Classify temporary works into design check categories according to complexity and risk of failure.
Occupational Health & Safety
Temporary Works Coordination and Design Checking on Construction Sites
Trains temporary works coordinators and designers to classify temporary works, manage design checking categories and control the permit process that governs propping, formwork and excavation support.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
Temporary works such as propping, formwork, falsework and excavation support fail more often from poor coordination than from poor design, because responsibility gets lost between designer, checker and the site team loading the structure. This course trains temporary works coordinators, supervisors and designers to apply recognised roles and design check categories, manage a temporary works register, and control the permit-to-load process that confirms a structure is ready to carry load. Through drawing review exercises, category classification scenarios and mock design check panels, participants learn to classify temporary works by risk, appoint an independent checker where required, verify that a design matches site conditions, and issue permits only when construction matches the checked design. The course also covers common failure modes in propping and falsework, and the site inspections that catch deviations before they become incidents. Participants leave with a temporary works register template, a design check record and a permit-to-load form ready for their own projects.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Coordinate the design, check and approval sequence between designer, checker and contractor.
Maintain a temporary works register that tracks status from design brief to strike-out.
Verify that constructed temporary works match the checked design before issuing a permit to load.
Inspect propping, formwork and falsework for deviations that could compromise load capacity.
Appoint independent checkers for higher-category temporary works and review their findings.
Investigate temporary works failures and near misses to identify coordination gaps.
Who Should Attend
Temporary works coordinators and supervisors on construction and civil engineering projects.
Site engineers and design engineers producing or checking temporary works designs.
Principal contractors' staff responsible for permit-to-load sign-off.
Formwork and scaffolding subcontractor managers supplying temporary structures.
Health and safety advisors auditing temporary works control on site.
Project managers accountable for temporary works risk on their programmes.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Classifying Temporary Works and Assigning Responsibilities
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Defining Temporary Works and Design Check Categories
- Define which site activities count as temporary works, from trench support to tower crane bases.
- Classify each temporary works item into a design check category based on complexity and consequence of failure.
- Distinguish the duties of the designer, the checker and the temporary works coordinator on a project.
- Identify when an independent checker outside the design organisation must be appointed.
Session 2Setting Up the Temporary Works Register
- Open a temporary works register entry for each item, recording category, designer and target dates.
- Track register status through design, check, approval, construction, use and strike-out stages.
- Flag overdue or unchecked items on the register to project management before construction proceeds.
- Archive completed temporary works records for future reference and potential reuse.
02Managing the Design and Checking Process
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Briefing Designers and Reviewing Design Assumptions
- Write a design brief that states loading, ground conditions, sequence and site constraints accurately.
- Review design assumptions against actual site conditions before construction of the temporary structure begins.
- Identify interface risks where temporary works interact with permanent structures or adjacent operations.
- Coordinate design revisions when site conditions change after the original design was issued.
Session 2Running the Independent Check and Recording Outcomes
- Select a checker with the competence and independence appropriate to the design check category.
- Run a design check that verifies calculations, drawings and construction sequence against the brief.
- Record check outcomes, including any required design amendments, on the temporary works register.
- Resolve disagreements between designer and checker through an agreed escalation route.
03Controlling Construction and the Permit to Load
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Inspecting Construction Against the Checked Design
- Inspect propping, formwork and falsework as built against the checked drawing before loading.
- Identify common deviations such as missing bracing, incorrect prop spacing or substituted materials.
- Verify ground bearing conditions and foundations supporting temporary structures on site.
- Document inspection findings and required remedial actions before requesting permit sign-off.
Session 2Issuing and Managing the Permit to Load
- Issue a permit to load only once inspection confirms construction matches the checked design.
- Set conditions on the permit, including maximum load, sequence and monitoring requirements.
- Control who can authorise loading, striking or dismantling of temporary works on site.
- Suspend a permit immediately if conditions change or damage to the structure is observed.
04Learning from Failures and Strengthening Coordination
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Investigating Temporary Works Failures and Near Misses
- Investigate temporary works collapses and near misses to identify design, check or site failures.
- Analyse common failure modes in falsework and propping, including overload and inadequate bracing.
- Report temporary works incidents through the organisation's incident management system.
- Share lessons learned across project teams to prevent repeat coordination failures.
Session 2Strengthening Governance Across the Organisation
- Audit temporary works coordination on live projects against the organisation's procedure and recognised guidance.
- Train site supervisors to recognise unauthorised changes to temporary works on their sections.
- Benchmark the temporary works procedure against industry guidance and update it periodically.
- Report temporary works risk and register status to senior management on a regular basis.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
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