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Tile Removal and Demolition Risk Assessment

Tile Removal and Demolition 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

Tile Removal and Demolition Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Tile Removal and Demolition through a structured, management‑level Risk Assessment that supports planning, policy development, training and systems implementation. This document helps demonstrate Due Diligence under the WHS Act, reduce operational liability, and support ongoing WHS Risk Management across your demolition and refurbishment projects.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Legal Compliance & Consultation: Assessment of organisational WHS responsibilities, officer due diligence, consultation arrangements with workers and PCBUs, and integration of tile removal and demolition risks into your overarching safety management system.
  • Asbestos, Hazardous Materials & Pre‑Demolition Survey: Management of hazardous materials identification, engagement of licensed asbestos assessors where required, review of hazardous materials registers, and procedures for clearance, documentation and isolation before demolition works commence.
  • Crystalline Silica, Dust & Airborne Contaminant Management: Control strategies for silica‑containing tiles, adhesives and substrates, including wet methods, local exhaust ventilation, dust suppression, air monitoring, and respiratory health surveillance requirements.
  • Noise, Vibration & Occupational Health Exposure: Evaluation of exposure from jackhammers, grinders, breakers and other powered tools, including hearing conservation programs, vibration exposure management and scheduling to minimise cumulative health impacts.
  • Structural Integrity, Services Isolation & Demolition Planning: Protocols for engineering assessment of floors, walls and substrates, isolation of electrical, gas, water and fire systems, and staged demolition methodologies to prevent collapse, penetration and unplanned structural damage.
  • Plant, Tools, Equipment & Maintenance Systems: Management of selection, inspection and maintenance of demolition plant and tile removal equipment, including guarding, vibration controls, PAT testing, pre‑start checks and safe operating limitations.
  • Hazardous Manual Tasks & Ergonomic Risk Management: Assessment of lifting, bending, levering and handling of tiles, waste and equipment, with controls for mechanical aids, task rotation, job design and worker conditioning to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Work Environment, Access, Housekeeping & Waste Management: Controls for slips, trips and falls, safe access/egress, debris management, segregation of work zones, and compliant collection, transport and disposal of demolition and tile waste.
  • Contractor Management, Competency & Training: Systems for prequalification, verification of licences and tickets, competency assessment, and ensuring contractors follow your demolition and tile removal risk controls and reporting procedures.
  • Site Induction, Communication & Information Sharing: Standardised induction content covering hazardous materials, structural risks and site rules, along with toolbox talks, signage, and information flow between clients, contractors and workers.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program & Fit‑for‑Work: Governance of PPE selection, fit‑testing for respiratory protection, maintenance, replacement schedules, and fit‑for‑work requirements including fatigue, drugs and alcohol controls.
  • Emergency Preparedness, First Aid & Incident Management: Planning for medical emergencies, structural failures, exposure incidents and utility strikes, including first aid resources, evacuation procedures, incident reporting and investigation processes.
  • Public, Occupant & Neighbouring Property Protection: Measures for segregation from occupied areas, dust and noise impacts on neighbours, protection of adjoining structures, and communication with building occupants and the public.
  • Project Planning, Scheduling & Work Coordination: Integration of tile removal and demolition sequencing into project programs, coordination with other trades, staging of noisy and dusty works, and alignment with client operational requirements.
  • Monitoring, Supervision, Audit & Continuous Improvement: Systems for supervisory oversight, workplace inspections, exposure monitoring, performance metrics, and periodic review of demolition and tile removal controls to drive continual improvement.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Construction Managers, Project Managers and Safety Officers responsible for planning, approving and overseeing tile removal and demolition activities within their organisation or on client sites.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Legal Compliance & Consultation
  • • Incomplete understanding of WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations requirements for demolition and refurbishment work
  • • Absence of a documented WHS management plan for tile removal and minor demolition activities
  • • Lack of consultation with workers and health and safety representatives about methods such as chiselling tiles off walls and wrapping tiles before breaking
  • • No formal process to review new or changed tile removal methods (e.g. new cutting tools, alternative grout removal techniques)
  • • Inadequate inclusion of tile removal risks in the site-wide risk register and WHS objectives
  • • Poor communication of legal duties to principal contractors, subcontractors and labour hire workers
2. Asbestos, Hazardous Materials & Pre‑Demolition Survey
  • • Failure to identify legacy asbestos-containing materials behind tiles, in adhesives, backing boards, ceiling linings or old grout systems
  • • Inadequate pre‑demolition hazardous materials survey for ceramic and stone tile areas in older buildings
  • • Unclear process for reviewing existing asbestos registers and hazardous materials reports prior to starting work
  • • No system to stop work if suspected asbestos-containing material is uncovered during chiselling or demolition
  • • Unmanaged exposure to lead-based paint, crystalline silica, mould or other hazardous residues during tile removal
  • • Poor communication of survey findings to workers, subcontractors and occupants
3. Crystalline Silica, Dust & Airborne Contaminant Management
  • • Uncontrolled generation of respirable crystalline silica dust when cutting out old grout, removing ceramic or stone floor tiles or breaking wrapped tiles
  • • Inadequate engineering controls for dust suppression (e.g. dry grinding, chiselling or cutting without extraction)
  • • Absence of a formal silica exposure risk assessment and air monitoring where required
  • • Insufficient respiratory protection program, including selection, fit testing and maintenance of RPE
  • • Inadequate ventilation and dust containment leading to exposure of other workers, building occupants and public
  • • Poor housekeeping resulting in accumulation of fine dust on surfaces and in adjacent areas
4. Noise, Vibration & Occupational Health Exposure
  • • Excessive noise exposure from impact tools used for chiselling tiles off walls and floors
  • • Whole body and hand‑arm vibration from powered chisels, breakers and grinders
  • • Lack of noise assessment and monitoring for prolonged tile removal operations
  • • Insufficient procedures for managing hearing conservation and audiometric testing
  • • Potential aggravation of existing musculoskeletal or circulatory conditions due to sustained vibration and awkward postures
  • • Inadequate communication of noisy activities to neighbours, occupants and other trades
5. Structural Integrity, Services Isolation & Demolition Planning
  • • Damage to structural elements when removing wall tiles and render using impact methods
  • • Unidentified electrical, plumbing or gas services behind tiles, walls or floors
  • • Absence of a documented demolition plan for tile and substrate removal sequences
  • • Uncontrolled collapse of wall sections, fixtures or substrates when tiles are removed
  • • Interference with fire systems, waterproofing membranes or building services without proper authorisation
  • • Unclear responsibilities for checking and isolating services prior to demolition
6. Plant, Tools, Equipment & Maintenance Systems
  • • Use of unsuitable or poorly maintained power tools for grout cutting and tile removal
  • • Absence of a structured inspection and maintenance regime for chisels, breakers, grinders and dust extraction units
  • • Non‑compliant electrical equipment (e.g. out‑of‑date test and tag)
  • • Lack of standardised tooling specifications for tile removal tasks, leading to ad‑hoc tool selection
  • • Uncontrolled modifications or makeshift attachments to tools or guards
  • • Inadequate systems for managing faults, tagging out defective equipment and contractor‑supplied tools
7. Hazardous Manual Tasks & Ergonomic Risk Management
  • • Repetitive and forceful movements when chiselling tiles off walls and floors
  • • Awkward postures when working at floor level, in showers, or above shoulder height
  • • Manual handling of heavy boxes or bundles of ceramic or stone tiles during removal and wrapping in blankets prior to breaking
  • • Lack of formal hazardous manual tasks risk assessment for tile demolition activities
  • • Time pressure and poor planning resulting in workers rushing and exceeding safe handling limits
  • • Inadequate provision of mechanical aids or work platforms to reduce reaching and bending
8. Work Environment, Access, Housekeeping & Waste Management
  • • Slip, trip and fall risks due to broken tiles, grout dust and tools scattered in work areas
  • • Poor housekeeping leading to accumulation of sharp tile fragments around workstations
  • • Inadequate planning for safe egress and emergency access during demolition activities
  • • Uncontrolled stacking of removed tiles and debris, including wrapped tiles awaiting breaking, creating instability
  • • Insufficient systems for segregation, containment and removal of waste, including potentially contaminated materials
  • • Cross‑contamination of occupied areas due to poor zoning and traffic management for waste removal
9. Contractor Management, Competency & Training
  • • Engagement of tile removal subcontractors without adequate WHS systems or competencies
  • • Lack of verification of worker training in demolition, silica control and hazardous manual tasks
  • • Inconsistent understanding of procedures for chiselling, grout cutting and wrapping tiles before breaking
  • • Reliance on informal, undocumented on‑the‑job instruction instead of structured training
  • • Insufficient monitoring of contractor performance and WHS compliance on site
  • • Language and literacy barriers preventing workers from understanding WHS requirements
10. Site Induction, Communication & Information Sharing
  • • Workers commencing tile removal without receiving site-specific induction
  • • Poor communication of critical information such as hazardous materials locations, restricted areas and emergency procedures
  • • Lack of clarity around the requirement to wrap tiles in blankets before breaking and reasons for that control
  • • Inadequate communication between multiple trades working in the same area, leading to interface risks
  • • Failure to communicate changes in demolition sequencing or methods to all affected workers
  • • Incomplete or outdated safety signage in tile removal work zones
11. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program & Fit‑for‑Work
  • • Over‑reliance on PPE instead of higher-level controls for tile and grout removal hazards
  • • Inadequate specification, provision and enforcement of PPE such as eye, respiratory, hearing and hand protection
  • • Lack of fit‑testing and training for respiratory protective equipment used during dusty tile removal operations
  • • Workers not fit for work due to fatigue, alcohol, drugs or pre‑existing conditions aggravated by demolition work
  • • No formal system for reporting and managing restrictions or medical limitations
  • • Poor storage, cleaning and replacement practices leading to ineffective PPE
12. Emergency Preparedness, First Aid & Incident Management
  • • Lack of planning for tile removal‑specific emergencies such as eye injuries from flying fragments, lacerations from sharp tiles, or dust inhalation events
  • • Insufficient first aid resources and trained first aiders on sites where tile demolition is undertaken
  • • Unclear procedures for responding to structural damage or service strikes during chiselling or demolition
  • • Poor reporting culture leading to under‑reporting of near misses and minor injuries
  • • Delayed notification and investigation of incidents related to tile removal and grout cutting activities
  • • Inadequate integration of tile removal scenarios into emergency exercises and drills
13. Public, Occupant & Neighbouring Property Protection
  • • Uncontrolled access by building occupants or public into tile demolition zones
  • • Noise, dust and vibration impacts on neighbouring tenancies and properties
  • • Inadequate protection of adjacent finishes, fixtures and assets from flying fragments and dust during tile removal
  • • Lack of communication with building management or neighbours regarding work timing and expected impacts
  • • Improper placement of waste skips or chutes creating hazards for pedestrians and traffic
  • • Potential damage claims arising from unrecorded pre‑existing defects
14. Project Planning, Scheduling & Work Coordination
  • • Insufficient lead time to properly plan tile removal methods, controls and resourcing
  • • Work sequencing that places tile removal in conflict with other high‑risk activities in the same area
  • • Rushing due to compressed programs, increasing likelihood of shortcuts and non‑compliance with procedures
  • • Failure to plan for off‑hours work where required to reduce impact on occupants and public
  • • Inadequate consideration of seasonal conditions (heat, humidity, ventilation) affecting demolition work
  • • Poor coordination of deliveries, waste removal and trades handover
15. Monitoring, Supervision, Audit & Continuous Improvement
  • • Inadequate on‑site supervision of tile removal and demolition activities
  • • Failure to monitor compliance with risk controls for chiselling, grout cutting and tile wrapping methods
  • • Lack of periodic WHS audits focusing on demolition work practices and documentation
  • • Absence of performance indicators for WHS outcomes in tile removal projects
  • • Limited mechanisms to capture worker feedback and lessons learned from past projects
  • • No systematic review of risk assessments and procedures following incidents or changes in legislation

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

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: Requirements and guidance for planning and undertaking demolition activities.
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Safely Remove Asbestos: Procedures for identifying, removing and disposing of asbestos‑containing materials.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing the Risk of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Controls for hazardous substances encountered during demolition.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing the Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica from Engineered Stone in the Workplace: Applicable principles for silica risk management in tile and substrate removal.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Guidance on noise exposure and hearing conservation.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines.
  • AS 2601:2001: The demolition of structures.
  • AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment.
  • AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices.
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements for implementation of formal WHS management frameworks.
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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