Product Overview

Summary: This Decommissioning and Demolition Guidelines Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step‑by‑step framework for safely planning and executing demolition and decommissioning works in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control high‑risk construction activities, manage hazardous materials, and maintain compliance with WHS legislation from initial asset shutdown through to final site clearance.

Decommissioning and demolition activities sit at the extreme high‑risk end of construction and asset management work. Unstable structures, hidden services, legacy plant, asbestos, lead, contaminated soils and complex interfaces with the public all need to be controlled in a systematic way. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, defensible approach to planning and carrying out decommissioning and demolition in accordance with Australian WHS laws, from early consultation and structural assessments through to isolation, dismantling, demolition sequencing and waste removal.

The document provides clear guidance on roles and responsibilities, risk assessments, permits, and the coordination of multiple contractors on site. It embeds WHS best practice into everyday site activities, helping you to manage critical risks such as unintended collapse, falls from height, plant movement, hazardous energy, and exposure to hazardous materials. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of serious incidents, and provide workers with consistent, easy‑to‑follow instructions for each stage of decommissioning and demolition projects.

Key Benefits

• Ensure structured planning and control of high‑risk decommissioning and demolition activities from concept to completion.
• Reduce the likelihood of structural collapse, serious injury, and fatal incidents through robust risk assessment and safe work methods.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation, demolition licensing requirements, and relevant Codes of Practice.
• Standardise decommissioning and demolition practices across projects, improving coordination between contractors and site teams.
• Improve management of hazardous materials, services isolation, and waste streams to minimise environmental and reputational risk.

Who is this for?

• Construction Project Managers
• Demolition Contractors
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Principal Contractors
• Facilities and Asset Managers
• Civil Engineers
• Plant and Operations Managers
• Safety Advisors
• Environmental Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Uncontrolled or premature structural collapse during demolition
• Falls from height from roofs, edges, scaffolds and elevated work platforms
• Contact with live electrical services, gas lines, water and other utilities
• Exposure to asbestos, lead‑based paint, silica dust and other hazardous substances
• Struck‑by incidents involving mobile plant, falling objects and debris
• Noise and vibration exposure from heavy demolition equipment
• Manual handling injuries during dismantling and material handling
• Confined space hazards in tanks, pits, plant rooms and service tunnels
• Fire and explosion risks from residual fuels, gases and flammable materials
• Public and third‑party exposure to demolition dust, noise, vibration and project traffic

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and References
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning, Consultation and Approvals
• 5.0 Site Assessment, Surveys and Structural Engineering Review
• 6.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Controls
• 7.0 Services Location, Isolation and Verification (LOTO)
• 8.0 Hazardous Materials Management (Asbestos, Lead, Contaminants)
• 9.0 Demolition and Decommissioning Methodology and Sequencing
• 10.0 Plant, Equipment and PPE Requirements
• 11.0 Traffic Management and Public Protection Measures
• 12.0 Work at Height and Edge Protection Controls
• 13.0 Dust, Noise and Vibration Control Measures
• 14.0 Waste Segregation, Recycling and Disposal Procedures
• 15.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response (Collapse, Fire, Injury)
• 16.0 Permit to Work, Licensing and Regulatory Notifications
• 17.0 Monitoring, Inspections and Hold Points
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talks
• 19.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 20.0 Project Close‑Out, Clearance Certificates and Documentation

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (including provisions for high risk construction work and demolition work)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Demolition Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Safely Remove Asbestos
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• AS 2601: The demolition of structures
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices