The aim of this course is to focus on the risk management of temporary works with particular attention on the role of the TWS.

It seeks to consolidate and build on the risk-management knowledge that learners undertaking this role will have established through other experiences on site (likely in other supervisory or management roles) and focus on how to avoid failure in temporary works by adopting appropriate procedural controls, as outlined in BS 5975:2019.

The TWSTC course will cover the following topics:

• the need for and duties of a TWS
• the other key roles involved in temporary works
• the use of BS 5975:2019 in relation to the role
• typical documents used in temporary works
• other legislation and guidance that interact with temporary works
• the importance of the 4Cs: communication, co-ordination, co-operation and competence
• the need for risk management

There are no formal entry requirements for the TWSTC.

Learners are expected to have a working knowledge of the following legislation: 

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

A key issue for temporary works is health and safety, so learners need to be prepared to discuss how health and safety legislation is relevant to temporary works, as well as which Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and H&S ACOPs may assist or contribute to safe practices in temporary works. Learners need to be prepared to discuss and explore all the core health and safety factors that are integrated into temporary works processes at all stages of a project, from initiation to closure. They will need to have working knowledge of all associated legislation, specifically the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 in terms of its intention and compliance. Learners must also have a thorough understanding of health and safety principles, and understand the importance of risk management, design considerations, inspection and testing and recording and monitoring requirements.

Learners who have achieved a certificate approved against the Health and Safety in Construction Site Supervision standard (such as SSSTS or SSSTS-R) or the Health and Safety in Construction Site Management standard (such as SMSTS or SMSTS-R), will have gained the knowledge to meet these expectations. This is not a mandatory pre-requisite, but learners with these achievements will benefit from having this knowledge before attending the course.

To further support learners, CITB has created a Temporary works awareness eLearning which provides a foundation of the points that will be expanded on in this course. It explores how health and safety legislation plays a pivotal role in temporary works, and how documents which are common to more generic construction activities are a useful aid for planning and the ongoing management and monitoring of temporary works. Learners may find it helpful to complete the Temporary works awareness eLearning which is free to access via the CITB website.

This is a 1 day course. Learners must attend the full course lasting a minimum of 7 hours and 45 minutes (which includes course delivery and examination) to be eligible for certification.

Assessment

Successful completion of the course requires:

• Completing mandatory exercises: Three mandatory exercises
• Passing the trainer review: Mandatory
• Passing the end-of-course exam: Mandatory

The end of the exam that attendance of the course and exam success does not confer competency as a TWS but is for the purposes of continuing professional development (CPD).

Trainer Review

The trainer review provides a pass or fail based on the learner’s performance and engagement in the course exercises and engagement in the course overall. The trainer review must be completed before the end-of-course assessment. If a learner is assessed as failing the trainer review, then they are not permitted to sit the end of course

assessment.

Examination

The paper consists of 20 questions, selected by CITB, covering all aspects of the course. This exam paper must be taken at the end of the course.

Each paper has:

• 17 multiple-choice and/or multiple-response questions (each worth one mark; no half marks available) 
• 3 free text questions (each worth two or three marks) Part marks are available but no half marks should be awarded).

The exam paper must be taken at the end of the course. The examination paper number will be notified when the course booking is accepted by CITB. The exam pass mark is 76% (19 out of 25 marks).

The exam lasts for 45 minutes and must be completed within this time under exam conditions. The examination is open book: learners are permitted to use their course workbook – which may include any notes made by the learner during the course – for the duration of the exam. The exam paper forms part of the overall assessment as to whether the learner has successfully passed the TWSTC.

When a learner scores less than 60% (15 out of 25 marks) in the final exam, the learner must attend the full

TWSTC course again before they are allowed to re-sit the exam.

Re-sits

If a learner has achieved the following, then they may re-sit the examination one further time if they have:

• Completed the mandatory three course exercises
• Passed the trainer’s review
• Gained at least 60% (15 out of 25 marks) in the exam. 

The re-sit may take place on the same day (no charge) or by attending the final day of another course within a 90 day period (chargeable fee payable in advance). The learner is not obliged to re-do the whole course.

If a learner fails the re-sit, they must take the TWSTC course again.

On successful completion of the course, all paperwork will be submitted to CITB Site Safety Plus who will issue electronic certificates Certification for this course is valid for 5 years. To remain certified in this area, you will need to retake the course before the expiry date.

The minimum number of learners per course is 4. The maximum number of learners per course is 20.

We are a CITB ATO. Companies that are CITB registered can claim for each candidate on this course. If you supply the company CITB levy number, this will be added to the paperwork and submitted following the course.