PERI delivers product awareness training to Laing O’Rourke temporary works teams

In a bid to enhance the practical knowledge and on-site safety of those involved in temporary works, PERI regularly delivers product awareness training workshops.

Last week, the formwork and scaffolding specialist held its first training workshop for temporary works engineers, site managers and designers at Laing O’Rourke.

The hands-on training took place at PERI’s training facility and exhibition hall in Brentwood, building on a series of similar successful events previously held for other sub-contractors in the industry.

Hands-On Training Focus

The one-day workshop, delivered by PERI’s Field Services Manager and experienced scaffolding instructors, covered a wide range of practical and theoretical topics designed to improve the group’s understanding of equipment safety and proficiency when designing solutions and carrying out temporary works checks on site.

Key training activities included:

Practical assembly of two PERI system scaffolds: a birdcage scaffold and a stair tower.
Inspection of a tube and fitting structure
SKYDECK installation, offering valuable practical experience with decking systems.
A comprehensive walkaround, introducing participants to various products and their real-world applications.
Guidance on how to reference drawings correctly, identify potential issues, and what to look for in system components.

The workshop was attended by engineers and temporary works designers at various stages in their career, highlighting the importance of continual professional development at both graduate and more experienced levels in the construction industry.

The training was particularly valuable for those involved in checking temporary works systems on-site prior to concrete pours, ensuring that any potential damages or deviations from the drawings could be identified and corrected.

Anu Adeyemi, Graduate Engineer at Laing O’Rourke said, “My role involves carrying out temporary works checks, so workshops like this help to simplify the terms and system components you come across on site. Everything is broken down so it’s easier to understand.”

Terry Hall, Field Services Manager at PERI UK emphasised the importance of hands-on experience in an industry where many engineers may only have classroom-based training or experience with 3D drawings. “It’s critical for people to see and handle the actual materials and equipment they will come across on projects. A lot of people may not have this practical knowledge, yet they are tasked with reviewing drawings. For many, this is the first practical training programme that has helped to bridge that gap,” Terry explained.

He added, “By seeing the issues on-site, such as deviations from drawings or improper practices, attendees gain a better understanding of how to refer back to the drawings for best practices. This is key to maintaining safety and quality.”