tech tips Temporary works Temporary works - such as formwork, scaffolding, dams and work platforms - are safety critical and subject to CDM rules. Mikk Bradley explains... Temporary Works Waterway Recovery Group have recently prepared a guidance video on managing temporary works and this article outlines the key points of managing temporary works in restoration . Just about all restoration projects will have some form of temporary works, which will need to be planned and possibly designed. Temporary works are defined in British Standard 5975 Code of Practice for Temporary Works Procedures and the Permissible Stress Design of Falsework (BS5975) as the parts of the works that allow or enable the construction of the permanent structure or asset, or provide protection support or access to the works and is described as an engineered solution. They may be removed after use or remain in place in the permanent works. Some examples of temporary works that are likely to be found on a restoration project are:
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Access roads Scaffolding Formwork for concreting Edge protection Excavation supports Earth dams Fencing Floating platforms Work platforms for plant Temporary embankments or cuttings
Temporary works are safety critical and require the same level of design and construction as permanent works. When designing temporary works you must consider how you will remove them when you have finished using them. The nature of restoration projects often requires temporary works to be left in place longer than on a commercial construction site. The design of temporary works can be specialist works because the designer needs to understand how they are to be used and how they are affected by
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other work nearby. For example the designer of formwork for a concrete pour will need to understand how the concrete will be poured and the rate of filling the forms. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) requires volunteers (as workers) to be competent and those carrying out temporary works need have had the appropriate education, training and to be experienced. They need to be judged by a senior person in the restoration group as being competent. Temporary works procedures should cover the management of the design process and include measures for ensuring that the design function and the roles for co-ordination and supervision of temporary works is carried out by competent individuals. The volunteer organizing the temporary works needs to be aware of the problems that can occur at each stage of the process and needs to co-ordinate the design, selection of equipment, appointment of installers, supervision of the work, checking completion and giving authorization to load or unload. This needs to be done in a systematic way to prevent problems occurring. Not all temporary works need to be designed. For small scale and straightforward situations a standard solution may be appropriate, for example the use of a tower scaffold or road forms for concrete slab construction. BS5975 sets out one way of managing temporary works that works well on medium and large projects, but the principles can be applied to all restoration projects and the detail required will depend on the size and complexity of the restoration project. BS5975 introduces the Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC), who must be appointed by someone senior in the restoration group, known as the Designated Individual. Restoration groups need to demonstrate that they have an effective procedure in place for controlling the risks from the use of temporary works. The procedure will contain some or all of the following elements:
