Temporary Works and Scaffolding Flashcards

Under BS 5975, who must be appointed to coordinate all temporary works on a specialist construction project?

Answer: A Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) with appropriate competence

BS 5975:2019 (Code of practice for temporary works) requires the appointment of a Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) to manage and coordinate all temporary works. The TWC ensures designs are checked, permits are issued before loading, and structures are inspected before handover. This is a specific role requiring demonstrated competence.

Before a specialist scaffold can be loaded and used, what formal process must be completed?

Answer: A scaffold inspection by a competent person, recorded on a scaffold inspection report (SG4 or TG20 compliance), and a handover certificate issued

Before use, a competent person must inspect the scaffold, confirm it complies with the design (TG20 for standard scaffolds, bespoke design for complex ones), record the inspection findings, and issue a handover certificate. The scaffold must have a green tag or equivalent status indication. No one should use a scaffold displaying a red tag.

What is the maximum permissible gap between scaffold boards on a working platform used by specialist trades?

Answer: 25mm

The maximum gap between scaffold boards on a working platform should not exceed 25mm. Larger gaps create trip hazards and risk of tools or materials falling through to workers below. Boards must be properly supported, secured against displacement, and extend at least 50mm but not more than 150mm beyond the last supporting ledger.

A specialist supervisor needs to modify an existing scaffold to accommodate a new work requirement. What must they do before making any changes?

Answer: Obtain approval from the Temporary Works Coordinator, ensure the modification is designed by a competent person, and have it inspected before use

Any modification to a scaffold changes its structural characteristics and must be formally managed through the temporary works process. The TWC must be consulted, the modification must be designed or approved by a competent scaffold designer, the work must be carried out by qualified scaffolders, and the modified scaffold must be reinspected before use.

What is the primary purpose of scaffold ties, and how often must they be checked during specialist operations?

Answer: To secure the scaffold to the building and prevent overturning — checked at every formal inspection (at least every 7 days)

Scaffold ties connect the scaffold to the permanent structure, preventing it from overturning or moving away from the building under wind loading or use. They must be installed according to the scaffold design and checked at every statutory inspection, which must occur at least every 7 days and after adverse weather or any event that could affect stability.

What must be in place before a specialist contractor erects any falsework (temporary support for permanent structures during construction)?

Answer: A documented falsework design produced or checked by a competent designer, with a permit to load issued by the TWC before any permanent loads are applied

Falsework must be designed by a competent person, checked (preferably by an independent checker), and erected according to the design. Before any permanent loads (concrete pours, steelwork) are applied, the TWC must issue a formal permit to load confirming the falsework has been inspected and is fit for purpose. This is a critical safety step — falsework failures have caused multiple fatalities.