Temporary Works VR Training: Props, Formwork and Permit to Load (CDM 2015, Regulation 19)
VR temporary works scenario on CDM 2015 regulation 19: propping, formwork and falsework, checks before loading and why temporary works are never altered without the coordinator.
QUICK ANSWER
Regulation 19 of CDM 2015 requires all practicable steps to prevent danger from the collapse of any new or existing structure, including temporary works, and requires temporary structures to be designed, installed and maintained to withstand the loads on them. A VR scenario trains site teams to spot changes that put temporary works at risk.
What the Rule Requires
CDM 2015, regulation 19 (stability of structures): all practicable steps must be taken to ensure that any new or existing structure does not collapse during construction work. Any buttress, temporary support or temporary structure must be of such design and installed and maintained so as to withstand foreseeable loads, and used only for the purposes for which it was designed. A structure must not be loaded so as to make it unsafe.
The scenario is a concrete slab pour. Two props have been removed by a trade to get a pallet truck through, one prop sits on a broken block, and the concrete wagon has arrived before the permit to load has been signed.
Hazards in This Scenario
- Collapse of formwork or props during the pour
- Unauthorised changes to temporary works
- Poor bearing
- Loading before checks
The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses
- Know who the temporary works coordinator is
- Check the installation against the design
- Never remove or move temporary works without permission
- Check bearing under props
- Load only after the permit to load is signed
- Report changes and stop if movement is seen
Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch
- Removing props for access
- Accepting a broken bearing
- Pouring before the permit
- Ignoring movement during the pour
Competence Assessment Matrix
| Decision point | What the assessor sees | Pass standard |
|---|---|---|
| Design check | Installation vs design | Differences found |
| Changes | Removed props | Reported, not accepted |
| Bearing | Broken block | Found and fixed |
| Permit | Loading timing | Only after permit |
What VR Covers
- Collapse consequences shown safely
- Hidden installation faults
- Permit sequence practice
- Records per supervisor
What VR Does Not Replace
- Temporary works design
- The coordinator role under BS 5975
- Physical inspections
Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot
A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are temporary works?
Parts of the works that allow or support the permanent works, such as props, formwork and excavation support.
Who manages temporary works?
Commonly a temporary works coordinator, following BS 5975.
Is VR useful for temporary works?
It helps site teams recognise unsafe changes. Design and checks remain with competent people.
Want this scenario built around your site?
We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.
Map Your Highest-Risk ScenarioFurther reading
- Work at Height VR Training for UK Construction Sites (Work at Height Regulations 2005)
- Scaffold Inspection VR Training: 7-Day Checks and Reports (Work at Height Regulations, Regulation 12)
- Ladder and Stepladder VR Training for UK Sites (Work at Height Regulations, Schedule 6)
- MEWP VR Training: Scissor and Boom Lift Operation, Entrapment and Rescue (PUWER and LOLER)
- Construction safety training programs
- All VR training scenarios: United Kingdom
- VR pilot readiness checklist
- How VR training programs are priced