When this template fits
Principal contractors and works contractors erecting falsework, formwork, propping, façade retention or trench support need this RAMS to demonstrate procedural control of temporary works under BS 5975. Clients and PCs will expect to see a temporary works register, named coordinator and supervisor roles, and the design-check category for each item, because temporary works failures are a recognised cause of major collapses. This is a management-of-process document: it controls how temporary works are designed, checked, loaded and struck, not the build method of any single element.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 8 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 10-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Design, install and remove temporary works (props, shoring, hoarding).
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task: Obtain and review the Temporary Works Designer's scheme, drawings and calculations. Confirm the Temporary Works Coordinator is appointed and that a permit-to-load or permit-to-strike system is in place.
- 2Site survey: Walk the area to identify underground and overhead services, ground conditions, proximity to excavations, plant routes and public interfaces. Confirm findings against design assumptions.
- 3Establish exclusion zones and pedestrian management: Erect hoarding, barriers or fencing to segregate the working area from the public and non-essential personnel before any work begins.
- 4Prepare access and working platforms: Install and inspect scaffolding, MEWPs or other access equipment. Check edge protection is in place before operatives work at height.
- 5Deliver and position components: Use mechanical handling (crane, telehandler, pallet truck) to move props, frames and panels into position. Brief banksman and lift plan before any crane or telehandler operation.
- 6Install temporary works: Erect props, shoring or hoarding strictly in accordance with the approved design and sequence. TWC or nominated deputy must supervise critical installation stages.
- 7Inspect and permit-to-load: TWC carries out a formal check; issue the permit-to-load only when the temporary works are confirmed as installed correctly and safe to receive load.
- 8Monitor during use: Inspect temporary works at the start of each shift and after any event (heavy rain, impact, change of loading) that could affect stability. Record all inspections.
- 9Permit-to-strike and controlled removal: TWC confirms permanent works are sufficient to carry load unaided; issue permit-to-strike. Remove props, shoring or hoarding in the reverse sequence specified in the design. Maintain exclusion zones throughout.
- 10Clear and reinstate: Remove all components, fixings and waste materials. Reinstate pedestrian routes and barriers. Brief site manager on completion and close out the temporary works file.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Review design and method to determine whether the task can be completed from ground level, removing the need to work at height entirely.
- › Install guardrails, toe boards and mid-rails at all open edges before operatives begin work at height; remove only when the works are complete.
- › Use proprietary access platforms, mobile elevated work platforms or scaffolding rather than ladders for prolonged or two-handed work at height.
- › Where collective protection is not practicable, operatives must wear a harness with a lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point; restraint preferred over arrest.
Structural collapse of temporary works
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › All temporary works must be designed by a competent Temporary Works Designer (TWD) to BS 5975. Design must account for loads, ground conditions and removal sequence.
- › A Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) must be appointed to oversee and co-ordinate the design, installation, inspection and removal in accordance with BS 5975.
- › A formal check by the TWC before loading the structure and a permit-to-strike before removal must be issued and signed off to confirm the permanent works are ready.
- › Establish and enforce a clearly marked exclusion zone around temporary works during installation and removal to protect bystanders from collapse consequences.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use a crane, telehandler or pallet truck to move heavy components rather than manual lifting wherever the site layout allows.
- › Carry out a manual handling risk assessment; use two-person or team lifts with verbal co-ordination for residual manual handling; provide training.
- › Wear suitable work gloves to reduce crush and abrasion risk when handling steel props and timber shoring.
Struck by plant or moving load
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish clearly defined exclusion zones around plant operating areas; use a trained banksman/signaller for all lifting operations involving large components.
- › Prepare and brief a written lift plan before any crane or telehandler lift, identifying radius, ground conditions, SWL and trained personnel.
- › All persons in the plant operating area must wear high-visibility vests or jackets to ensure visibility to plant operators.
Excavation collapse
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Shoring design must be completed before excavation. A competent person must inspect the excavation at the start of each shift, after any event likely to affect stability, and after any significant rainfall.
- › Prevent plant, spoil heaps and materials being placed within a safe distance of the excavation edge as specified in the design.
- › Implement a permit-to-enter the excavation; ensure a rescue procedure and equipment are in place before any operative enters an excavation with installed shoring.
Public and site pedestrian interface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify hoarding panels designed so that no fixings or sharp edges project into pedestrian zones; use proprietary hoarding systems where practicable.
- › Erect a safe, clearly signed pedestrian walkway or diversion route before hoarding work begins; maintain it throughout the works and liaise with the local authority where highways are affected.
- › Schedule hoarding erection and removal outside peak pedestrian times where site conditions and planning consents allow.
Slips, trips and falls on the same level
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Store props, frames and panels in designated areas away from walkways; remove trip hazards and clear off-cuts immediately; maintain site in a clean and tidy condition at all times.
- › All operatives must wear safety boots with slip-resistant soles (S1P or S3 rated) appropriate to the ground conditions present.
Noise and vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify low-vibration and quieter tools (e.g. battery-powered fixings tools) in place of petrol or pneumatic alternatives where technically feasible.
- › Monitor daily noise and hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure against EAV and ELV. Rotate operatives to restrict exposure and maintain a HAV register.
- › Provide and enforce use of hearing protection (EN 352 rated for the noise level) and anti-vibration gloves where substitution and time controls are insufficient.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
Competence
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Falsework and formwork systems with their design documentation
- › Adjustable props and soldiers to the registered specification
- › Trench support boxes or hydraulic shoring where applicable
- › Temporary works register and permit documentation
- › Survey/level equipment to confirm setting-out and deflection
- › Torque tools where component tightening is specified
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ A named TWC and the design-check category (0-3) for each temporary works item — 'scaffold designer to confirm' is not acceptance criteria
- ✓ That permits to load and to strike are controlled by the TWC and tied to the design check, not issued by the gang on site
- ✓ That the temporary works register is in place and covers every item, including trench support and propping, not just the headline falsework
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TWC?
A TWC is a Temporary Works Coordinator, the role at the heart of the BS 5975 procedure. They maintain the temporary works register, ensure each item is designed and independently checked to the right category, and control the permits to load and to strike. The TWC does not design the temporary works themselves; they coordinate the process and authorise the key hold points. On larger sites they are supported by Temporary Works Supervisors who oversee erection and inspection on the ground.
What are the design-check categories in BS 5975?
BS 5975 sets out four design-check categories reflecting complexity and risk. Category 0 is restricted to standard solutions and very simple items checked by the designer; Category 1 is checked by someone independent of the designer but within the same firm; Category 2 by a separate team in the same organisation; and Category 3 by a wholly independent organisation for the most complex or high-risk works. The TWC assigns the category for each item and ensures the corresponding independent check is completed and signed before loading. Getting the category right is central to a defensible temporary works procedure.
What regulations apply to temporary works?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are the main ones, alongside Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a method statement need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.