Residential House Demolition — Safe Work Method Statement

Knocking down a house looks routine, but most domestic demolition incidents come from the same few causes: asbestos that wasn't found, services that weren't disconnected, walls or roofs collapsing the wrong way, and plant striking people on a tight suburban block. Demolishing a house is High Risk Construction Work because it involves demolition of load-bearing elements that affect the structure's integrity, and usually also the risk of falling more than 2 metres, disturbance of asbestos (any house built before the end of 2003 may contain it, and houses built before about 1990 very commonly do), and movement of powered mobile plant. A SWMS is required.

Before demolition, the WHS Regulations require asbestos likely to be disturbed to be identified and, so far as reasonably practicable, removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Get an asbestos inspection that covers eaves, wet areas, floor coverings, fences, roofing, outbuildings and the ground around the house. Also check for lead paint, synthetic mineral fibre insulation and, in parts of NSW and the ACT, loose-fill asbestos insulation. The model WHS Regulations also require the regulator to be notified at least 5 days before certain demolition work, for example structures 6 metres or more high; most single-storey houses fall below this, but check.

Every service must be disconnected and confirmed dead before demolition: electricity by the network operator or an accredited service provider, gas by the distributor or a licensed gas fitter, water and sewer capped by a licensed plumber, and telecommunications by the carrier. Council or private certifier approval for demolition is normally required. Licensing for demolition work differs between states and territories, so check your state or territory regulator. Plant operators must be competent, and anyone erecting scaffolding where a person or object could fall more than 4 metres needs a scaffolding licence.

The SWMS must set out the demolition sequence, exclusion zones, how neighbouring properties and the public are protected, dust and noise controls, and how waste is separated and removed.

Customise this template with the property address and building construction type, the asbestos inspection and clearance certificate references, the service disconnection confirmations, the demolition approval reference, the plant to be used, the exclusion zone and fencing layout, distances to neighbouring buildings, and the waste disposal facilities.