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Internal Strip-Out Soft Demolition and Refurbishment Risk Assessment

Internal Strip-Out Soft Demolition and Refurbishment Risk Assessment

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Internal Strip-Out Soft Demolition and Refurbishment Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Internal Strip-Out, Soft Demolition and Refurbishment activities using this management-level Risk Assessment, focused on planning, systems, and governance rather than task-by-task work instructions. This document supports Due Diligence under the WHS Act, helping you demonstrate effective WHS Risk Management and reduce operational and legal exposure for your business.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Supervision & Project Planning: Assessment of management accountability, allocation of WHS responsibilities, supervision levels, planning of strip-out stages, and integration of safety into project timelines and budgets.
  • Contractor Competency, Licensing & Induction Systems: Management of contractor pre-qualification, verification of high-risk work licences, VOCs and trade tickets, and structured site-specific induction and onboarding programs.
  • Demolition Scope Definition & Structural Assessment: Controls for defining the internal strip-out scope, reviewing structural drawings, arranging engineering assessments, and preventing unplanned structural compromise during partial demolition.
  • Hazardous Materials, Asbestos & Contaminants Management: Protocols for hazardous materials surveys, asbestos registers, friable/non-friable removal planning, mould, lead paint and silica dust controls, and compliant engagement of licensed removalists.
  • Services Isolation, Energy Control & Cold Room Decommissioning: Systems for electrical, gas, water, refrigeration and mechanical isolation, lockout/tagout, verification of zero energy state, and safe decommissioning of cold rooms and associated plant.
  • Site Access, Egress & Traffic Management: Management of worker and public interface, internal access routes, stair and lift use, control of doors, frames and demolition chutes, and separation of plant, delivery vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Temporary Structures, Supports & Partial Demolition Stability: Engineering and inspection requirements for temporary props, bracing and hoardings, management of load paths, and stability controls for partially demolished areas and penetrations.
  • Dust, Noise, Vibration & Indoor Environmental Control: Assessment of indoor air quality, dust extraction and negative pressure systems, noise and vibration impacts on occupants and neighbours, and monitoring and control of exposure limits.
  • Plant, Tools & Equipment Management: Selection, inspection and maintenance of demolition plant, powered hand tools and access equipment, including pre-start checks, guarding, isolation controls and authorised operator arrangements.
  • Manual Handling, Ergonomics & Work Organisation: Strategies to minimise musculoskeletal risk from handling debris, fixtures and fittings, including task design, mechanical aids, team lifting protocols and rotation of labour-intensive activities.
  • Housekeeping, Waste Management & Cleaning Systems: Controls for segregation, storage and removal of demolition waste, management of sharp and heavy materials, slip and trip prevention, and coordination with waste contractors and cleaners.
  • Psychosocial Risks, Fatigue & Work Scheduling: Management of long shifts, night or occupied-building work, production pressure, conflict with tenants or other trades, and implementation of fatigue management and psychosocial risk controls.
  • Emergency Preparedness, Incident Management & First Aid: Planning for fire, structural instability, service strikes, medical emergencies and evacuations, including first aid resources, warden roles, and communication with building management and emergency services.
  • Documentation, Consultation & Continuous Improvement: Systems for maintaining risk assessments, permits, isolation records and training evidence, plus consultation with workers and contractors, incident review and ongoing improvement of WHS performance.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Construction Managers, Project Managers and Safety Officers responsible for planning, managing and overseeing Internal Strip-Out, Soft Demolition and Refurbishment works within commercial, industrial or residential properties.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Management, Supervision and Planning
  • • Absence of a documented WHS management plan specific to internal strip‑out and soft demolition
  • • Inadequate planning for concurrent demolition and refurbishment trades working in the same area
  • • Poor leadership commitment resulting in unsafe cost or time pressures on demolition activities
  • • Lack of clear roles, responsibilities and authorities for supervisors, PCBU representatives and contractors
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers regarding changes to work sequencing, access routes or temporary structures
  • • Failure to coordinate duties between multiple PCBUs on site (landlord, head contractor, specialist demolition contractor, flooring contractor, refrigeration contractor etc.)
  • • No formal process for verifying that demolition work is carried out under the control of a competent person as required by WHS Regulations
  • • Insufficient allowance in program for safe isolation, soft strip, rubble removal and cleaning prior to re‑flooring
  • • Lack of formal review of lessons learned from previous internal demolition projects
2. Contractor and Worker Competency, Licensing and Induction
  • • Use of demolition contractors without verified competency or relevant experience in internal strip‑out and soft demolition
  • • Workers not holding required high risk work licences or plant tickets for equipment used in demolition (e.g. EWP, forklift, crane, hoist)
  • • Lack of formal training for tasks such as dismantling cold rooms, working with demolished plasterboard, and rubble chute operations
  • • Inadequate awareness of WHS legislative requirements, including specific provisions for demolition work and asbestos
  • • Subcontractor workers not inducted into site‑specific rules (e.g. exclusion zones, waste routes, emergency arrangements, access through removed doors/frames)
  • • No verification of competency in manual handling techniques relevant to repetitive removal of tiles, fixtures, doors and plasterboard
  • • Poor understanding of risks associated with taking down temporary structures or partial walls and ceilings
3. Demolition Scope Definition, Survey and Structural Assessment
  • • Incomplete or inaccurate demolition scope leading to unintended removal of load‑bearing elements or bracing
  • • Failure to identify structural impacts when removing existing walls, ceilings, doors, frames and fixtures
  • • No engineering assessment of cold room structures, suspended ceilings, mezzanines or temporary structures prior to demolition
  • • Inadequate survey of concealed services (electrical, gas, refrigeration lines, water, fire systems) within walls, floors and ceilings
  • • Lack of documentation showing which walls are fire‑rated or smoke‑rated, affecting compartmentation during refurbishment
  • • No structural review of rubble chutes, supporting frames or fixing points used for internal debris removal
  • • Poor interface control between demolition works and retained structures (e.g. adjacent tenancies, occupied levels, plant rooms)
4. Hazardous Materials, Asbestos and Contaminants Management
  • • Unidentified or poorly managed asbestos in walls, ceilings, vinyl tiles, mastics or old cold room insulation
  • • Exposure to lead‑based paint, silica dust, mould, biological contaminants or refrigerants during demolition
  • • Inadequate asbestos register or failure to obtain and review it before commencing internal strip‑out
  • • Poor separation of hazardous waste streams from general demolition debris (tiles, plasterboard, timber, metals)
  • • Lack of procedures for safe recovery and disposal of refrigerants and insulated panel materials from cold room demolition
  • • Release of high levels of dust and fine particulates when working with demolished plasterboard, tiles and ceiling materials
  • • Non‑compliance with asbestos and hazardous chemicals legislation, notifications and licensing requirements
5. Services Isolation, Energy Control and Cold Room Decommissioning
  • • Unisolated or incorrectly isolated electrical, gas, water, fire and mechanical services within walls, ceilings and cold rooms
  • • Accidental energisation of circuits during demolition of ceilings, plant rooms or cold room panels
  • • Failure to safely isolate and decommission refrigeration systems prior to cold room demolition
  • • Inadequate lock‑out/tag‑out (LOTO) systems for multiple contractors working on shared services
  • • Damage to live fire systems (sprinklers, detectors) without appropriate impairment management and emergency planning
  • • Shut‑down of essential services (egress lighting, smoke control) without risk assessment and control plan
6. Site Access, Egress and Traffic Management (Including Doors, Frames and Chutes)
  • • Blocked or reduced emergency exits due to internal demolition, rubble accumulation or door/frame removal
  • • Uncontrolled interaction between demolition workers, cleaners, flooring crews and building occupants in access corridors
  • • Poorly planned use of doors and frame removal for access, leading to falls, trip hazards or unprotected edges
  • • Unmanaged transport of debris via rubble chutes, stairs, lifts or loading docks creating impact or struck‑by hazards
  • • Inadequate segregation between vehicle movements (skips, utes, trucks) and pedestrian pathways during waste removal
  • • Emergency services unable to access the site due to demolition waste storage or poorly placed skips
7. Temporary Structures, Supports and Partial Demolition Stability
  • • Collapse of temporary structures or props used to support ceilings, services or partitions during staged demolition
  • • Loss of stability when taking down temporary walls, hoardings or cold room panels without engineering control
  • • Uncontrolled collapse of partially demolished plasterboard walls or ceilings onto workers or public areas
  • • Inadequate bracing of retained structures adjacent to aggressive tile removal or impact demolition methods
  • • Improvised support systems without design verification or inspection
  • • Lack of inspection regime for temporary stairs, platforms and access structures used during demolition and re‑flooring
8. Dust, Noise, Vibration and Indoor Environmental Control
  • • Excessive dust generation from tile tear‑off, plasterboard demolition and ceiling removal affecting workers and nearby occupants
  • • Elevated noise and vibration from demolition tools impacting health and adjacent tenancies
  • • Insufficient ventilation during internal demolition leading to build‑up of airborne contaminants
  • • No monitoring or control of dust migration through building HVAC systems during soft demolition
  • • Disturbance to sensitive receptors (neighbours, hospital/office tenants) leading to complaints or regulatory action
  • • Lack of systematic control for dust created during cleaning and rubble removal stages
9. Plant, Tools and Equipment Management
  • • Use of unsuitable or poorly maintained plant for internal demolition (e.g. breakers, saws, elevated work platforms)
  • • Lack of pre‑use inspection systems leading to plant failures during soft demolition and rubble removal
  • • Uncontrolled use of portable electrical tools in wet areas created during re‑flooring preparation and cleaning
  • • Inadequate control over hired or subcontractor‑supplied plant entering the site
  • • No system for ensuring guarding, emergency stops and safety devices are functional on demolition equipment
  • • Unplanned interaction between mechanical plant and rubble chutes, temporary structures or building fabric
10. Manual Handling, Ergonomics and Work Organisation
  • • Repetitive manual handling of tiles, demolished plasterboard, fixtures, doors and frames leading to musculoskeletal disorders
  • • Poor planning of waste streams requiring double‑handling of rubble and materials
  • • Inadequate provision of mechanical aids (trolleys, dollies, bin lifters) for internal demolition debris
  • • Time pressures resulting in unsafe lifting techniques when removing heavy units or cold room components
  • • No formal system for rotating tasks to manage fatigue when undertaking repetitive tile tear‑off or cleaning
  • • Poor layout of work areas causing awkward postures and over‑reaching during ceiling or high‑wall demolition
11. Housekeeping, Waste Management and Cleaning Systems
  • • Accumulation of rubble, tiles, plasterboard and packaging creating trip hazards and fire load within internal work areas
  • • Uncontrolled waste segregation leading to mixing of hazardous and general demolition waste streams
  • • Poorly managed rubble chute discharge areas increasing risk of struck‑by injuries and slips on loose materials
  • • Inadequate cleaning following demolition before re‑flooring, leading to slips, dust exposure or damage to new finishes
  • • Overflowing skips or internal bins blocking access, emergency routes or fire equipment
  • • Cross‑contamination of clean refurbishment areas with demolition dust and debris
12. Psychosocial Risks, Fatigue and Work Scheduling
  • • Long working hours or night shifts for demolition and refurbishment causing fatigue and reduced attention
  • • High work pace driven by aggressive refurbishment deadlines leading to risk‑taking behaviours
  • • Inadequate breaks for workers engaged in physically demanding tasks such as tile tear‑off and heavy cleaning
  • • Stress and conflict between trades during tight handover windows between demolition and re‑flooring
  • • Poor communication of schedule changes resulting in confusion, crowding and unsafe short‑cuts
13. Emergency Preparedness, Incident Management and First Aid
  • • Inadequate emergency procedures specific to internal demolition scenarios (collapse, entrapment, dust events, refrigerant leaks)
  • • Confusion over emergency roles and assembly points when access routes and doors are altered or removed
  • • Insufficient first aid capability for lacerations, crush injuries, eye injuries and inhalation exposures common in demolition
  • • Delayed response due to poor communication systems in enclosed or multi‑storey work areas
  • • Failure to notify regulators of notifiable incidents relating to demolition work as required by WHS Act 2011
14. Documentation, Consultation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Critical WHS information (risk assessments, permits, structural reports) not accessible or not kept up to date during demolition
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers and HSRs on changes to demolition methods, rubble chute use or temporary structures
  • • Failure to retain records required by WHS legislation for demolition works, asbestos removal and incident management
  • • Lack of systematic review of WHS performance during the project, resulting in repeated issues
  • • Ineffective communication of client or building management requirements to subcontractors

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Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Guidance on systematic risk management processes.
  • Model Code of Practice – Demolition Work: Specific guidance for planning and managing demolition and strip-out activities.
  • Model Code of Practice – Construction Work: Overarching requirements for WHS management on construction and refurbishment sites.
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Safely Remove Asbestos: Requirements for asbestos identification, control and removal where applicable.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing the Risk of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Management of hazardous substances, residues and contaminants.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Controls and exposure standards for noise generated during demolition.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS 2601–2001: The demolition of structures — Guidance on planning and executing demolition works safely.
  • AS/NZS 4801 (superseded) & ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Principles for systematic WHS management.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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