Temporary works on UK construction projects are often at their highest risk immediately before they are put into use. In London, where projects are fast-paced and subject to changing conditions, many incidents occur at the point where temporary works are loaded without proper verification.
Under BS 5975, temporary works must not be loaded, used or relied upon until they have been fully checked, inspected and approved. Pre-use checks act as a critical control stage, ensuring that temporary works are safe, complete and fit for purpose before they are brought into service.
While procedures such as design checks, risk assessments and inspections may be in place, evidence shows that failures often occur where temporary works are used prematurely or without formal verification.
Why Pre-Use Checks Are Critical
Temporary works frequently support partially completed structures and carry loads that may exceed those in the final condition. If temporary works are loaded before they are ready, the consequences can include structural instability, collapse, injury and significant project delays.
Pre-use checks ensure that:
Without these checks, there is no assurance that the system is safe to use.
What Are Temporary Works Pre-Use Checks?
Pre-use checks are formal verification steps carried out before temporary works are loaded or used. They confirm that all stages of the temporary works process have been completed and that the system is safe to operate.
These checks typically include:
Pre-use checks act as the final safety gateway before temporary works are brought into service.
How Pre-Use Checks Fit Into the BS 5975 System
Pre-use checks are not standalone activities. They sit within a wider control system that includes design, risk assessment, inspection and permit procedures.
As explained in Temporary Works Design Check Categories Explained (BS 5975): Category 0, 1, 2 and 3, all temporary works designs must be checked for concept, adequacy and compliance before construction begins. This ensures that the design itself is safe before it is implemented.
Similarly, Temporary Works Risk Assessment (BS 5975): How to Identify and Control Risks identifies hazards associated with loading, sequencing and site conditions. Pre-use checks verify that these risks have been properly controlled before use.
Inspection is another key control stage. As outlined in Temporary Works Inspections (BS 5975): When, Who and What Must Be Checked, temporary works must be inspected before loading to confirm that installation matches the approved design and that no defects are present.
Finally, permit systems provide formal authorisation. Temporary Works Permits Explained (BS 5975): Permit to Load, Proceed and Dismantle explains how permits act as a controlled gateway, ensuring that temporary works are not loaded until all checks have been completed.
This integration ensures that pre-use checks are part of a structured, end-to-end process rather than a single step.
What Must Be Verified Before Loading
Before temporary works are loaded or used, several key elements must be verified.
Design Verification
The design must be complete, approved and checked according to the appropriate category. Design checks should confirm concept, adequacy and compliance with the design brief.
Installation Compliance
Temporary works must be installed in accordance with approved drawings. Any deviations must be reviewed and approved before use.
Inspection Completion
Inspections must confirm that the system is correctly installed, undamaged and fit for purpose.
Risk Controls in Place
All hazards identified in risk assessments must be controlled and monitored.
Permit Approval
A formal permit to load or proceed must be issued where required, confirming that all checks have been completed.
Who Is Responsible for Pre-Use Checks
Responsibility for pre-use checks is shared across the temporary works management system.
The Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) is responsible for ensuring that all procedures are followed and that temporary works are not used without proper verification.
The Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) typically carries out or supports inspections on site, confirming that installation matches the design.
Designers and engineers may also be involved in verifying that the system meets design requirements, particularly for complex or high-risk works.
This shared responsibility ensures that pre-use checks are carried out by competent personnel with appropriate knowledge.
Common Failures in Pre-Use Checks
Failures in temporary works often occur at the point where pre-use checks are bypassed or inadequately implemented.
Common issues include:
In many cases, programme pressure leads to temporary works being used prematurely, significantly increasing risk.
What This Means on Site
In practical terms, pre-use checks must be treated as critical safety controls, not administrative tasks.
On site, this means:
Where pre-use checks are properly implemented, they provide a clear safeguard against premature loading and unsafe use.
Evidence-Based Summary
Temporary works safety is not achieved through design, inspection or risk assessment alone but through a combination of verification stages before use. Evidence shows that failures frequently occur where temporary works are loaded without confirmation that design, installation and inspection requirements have been met.
In practical terms, this means that pre-use checks under BS 5975 act as a critical safety gateway, ensuring that temporary works are only used when they have been fully verified, approved and controlled.
Under BS 5975, temporary works must not be loaded, used or relied upon until they have been fully checked, inspected and approved. Pre-use checks act as a critical control stage, ensuring that temporary works are safe, complete and fit for purpose before they are brought into service.
While procedures such as design checks, risk assessments and inspections may be in place, evidence shows that failures often occur where temporary works are used prematurely or without formal verification.
Why Pre-Use Checks Are Critical
Temporary works frequently support partially completed structures and carry loads that may exceed those in the final condition. If temporary works are loaded before they are ready, the consequences can include structural instability, collapse, injury and significant project delays.
Pre-use checks ensure that:
- The design has been verified
- Installation matches the approved design
- All inspections have been completed
- Risks have been identified and controlled
Without these checks, there is no assurance that the system is safe to use.
What Are Temporary Works Pre-Use Checks?
Pre-use checks are formal verification steps carried out before temporary works are loaded or used. They confirm that all stages of the temporary works process have been completed and that the system is safe to operate.
These checks typically include:
- Confirmation that design has been approved
- Verification that design checks have been completed
- Inspection of installation against drawings
- Review of risk assessments and control measures
- Confirmation that permits are in place
Pre-use checks act as the final safety gateway before temporary works are brought into service.
How Pre-Use Checks Fit Into the BS 5975 System
Pre-use checks are not standalone activities. They sit within a wider control system that includes design, risk assessment, inspection and permit procedures.
As explained in Temporary Works Design Check Categories Explained (BS 5975): Category 0, 1, 2 and 3, all temporary works designs must be checked for concept, adequacy and compliance before construction begins. This ensures that the design itself is safe before it is implemented.
Similarly, Temporary Works Risk Assessment (BS 5975): How to Identify and Control Risks identifies hazards associated with loading, sequencing and site conditions. Pre-use checks verify that these risks have been properly controlled before use.
Inspection is another key control stage. As outlined in Temporary Works Inspections (BS 5975): When, Who and What Must Be Checked, temporary works must be inspected before loading to confirm that installation matches the approved design and that no defects are present.
Finally, permit systems provide formal authorisation. Temporary Works Permits Explained (BS 5975): Permit to Load, Proceed and Dismantle explains how permits act as a controlled gateway, ensuring that temporary works are not loaded until all checks have been completed.
This integration ensures that pre-use checks are part of a structured, end-to-end process rather than a single step.
What Must Be Verified Before Loading
Before temporary works are loaded or used, several key elements must be verified.
Design Verification
The design must be complete, approved and checked according to the appropriate category. Design checks should confirm concept, adequacy and compliance with the design brief.
Installation Compliance
Temporary works must be installed in accordance with approved drawings. Any deviations must be reviewed and approved before use.
Inspection Completion
Inspections must confirm that the system is correctly installed, undamaged and fit for purpose.
Risk Controls in Place
All hazards identified in risk assessments must be controlled and monitored.
Permit Approval
A formal permit to load or proceed must be issued where required, confirming that all checks have been completed.
Who Is Responsible for Pre-Use Checks
Responsibility for pre-use checks is shared across the temporary works management system.
The Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) is responsible for ensuring that all procedures are followed and that temporary works are not used without proper verification.
The Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) typically carries out or supports inspections on site, confirming that installation matches the design.
Designers and engineers may also be involved in verifying that the system meets design requirements, particularly for complex or high-risk works.
This shared responsibility ensures that pre-use checks are carried out by competent personnel with appropriate knowledge.
Common Failures in Pre-Use Checks
Failures in temporary works often occur at the point where pre-use checks are bypassed or inadequately implemented.
Common issues include:
- Temporary works loaded before inspection
- Permits issued without verification
- Installation not checked against drawings
- Risk assessments not reviewed
- Changes made without re-approval
In many cases, programme pressure leads to temporary works being used prematurely, significantly increasing risk.
What This Means on Site
In practical terms, pre-use checks must be treated as critical safety controls, not administrative tasks.
On site, this means:
- Temporary works must not be loaded without formal verification
- All design, inspection and risk assessment stages must be complete
- Permits must be issued based on actual site conditions
- Any changes must trigger re-checking and re-approval
- Responsibilities must be clearly defined
Where pre-use checks are properly implemented, they provide a clear safeguard against premature loading and unsafe use.
Evidence-Based Summary
Temporary works safety is not achieved through design, inspection or risk assessment alone but through a combination of verification stages before use. Evidence shows that failures frequently occur where temporary works are loaded without confirmation that design, installation and inspection requirements have been met.
In practical terms, this means that pre-use checks under BS 5975 act as a critical safety gateway, ensuring that temporary works are only used when they have been fully verified, approved and controlled.
For a structured overview of how temporary works should be managed in UK
construction, including roles, design checks and compliance
requirements, see this Temporary Works UK: BS 5975 Compliance Guidance.
|
Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
