoint a TWC. However, to ensure safety, you must still ensure that the TW are properly managed and that all staff involved are suitably trained.

CITB Temporary Works Training

Essential Site Skills offer three CITB accredited courses for those involved in the planning and supervising of temporary works, including workers who will be around TW;

CITB Temporary Works Supervisor Training Course (TWSTC)

This one-day Temporary Works Supervisor course is designed to assist those on site who have responsibility for supervising temporary works.

CITB Temporary Works Coordinator Training Course (TWCTC)

The two-day Temporary Works Coordinator Training Course (TWCTC) is designed to assist those on site who have responsibility for managing all forms of temporary works. The Temporary Works Coordinator course has been designed to give confidence to senior management, and to ensure that those who engage contractors have an assessed standard of knowledge.

CITB Temporary Works Refresher (TWCTC-R)

Introduced in March 2023, the one-day Temporary Works Refresher is for learners who have completed the two-day Temporary Works Coordinator (TWCTC) within the last five years.

CITB Temporary Works General Awareness eCourse

The Temporary Works General Awareness ECourse is a free course for everyone regardless of their background or experience, and are not actively undertaking the role of the Temporary Works Co-ordinator or Supervisor. The course is designed for candidates who have limited or no previous knowledge of temporary works and wish to have an awareness of Temporary works on UK construction sites.

All four courses are accredited by CITB and have been designed in accordance with BS 5975 so that learners know that they are receiving standard industry practice information.

All three of our temporary works training courses are available to book online, at select Essential Site Skills venues. We also deliver bespoke on-site training to meet client demands at any location within the UK.

If you need more information before booking, then please get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help you.