Procedural Guide - Book - Page 11
significant residual risks.
Risk
The likelihood of a hazard being realised that could cause an adverse event, together
with a measurement of its possible severity.
Robustness
The ability of a structure to withstand events such as fire, explosions, impact or the
consequences of human error, without being damaged to extent disproportionate to
the original cause.
Safe system of work
(SSOW)
A formal procedure that results from systematic examination of a task in order to
identify all the hazards. It defines safe methods to make sure that hazards are
eliminated or risks minimised. Safe systems of work are developed by taking into
account the people, substances and equipment involved in carrying out a task or
activity, identifying all foreseeable hazards and assessing the risks, and then seeking
to minimise or eliminate those risks by providing a formal framework for workers to
follow. In construction, the process for producing this formal procedure normally
involves a risk assessment followed by the safe method being defined within a method
statement. The key points of the safe system of work are briefed to the operatives in
the form of a toolbox talk.
Safe working load
The maximum unfactored load that can be safely resisted by an item of proprietary
equipment.
Settlement
The downward movement of the soil as a result of compression or compaction, or of
a building, or other structure supported by that soil.
Shear force
Load acting across a beam near its support.
Shear stress
The shear force per unit area, expressed in (say) N/mm2.
Significant risks
The significant risks are not necessarily those that involve the greatest risks but those
which are not likely to be obvious, are unusual, unexpected or difficult to manage on
this occasion.
Soffit
The underside surface of a concrete member or slab.
Soil
The mineral material that results from the weathering of rock or decay of vegetation.
Standard
A document that sets out how policy objectives are to be delivered and defines the
mandatory requirements associated with specific activities and tasks.
Standard
solution
A suitable arrangement for which the basic design work has been carried out and
checked, which may be presented in a table, for which no further calculations are
required.
Strut
A member in compression.
Sub-contractor
A contractor employed by another contractor to carry out or manage construction
work.
Subgrade
The upper part of the soil, natural or constructed, that supports the loads transmitted
by the overlying structure of a road, runway or similar hard surface.
Sway
Horizontal displacement of a structure in relation to the bottom, under the application
of a vertical load
Sway bracing
Bracing place to counter the horizontal displacement of the top of a structure in
relation to its bottom.
Temporary works
An 'engineered solution' that is used to support or protect either an existing structure
or the permanent works during construction, or to support an item of plant or
equipment, or the vertical sides or side-slopes of an excavation during construction
operations on site or to provide access.
Temporary works
Coordinator (TWC)
A competent person with responsibility for the co-ordination of all activities related to
the temporary works.
Version 2 © mytemporaryworks 2023 | The control of temporary works – procedural guide
xi
