scope:

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Temporary Works are an integral part of most construction and building projects, however they often comprise unique technical, legal and safety issues in respect of their planning, design, implementation and use.

This document details procedural requirements for the management of Temporary Works on National Grid Electricity Transmission construction projects. These requirements shall be developed by each Principal Contractor into an internal procedure or procedures forming an integral part of the Principal Contractor's Quality Management system with a view to demonstrating that they have in place effective arrangements for controlling risks arising from the use of temporary works.

The procedural requirements have been developed and mandated to ensure National Grid discharges its duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) specifically those of 'Client', 'CDM Co-ordinator' and 'Designer'. In these roles National Grid has no direct influence over Temporary Works activities - appointment of designers, scoping of schemes, erection, use and dismantling of systems etc. - however they nonetheless have legal duties to ensure these are implemented competently and safely.

The Health and Safety Executive Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) - L144 'Managing Health and Safety in Construction' - identifies the evaluation of appropriate competence as a key task in ensuring the requirements of CDM2007 are met and, in this context, identifies two levels of assessment - individual and organisational. National Grid's contractual position in relation to the management of Temporary Works means that the evaluation of individuals engaged in such activities is not considered appropriate or viable. Consequently the basis of this document is the necessity to ensure the organisational competence of companies engaged by National Grid as Principal Contractors is visibly demonstrated via the application of appropriate procedures.

It shall be noted that this document focuses on those minimum procedural requirements deemed necessary to ensure National Grid discharges its duties under CDM2007 as defined above. It shall be the responsibility of each Principal Contractor to ensure the temporary works procedure incorporates those additional tasks and responsibilities necessary to meet its own legal responsibilities and any business or other objectives.