Demolition work Code of Practice 2021

1 Demolition work code of Practice 2021 PN12656 ISBN Creative Commons This copyright work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial International licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit In essence, you are f ree to copy, communicate and adapt the work f or non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to Saf e work Australia and abide by the other licence terms. Demolition work code of Practice 2021 Page 3 of 53 Contents Foreword .. 4 1. Introduction .. 5 What is Demolition work ?.. 5 Who has health and safety duties in relation to Demolition work ?

2 5 What is involved in managing risks associated with Demolition work ?.. 8 Information, training, instruction and supervision .. 10 2. The risk management process .. 12 Identifying the hazards .. 12 Assessing the risks .. 13 Controlling the risks .. 14 Maintaining and reviewing control measures .. 15 3. Planning the Demolition work .. 16 Notifiable Demolition 16 Principal contractor for a construction project .. 17 Designers .. 18 Safe work method statements .. 19 Demolition licensing .. 20 Asbestos licensing .. 21 Adjacent or adjoining 21 Essential services .. 22 4.

3 Controlling risks in Demolition work .. 25 The building or structure to be demolished .. 25 Hazardous chemicals and materials .. 25 Securing the work 29 Emergency plan .. 30 Plant and 31 Powered mobile plant .. 31 Removal of debris .. 32 33 33 Fire prevention .. 34 Manual 35 Mechanical Demolition .. 37 Induced collapse .. 39 Using explosives .. 40 5. Controlling risks when demolishing special structures .. 42 Pre and post-tensioned concrete .. 42 Fire-damaged, ruinous and structurally unsound buildings or 43 Lift 43 Basements, cellars, vaults, domes and arched roofs.

4 43 Masonry and brick arches .. 44 Independent chimneys and 44 Pylons and masts .. 44 Precast concrete panels .. 44 Facade retention .. 45 Storage tanks and pipelines .. 45 Appendix A Glossary .. 47 Appendix B Demolition plan .. 51 Appendix C Engineering investigation 52 Appendix D References and other information sources .. 53 Demolition work code of Practice 2021 Page 4 of 53 Foreword This Demolition work code of Practice an approved code of Practice under section 274 of the work health and safety Act 2011 (the WHS Act). An approved code of Practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health , safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the work health and safety Regulation 2011 (the WHS Regulation).

5 From 1 July 2018, duty holders are required to comply either with an approved code of Practice under the WHS Act or follow another method, such as a technical or an industry standard, if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety to the standard required in the code . A code of Practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code . In most cases, following an approved code of Practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code . Like regulations, codes of Practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risks which may arise.

6 The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work , not only those for which regulations and codes of Practice exist. Codes of Practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and WHS Regulation. Courts may regard a code of Practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates. An inspector may refer to an approved code of Practice when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice. This may include issuing an improvement notice for failure to comply with a code of Practice where equivalent or higher standards of work health and safety have not been demonstrated.

7 Scope and application This code is intended to be read by a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). It provides practical guidance to PCBUs on how to manage health and safety risks associated with Demolition work . The guidance in this code is relevant to Demolition contractors as well as PCBUs who have management or control of workplaces where excavation work is carried out, for example principal contractors. This code may be a useful reference for other persons interested in the duties under the WHS Act and the WHS Regulation. This code applies to all workplaces covered by the WHS Act where Demolition work is carried out and where Demolition work products and equipment are used and stored.

8 How to use this code of Practice This code includes references to the legal requirements under the WHS Act and the WHS Regulation. These are included for convenience only and should not be relied on in place of the full text of the WHS Act or WHS Regulation. The words must , requires or mandatory indicate a legal requirement exists that must be complied with. The word should is used in this code to indicate a recommended course of action, while may is used to indicate an optional course of action. Demolition work code of Practice 2021 Page 5 of 53 Introduction What is Demolition work ?

9 Demolition work means work to demolish or dismantle a structure or part of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure, but does not include: the dismantling of formwork, falsework, scaffolding or other structures designed or used to provide support, access or containment during construction work , or the removal of power, light or telecommunication poles. A structure is anything that is constructed, whether fixed or moveable, temporary or permanent, and includes buildings, sheds, towers, chimney stacks, silos, storage tanks. Demolition work is a type of construction work .

10 Therefore, when carrying out Demolition work , the requirements relating to construction work must also be complied with. Demolition work is also high risk construction work if it involves Demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure. A Safe work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before the high risk construction work starts. Further guidance on SWMS is available in section of this code . Other key terms relating to Demolition work are listed in Appendix A. Who has health and safety duties in relation to Demolition work ?