CITB Temporary Works Supervisor Training Course (TWSTC)

This one-day Temporary Works Supervisor Training Course (TWSTC) is designed to help those on site who have responsibility for supervising all forms of temporary works. The course seeks to improve the knowledge of this role and the temporary works environment. The development of this course was supported by several organisations, including the Temporary Works forum and the Health and Safety Executive. Temporary works are safety- and business-critical and require careful co-ordination. An accepted way of achieving this is through the adoption of the management process outlined in BS 5975:2019, which introduces the temporary works supervisor (TWS) as a key figure. This course explains the role and its overall management context. Temporary works on both smaller and larger sites can be high risk activities. Therefore, understanding the essentials of good risk and safety management, as outlined in BS 5975-1: 2024, is relevant for projects of all sizes. The course gives emphasis throughout to the importance of communication, co-ordination, co-operation and competency (the 4Cs), risk management, safety and business relations, allowing the TWS to:

• understand the need for and duties of a TWS
• understand the role of others
• have a detailed knowledge and understanding of BS 5975 in respect of this role.

Essential Site Skills is an established UK provider of the CITB Temporary Works Supervisor Training Course (TWSTC), supporting supervisors and site personnel to understand their responsibilities when working with temporary works in line with BS 5975. Our Temporary Works Supervisor course is delivered by industry-experienced professionals with real-world site knowledge.

Online Temporary Works Supervisor Course

In addition to our in-person courses, we also provide interactive Video Online Learning options for individuals working remotely who aspire to attain their CITB TWSTC qualification. These online sessions are conducted via Zoom virtual classrooms, led by our exceptionally qualified and experienced Site Safety Plus Temporary Works Tutors.

Attendance - Full attendance of the course is mandatory to achieve a pass. Should your internet connection fail during the course for a prolonged period of time, or repeatedly, you may not be able to re-join as requested by the trainer, unless it can be re-established within 5 minutes. This is so general learning is not disturbed for other participants. 

Course Publications - This course, including its group work and exercises, is constructed around BS 5975-1:2024. Learners are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of BS 5975-1:2024, and it is recommended that they bring a copy of BS 5975-1; however, their own organisation’s procedures and guidance on temporary works may be more suitable for reference during the course. In addition, ESS will provide a course workbook that meets the specification required by CITB.

Joining the Video Learning - Our courses are conducted via Zoom, and you will receive your personalised meeting link as part of your course enrolment instructions. We always recommend downloading the App in preparation of the course, you can find instructions here - https://zoom.us/download. Further support using Zoom can be found here – familiarise yourself with this prior to your course - https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/p/zoom-meetings-guide 

Important Temporary Works Course Information

• The main aim of this course is to focus on the processes involved in temporary works, commonly with particular attention on the role of the TWS.
• These courses are not temporary works technical awareness courses, although there are elements of technical awareness that are signposted throughout and that must be included in the course exercises.
• Attendance does not confer competency as a TWS; this comes from a mixture of education, training and experience, and should be judged by an appropriate senior individual, usually referred to as the designated individual (DI).
• Training is considered an essential element of TWS competence.

Temporary Works Supervisor Course Overview

This course complements the Temporary Works Co-ordinator Training Course (TWCTC) and is designed to provide training for those undertaking the role of Temporary Works Supervisor as defined in BS 5975-1:2024 (referred to hereafter as ‘BS 5975-1’). 

The role can be defined, relating to three clauses within the BS:

• Supervision and checking (Clause 7.4). The core role, applicable to all TWSs, and, if requested by the TWC, if competent to do so, and it satisfies the TWS’s own company procedures:
• Issuing load/unload permits (Clause 7.3.4) (In addition, although not formally part of the TWS role, if requested by the TWC, if competent to do so in respect of each individual action, and it satisfies the TWS’s own company procedures.)
• Assist the TWC discharge some of his/her responsibilities (specifically those which the TWC is permitted to delegate) (Clause 7.2.5)

The rationale for the Temporary Works Supervisor’s Course is to raise standards and set standards across the industry, and allow a transferable knowledge base between employers avoiding unnecessary supplementary training.

Purpose and Scope

The aim of this course is to focus on the risk management of temporary works with particular attention on the role of the TWS.

It seeks to consolidate and build on the risk-management knowledge that learners undertaking this role will have established through other experiences on site (likely in other supervisory or management roles) and focus on how to avoid failure in temporary works by adopting appropriate procedural controls, as outlined in BS 5875-1.

The TWSTC course will cover the following topics:

• the need for and duties of a TWS
• the other key roles involved in temporary works
• the use of BS 5975-1 in relation to the role
• typical documents used in temporary works
• other legislation and guidance that interact with temporary works
• the importance of the 4Cs: communication, co-ordination, co-operation and competence
• the need for risk management.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for the TWSTC, however it is a training centre’s responsibility to determine whether a learner is appropriate to attend the course. This may be achieved by requesting learners submit an Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL), or for learners to complete an initial assessment devised by the training centre.

Learners are expected to have a working knowledge of the following legislation:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2015
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
• The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

A key issue for temporary works is health and safety, so learners need to be prepared to discuss how health and safety legislation is relevant to temporary works, as well as which Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and H&S ACOPs may assist or contribute to safe practices in temporary works.

Learners need to be prepared to discuss and explore all the core health and safety factors that are integrated into temporary works processes at all stages of a project, from initiation to closure. They will need to have working knowledge of all associated legislation, specifically the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 in terms of its intention and compliance. Learners must also have a thorough understanding of health and safety principles, and understand the importance of risk management, design considerations, inspection and testing and recording and monitoring requirements.

Learners who have achieved a certificate approved against the Health and Safety in Construction Site Supervision standard (such as SSSTS or SSSTS-R) or the Health and Safety in Construction Site Management standard (such as SMSTS or SMSTS-R), will have gained the knowledge to meet these expectations. This is not a mandatory pre-requisite, but learners with these achievements will benefit from having this knowledge before attending the course.

To further support learners, CITB has created a Temporary works awareness eLearning which provides a foundation of the points that will be expanded on in this course. It explores how health and safety legislation plays a pivotal role in temporary works, and how documents which are common to more generic construction activities are a useful aid for planning and the ongoing management and monitoring of temporary works. Learners may also find it helpful to complete the Temporary works awareness eLearning provided by CITB, which is free to access here.

Photographic ID will be requested by the tutor at the start of the course i.e. Driving Licence/Passport.

Please be aware that it is a requirement of our Awarding Body - Site Safety Plus (CITB) that ALL delegates attending this course must read and understand English. If you do not think you will have the sufficient English skills in order to the pass the examination please contact us for advice on reasonable adjustments allowed by the Awarding Body.

Delegates Attending from Outside Great Britain (Remote Courses Only)

Essential Site Skills deliver CITB Site Safety Plus courses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For delegates joining remotely from outside Great Britain, CITB requires a short written declaration confirming that they are attending the course in order to work within the Great British construction industry. This must be completed before the course begins.

Learner Numbers

The minimum number of delegates per course is 4.  The maximum number of delegates per course is 20. For online courses the maximum number is 12. These are stipulated by the awarding body and are not subject to appeal.

Course Duration and Attendance

This is a one-day course. Learners must attend the full day and pass the end-of-course assessment (7.5 hours) to be eligible for certification.

Site Safety Plus (SSP) Courses

The CITB TWSTC forms an integral component of the Site Safety Plus course collection, which is offered by CITB Site Safety Plus to cater to individuals looking to enhance their competencies in the construction, civil engineering, and related sectors. These courses are meticulously crafted to accommodate a range of roles, spanning from operatives to senior managers, equipping participants with the essential skills required for career advancement within the construction industry. The course offerings span from the concise one-day Health and Safety Awareness program to the comprehensive five-day Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS). Additionally, we provide refresher courses to ensure that workers remain current with the latest industry techniques and safety practices, thereby promoting on-the-job safety.