By Otto Botha, Managing Director at Waco Engineering Services

The construction industry has been in a steady decline since 2012 but the sector took a real battering in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing construction activity to a virtual standstill. According to the 2022 Construction Industry Outlook survey, the total value of plans passed for building construction fell by 37% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2020, as many projects were put on hold, or even entirely terminated. While the reopening of the economy in the post-COVID-19 era does offer a glimmer of hope for the industry, the sector’s recovery is bound to remain slow for the time being, as the country’s economic outlook includes much uncertainty.

At the same time, the sector’s recovery has also suffered some setbacks, such as the cancellation of adjudicated tenders to the value of R17.47 billion by the South African National Roads Agency in May. Nonetheless, projects are starting to resume, and many industry players remain encouraged by the government’s increased infrastructure spending. In 2021, the government announced a plan to invest R791.2 billion in public-sector infrastructure spending over the period from 2021 to 2024.

Shedding specialised skills

However, as many construction companies went into survival mode during the pandemic-induced economic lockdown, they were forced to save costs by shedding jobs, which usually entailed getting rid of the most expensive specialist skills. As such, many construction companies are now facing the challenge of limited resources such as in-house engineers for their temporary works.

So, while senior management and specialised trades will likely continue to experience significant skills shortages in the sector, an added factor is that contractors can’t necessarily afford to train or upskill their staff in the current tough economic climate.

Temporary works refers to a specialised field within civil structural engineering and covers any temporary structure, such as scaffolding, structural supports and shoring that is erected during the course of a project and then removed upon completion.

This is where outsourcing temporary works could prove to be the ideal solution to the challenge of limited skills, expertise, and resources. Experienced and highly skilled consulting engineering companies offer a professional temporary works design and assurance service to project owners, engineers and contractors and can limit their risk exposure related to the equipment, design and erection of temporary works structures.

Legislative requirements

In terms of legislation, temporary works must be designed, inspected, and approved by a “competent person” – someone with the required qualifications, the right training, sufficient knowledge of the subject matter and experience.

Outsourcing temporary works services allows construction companies to have access to these specialised skills, when and where they are needed, without the cost burden of having to employ temporary works engineers on a full-time basis.

Outsourcing also brings the added benefit of allowing project owners to not get involved in a civil project directly, but rather focus on their core business. The right temporary works partner can often provide a full risk ring-fenced solution that includes doing inspections to see what is required, completing the design, supplying equipment and even erecting the temporary works structures.

Complying with regulations

At the same time, it is worth noting that having access to temporary works skills and resources is a must from a regulatory point of view, as construction companies must be in compliance with Construction Regulation 12. In terms of this regulation, which forms part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, a contractor must appoint a temporary works designer in writing to design, inspect and approve the erected temporary works on site before use.

So, in a way, it would be fair to say that construction companies that do not have these skills in-house are compelled to rely on outsourcing partners, but at least then the temporary works becomes the responsibility of the outsourced temporary works company, taking pressure off the construction business.

Partnering with a qualified temporary works partner allows construction companies to rest assured knowing that they are receiving the services of appropriately qualified, professionally registered and well experienced engineers to design, inspect and approve the temporary works for an entire project, or any part thereof.