Demolition SWMS: base template and example

When demolition work needs a SWMS

• Safe Work Australia says demolishing an element of a structure that is load-bearing, or otherwise related to its physical integrity, is high risk construction work. A SWMS must be prepared before that work starts.
• Under the model WHS laws, you must notify the regulator at least 5 days before demolishing a load-bearing part of a structure 6 metres or taller, using load-shifting machinery on a suspended floor, or using explosives. WorkSafe WA counts its notice period in working days and has extra steps in some cases.
• Licensing and rules vary by state and territory. NSW and Western Australia have demolition licences, Queensland has its own Demolition work Code of Practice 2021, and Victoria has a compliance code for demolition. Check your own regulator, and your principal contractor may have extra requirements.

Not sure whether your job needs a SWMS? Read what a SWMS is and when it's required.

Need to record an incident instead? Get the free incident report template.

Controls to think about

• Safe Work Australia's demolition code of practice says to get the asbestos register, or have a competent person inspect, before demolition starts, and to remove any asbestos the work could disturb.
• Before work starts, the code describes disconnecting or making services safe, setting an exclusion zone wherever debris could land, protecting the public, and following a demolition sequence that keeps the structure stable.
• Control dust and noise, keep people clear of plant, and plan how you'll respond to a collapse without sending people into an unstable structure. Your SWMS should show which controls you'll use for each work step.

What to include in a demolition SWMS

• The structure: what it is, how high, and which parts are load-bearing
• How asbestos and other hazardous materials were identified and dealt with
• How services were disconnected or made safe
• The demolition sequence, and how the structure stays stable throughout
• Exclusion zones, public protection, plant and traffic
• What to do if there's a collapse or suspected asbestos is found, and sign-off from everyone on the job

Filled-in demolition SWMS example

Example only, not for use as your own SWMS. This is the base template filled in for a fictional job: demolishing a single-storey house with an excavator, after the asbestos has been removed by a licensed removalist. Click a page to enlarge it.

This example includes risk scores. They aren't legally required, and WorkSafe Victoria advises leaving risk matrices and scores out of a SWMS, so check what your regulator expects. Your own SWMS must be specific to your job and site, and prepared in consultation with the workers doing the work.

How to fill one in for demolition work

1. Fill in the project details, including the structure, its height and the load-bearing parts.
2. Tick the high risk construction work box for demolition of a load-bearing structure, plus any others that apply, and every hazard that applies.
3. List your plant and equipment, such as the excavator and attachments, dust suppression and fencing.
4. Write the job steps in order, from pre-demolition checks to clearing the site, with the controls for each step and who is responsible.
5. Talk it through with the crew, have everyone sign it before work starts, and review it whenever the job or site changes.

Build your demolition SWMS online, or get it into the app

The Shadow Forms SWMS builder is a tool on our website that guides you step by step through creating a SWMS for your job, including demolition work. It's a draft only, so have a competent person review it before use. Enter your email address and you can download it as a PDF.

The PDF is a copy only. To complete it digitally, upload it and we can add it to the app, Shadow Forms branded. If you have your own uniquely branded SWMS, or want this example adjusted to your business, we can do that too. Upload a form, or get in touch.

Need a JSA instead? Try the free JSA template.

Just need a quick check before you start? Get the free Take 5 template.