Temporary Work in Construction

Travail temporaire BTP is a term used to describe a range of structures on site that are intended to support, protect or facilitate the building process. These may be scaffolds, formwork, shoring, falsework, or more complex lifting arrangements. They are primarily used to distribute loads, prevent collapse, and provide safety for workers on site. They are often removed once the permanent works have been constructed.

Travail Temporaire dans le BTP : Opportunités et Avantages

Effective temporary works design and management are essential to reducing worksite accidents, injuries and to ensuring projects can be delivered on time and budget. The term ‘temporary works’ can be a broad description and it is important to identify the expected temporary works at the project design stage (PSD) together with the design team. The PSDP should also ensure that a dedicated on-site Temporary Works Coordinator is appointed to be responsible for the planning, coordination and implementation of all temporary works throughout the life of the project.

Failures of temporary structures due to poor appreciation of risks and critical design considerations have resulted in a number of serious accidents and losses of life. This has led to more and more clients including provisions in contracts for external reviews and approval of temporary works. The Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including relevant SANS codes outline duties for employers and contractors regarding temporary works. This includes the responsibilities of design engineers, senior engineers and supervisors and project managers on-site. Having a specialist Temporary Works Co-ordinator on-site can be extremely beneficial as they can provide guidance and training, review documentation, carry out quality assurance inspections, and assist with the approval process.