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Demolition Of Concrete Risk Assessment

Demolition Of Concrete Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Demolition Of Concrete Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Demolition of Concrete through a structured, management-level WHS Risk Management framework that addresses governance, planning, plant, contractors and critical controls. This Risk Assessment supports compliance with the WHS Act, demonstrates executive Due Diligence, and helps protect your business from operational and legal liability exposure.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance, Legal Compliance and PCBU Duties: Assessment of officer due diligence obligations, PCBU responsibilities, reasonably practicable controls, and WHS governance structures specific to concrete demolition activities.
  • Demolition Planning and Design Risk Management: Management of pre-demolition surveys, engineering input, sequencing of works, and design-stage risk elimination to minimise structural and public safety risks.
  • Contractor, Subcontractor and Supplier Management: Protocols for prequalification, WHS capability review, scope definition, interface risk management and performance monitoring of demolition contractors and suppliers.
  • Competency, Training and Supervision: Assessment of licence and ticket requirements, high-risk work authorisations, task-specific training, supervision levels and verification of competency for demolition personnel.
  • Plant, Equipment and Maintenance Management: Management of selection, inspection, maintenance and safe use of breakers, excavators, saws, lifting equipment and associated demolition plant.
  • Structural Stability, Collapse and Falling Concrete Management: Controls for engineering assessments, temporary supports, exclusion zones, progressive demolition methods and prevention of unplanned collapse or falling elements.
  • Hazardous Substances, Silica Dust and Environmental Controls: Assessment of exposure to respirable crystalline silica, noise, vibration, slurry and waste, including selection of dust suppression, ventilation, PPE and disposal systems.
  • Traffic, Mobile Plant and Public Interface Management: Management of internal traffic flows, mobile plant segregation, spotter use, public protection, barricading and interaction with neighbouring properties and roadways.
  • Emergency Preparedness and Incident Management: Planning for structural failure, entrapment, medical emergencies, fire, hazardous substance release and site evacuation, including emergency equipment and response roles.
  • Consultation, Communication and Worker Engagement: Systems for toolbox talks, pre-start meetings, consultation with workers and HSRs, information sharing with other PCBUs and communication of changes to the work plan.
  • Monitoring, Auditing and Continuous Improvement: Processes for inspections, safety observations, incident investigations, corrective actions and periodic review of demolition risk controls and contractor performance.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Construction Managers, Demolition Contractors and Safety Advisors responsible for planning, approving and overseeing Demolition of Concrete operations across projects and sites.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, Legal Compliance and PCBU Duties
  • • Inadequate understanding of primary duty of care and due diligence obligations under WHS Act 2011 by Officers and senior management
  • • Absence of a documented demolition-specific WHS management plan aligned to legislative and Australian Standard requirements (e.g. AS 2601 Demolition of Structures)
  • • Failure to consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with other PCBUs on site (client, principal contractor, other trades)
  • • Lack of formal process to identify whether work is ‘high risk construction work’ and whether a compliant SWMS is in place and implemented
  • • Poor document control leading to out-of-date procedures, policies and licences being used on site
  • • No formal process for review of incidents, near misses or regulatory changes that affect demolition of concrete activities
2. Demolition Planning and Design Risk Management
  • • Insufficient pre-demolition structural assessment of concrete elements, load paths and stability
  • • Failure to obtain and review as-built drawings, engineering reports and services plans prior to demolition planning
  • • Inadequate identification and management of pre-existing structural defects, deterioration or modifications that may affect demolition sequence
  • • Lack of formal design consultation between structural engineer, demolition designer and site management
  • • No structured process to assess and control the impact of demolition on adjacent structures, public areas and neighbouring properties
  • • Poor planning for progressive stability, propping, bracing and collapse prevention during concrete removal
3. Contractor, Subcontractor and Supplier Management
  • • Engagement of demolition contractors or subcontractors without verification of competence, licences, insurances and WHS performance history
  • • Inadequate pre-qualification process for plant hire companies providing demolition equipment (excavators, breakers, saws, crushers)
  • • Lack of clear WHS responsibilities and performance expectations in contracts and purchase orders
  • • Poor coordination between multiple contractors leading to overlapping work areas and increased exposure to falling concrete or mobile plant
  • • No systematic monitoring of subcontractor compliance with SWMS, site rules and permit conditions
4. Competency, Training and Supervision
  • • Workers and supervisors performing concrete demolition without appropriate licences, high-risk work authorisations or recognised demolition experience
  • • Insufficient competency in reading structural drawings, understanding load paths and recognising signs of instability in concrete elements
  • • Lack of training in the safe use of specialised demolition equipment (hydraulic breakers, concrete saws, crushers, high-reach excavators)
  • • Inadequate supervision ratios for high-risk concrete demolition tasks, especially during critical stages of structural removal
  • • No formal verification of understanding of SWMS, demolition plans and emergency procedures by workers
  • • Failure to provide refresher training or competency reassessment after incidents, near misses or changes in equipment or methods
5. Plant, Equipment and Maintenance Management
  • • Use of unsuitable or poorly maintained demolition plant for breaking and removing concrete, increasing risk of mechanical failure or loss of control
  • • Lack of a formal plant selection process considering load capacity, reach, vibration, noise, dust generation and stability
  • • Inadequate inspection and maintenance regime for hydraulic breakers, concrete saws, dust suppression systems and associated attachments
  • • Absence of standardised plant risk assessments addressing demolition-specific hazards (falling debris, structural interaction, proximity to edges)
  • • Failure to ensure guarding, emergency stop devices and safety interlocks are functional and maintained
  • • Use of handheld tools for extended periods without controls for vibration and noise exposure
6. Structural Stability, Collapse and Falling Concrete Management
  • • Uncontrolled collapse of concrete elements due to poor sequencing or inadequate temporary supports
  • • Falling concrete debris impacting workers, plant or public areas due to insufficient exclusion zones and barriers
  • • Progressive collapse triggered by removal of key structural elements (columns, shear walls, slabs) without engineering assessment
  • • Inadequate monitoring of structural behaviour during demolition (cracking, deflection, noise, movement indicators)
  • • Lack of clearly defined roles and authority to stop work if structural instability is suspected
7. Hazardous Substances, Silica Dust and Environmental Controls
  • • Generation of respirable crystalline silica dust during cutting, grinding and breaking of concrete
  • • Exposure to other hazardous substances such as cement dust, fuel, oils, hydraulic fluids and chemical surface treatments during demolition
  • • Lack of a formal process for identifying hazardous materials in or on concrete (coatings, sealants, residues) prior to demolition
  • • Inadequate planning for environmental controls relating to dust, noise, vibration and waste concrete disposal
  • • Insufficient health monitoring arrangements for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica
8. Traffic, Mobile Plant and Public Interface Management
  • • Interaction between demolition plant and pedestrians, including workers, other contractors and members of the public
  • • Uncontrolled movement of trucks and machinery transporting demolished concrete and equipment
  • • Inadequate traffic management planning for site access, egress and delivery routes
  • • Insufficient separation between demolition zones and live workplace areas, roads or footpaths
  • • Poor communication systems between plant operators and spotters during concrete demolition and removal
9. Emergency Preparedness and Incident Management
  • • Inadequate site-specific emergency response planning for structural collapse, entrapment, plant incidents or exposure to hazardous dusts
  • • Lack of clearly defined roles, responsibilities and communication pathways during emergencies in demolition areas
  • • Insufficient rescue capability and equipment for incidents involving partial collapse or working near edges and openings
  • • Inadequate training and drills for foreseeable emergency scenarios specific to concrete demolition
  • • Poor incident reporting and investigation systems leading to repeated systemic failures
10. Consultation, Communication and Worker Engagement
  • • Insufficient involvement of workers in identifying hazards and developing controls for concrete demolition activities
  • • Poor communication of changes to demolition sequencing, structural conditions or equipment to affected workers and contractors
  • • Lack of effective consultation mechanisms (HSCs, HSRs, toolbox talks) to capture and address worker concerns
  • • Language, literacy or cultural barriers leading to misunderstanding of demolition hazards, controls and emergency procedures
11. Monitoring, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
  • • Failure to verify that WHS procedures, SWMS and demolition plans are being implemented as intended on site
  • • Lack of measurable WHS performance indicators specific to demolition of concrete work
  • • Infrequent or ineffective WHS inspections and audits focused on system-level controls rather than paperwork only
  • • No structured process to capture lessons learned and integrate them into future demolition projects and procedures

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

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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
  • Demolition Work Code of Practice 2013: Guidance on planning, managing and controlling risks associated with demolition work.
  • Managing the Risk of Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for controlling silica dust generated during concrete cutting, breaking and demolition.
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment and implementation of control measures.
  • Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling noise exposure from demolition plant and equipment.
  • Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for selection, use, maintenance and inspection of demolition plant and machinery.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS 2601 – The Demolition of Structures: Australian Standard for safe and systematic planning and execution of demolition works.
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001 (as applicable): Occupational health and safety management systems requirements for systematic WHS governance.
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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