What Is a Temporary Works Register? Complete UK Guide - KaelSite

Every UK construction project involving temporary works — scaffolding, excavation support, falsework, formwork, propping, or shoring, needs a temporary works register. It's one of the core requirements of BS 5975, and it's usually one of the first things an HSE inspector or principal contractor will ask to see.

Yet many sites still manage their register on spreadsheets, in site diaries, or worse, informally. Here's what it actually needs to cover, and how to keep it audit-ready.

What Is a Temporary Works Register?

A temporary works register is the master record of every piece of temporary works on a project. Under BS 5975, it's the responsibility of the Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) to maintain it, and it typically needs to capture:

• A unique reference number for each temporary works item
• A description of the works (e.g. propping, excavation support, scaffolding)
• The designer and design check status
• The permit to load / permit to use status
• Installation and inspection dates
• The responsible Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS)
• Current status (design, installation, in use, or struck)

Why It Matters

• It's a formal BS 5975 requirement, not optional best practice
• It gives the TWC full visibility of every live temporary works item on site
• It's the first document requested during audits, HSE visits, or after an incident
• Missing or incomplete registers are a common cause of non-conformance findings

Common Problems with Manual Registers

• Spreadsheets get out of date the moment someone forgets to update them
• No single source of truth when multiple supervisors are updating in parallel
• Difficult to prove real-time compliance during a live audit
• Permit and inspection status tracked separately, increasing risk of missed steps

How Digital Tools Change This

Apps like KaelSite generate the register automatically as projects, forms, and permits are created,  instead of a document someone has to remember to update, it's a live view of every temporary works item, its status, and its inspection history, always current, always exportable.

Getting It Right

Whether you're managing the register on paper or digitally, the fundamentals are the same: every temporary works item needs a clear owner, an up-to-date status, and a traceable history from design to strike. Get that right, and audits stop being stressful.