Temporary Works Coordinator: Roles, Responsibilities and Legal Duties

What Are Temporary Works?

Temporary works are any structures or systems that are needed during construction but do not form part of the finished building. They are, by definition, temporary, but the risks they carry are anything but trivial. Examples include:

• Falsework: Temporary support structures for concrete during pouring and curing
• Formwork: Moulds into which concrete is poured
• Scaffolding: Access platforms for working at height
• Shoring and propping: Temporary support for existing structures during alterations or demolition
• Temporary excavation support: Trench sheets, hydraulic props, and sheet piling
• Temporary bridges and access roads: For site traffic
• Hoarding and fencing: Perimeter site security
• Dewatering systems: Pumping to keep excavations dry
• Crane bases and hardstandings: Temporary foundations for lifting equipment

The common thread is that these structures must be designed, installed, maintained, and removed safely. A failure at any stage can have catastrophic consequences.

The Legal Framework

The management of temporary works is governed by several pieces of UK legislation:

CDM 2015 Regulations

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require that all construction work is properly planned, managed, and monitored. The principal contractor must ensure that temporary works are included in the construction phase plan and that competent people are appointed to manage them.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The overarching duty to ensure the health and safety of employees and others affected by the work. This underpins every aspect of temporary works management.

BS 5975: Code of Practice for Temporary Works

While not a statutory requirement, BS 5975 is the recognised industry standard for temporary works management in the UK. HSE inspectors and courts routinely reference BS 5975 when assessing whether temporary works have been managed to an acceptable standard. In practice, compliance with BS 5975 is expected on all but the smallest projects.

The Temporary Works Coordinator Role

BS 5975 defines two key roles for temporary works management: the Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) and the Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS). The TWC is the more senior role and carries overall responsibility for the management process.

Who Should Be Appointed as TWC?

The TWC should be a person with:

• Sufficient knowledge and experience of the types of temporary works being used on the project
• Authority to stop work if temporary works are not being managed safely
• Adequate time to fulfil the role properly (it should not be an afterthought)
• Direct access to the site manager or project manager

On smaller projects, the site manager may take on the TWC role themselves. On larger projects, it is usually a dedicated appointment. The key point is that the person must be competent and have sufficient authority.

Core Responsibilities of the TWC

1. Maintaining the Temporary Works Register

The TWC must maintain a register of all temporary works on the project. This register should list every item of temporary works, its current status (designed, checked, installed, loaded, removed), and the responsible persons at each stage. The register is the central management tool and should be reviewed regularly.

2. Ensuring Adequate Design

All temporary works should be designed (or verified as adequate) before installation. The TWC is responsible for ensuring that:

• A design brief is prepared that clearly defines the requirements, loads, and conditions
• The design is carried out by a competent person (temporary works designer)
• The design is independently checked by a competent person who was not involved in the original design
• The design accounts for all foreseeable loading conditions, including construction loads, wind, and any dynamic effects

For proprietary systems (such as standard scaffolding or system formwork), the manufacturer's design guidance may suffice, but the TWC must verify that it is being applied correctly for the specific situation.

3. Coordinating the Design Check

BS 5975 requires that temporary works designs are independently checked. The TWC must arrange this check and ensure it is completed before work proceeds. The checker should be a person of at least equal competence to the designer, and ideally from a different organisation or department.

4. Issuing Permits to Load

Before any temporary works structure is loaded (for example, before concrete is poured into formwork), the TWC must issue a formal permit to load. This confirms that:

• The temporary works have been installed in accordance with the design
• The installation has been inspected and any defects rectified
• The structure is safe to receive the intended load

This is one of the most critical functions of the TWC. Loading temporary works before they are properly checked is one of the primary causes of failure.

5. Monitoring During Use

The TWC should ensure that temporary works are monitored throughout their period of use. This includes:

• Regular inspections (the frequency depends on the type and risk)
• Checking for any signs of distress, movement, or deterioration
• Responding to any changes in conditions (such as adverse weather or unforeseen loads)
• Maintaining records of all inspections

6. Controlling Dismantling

Temporary works must not be removed until it is safe to do so. The TWC must issue a formal permit to dismantle (or de-prop/strike in the case of formwork and falsework). This confirms that:

• The permanent works have gained sufficient strength or stability
• The sequence of removal has been planned and communicated
• Any back-propping requirements have been considered

Common Failures in Temporary Works Management

Analysis of temporary works incidents in the UK reveals recurring themes:

• No TWC appointed: The most basic failure. Without a named coordinator, the management process does not happen
• Generic designs: Using standard calculations without checking they apply to the specific situation on site
• Skipping the design check: Often done to save time or cost, with potentially fatal consequences
• Loading before permission: Concrete poured before the TWC has inspected and approved the formwork
• Premature removal: Striking formwork or removing propping before the concrete has reached adequate strength
• Poor communication: Between the TWC, the designer, the installer, and the site team
• Inadequate records: No register, no permits, no inspection records. Good documentation is essential

Practical Tips for TWCs

Use a Digital System

Paper-based temporary works registers are still common but can be difficult to manage on complex projects. Digital tools like FORGE Command allow you to maintain your register, issue permits, record inspections, and store design information in one place, accessible from site or office.

Engage Early

The TWC should be involved from the planning stage, not brought in after temporary works are already being installed. Early engagement allows proper design briefs to be prepared and avoids the pressure to approve works retrospectively.

Build Relationships with Designers

The TWC needs a good working relationship with the temporary works designers and checkers. Establish clear communication channels and turnaround times at the start of the project.

Be Visible on Site

A TWC who is regularly seen on the working areas, talking to installers and supervisors, is far more effective than one who manages the process entirely from a desk.

Never Compromise Under Programme Pressure

The most dangerous moments for temporary works are when the programme is under pressure. Concrete pours in particular are costly to delay, and the pressure to proceed without proper checks can be intense. The TWC must have the authority and the confidence to say no when the process has not been followed. This is non-negotiable.

Training and Competence

CITB and other providers offer specific TWC training courses, typically lasting one to two days. These courses cover the requirements of BS 5975 and provide practical guidance on managing the process. While there is no legal requirement for a specific qualification, completing a recognised TWC course is strongly recommended and increasingly expected by principal contractors.

The Relationship Between TWC and Other Roles

The TWC does not work in isolation. They interact with several other roles on the project:

• Site Manager / Project Manager: The TWC reports to the site manager and needs their support to enforce procedures. See our guide on the site manager's daily routine
• Principal Designer: Under CDM 2015, the principal designer should consider temporary works implications during the design stage
• Structural Engineer: The permanent works designer may need to provide information on loading assumptions and construction sequences
• Subcontractors: Many temporary works are installed by specialist subcontractors. The TWC must ensure they follow the agreed procedures

Summary

The Temporary Works Coordinator is one of the most important roles on a construction site. The consequences of getting temporary works wrong can be catastrophic, but the management process defined in BS 5975 is straightforward when properly implemented. Appoint a competent TWC early, maintain a comprehensive register, ensure designs are checked independently, never load without permission, and keep thorough records. These fundamentals will keep your temporary works safe and your project on track.