Quick answer: Demolition work is high risk construction work (HRCW) in every jurisdiction, and most structural demolition is also notifiable. Key obligations include SWMS for all HRCW activities, asbestos surveys before work commences, licensing, a WHS management plan for notifiable work, and silica dust management. This page pulls together the essential resources, guides, and SWMS templates that demolition contractors need.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026
Demolition contracting carries some of the most demanding WHS obligations in the Australian construction industry. The combination of structural hazards, hazardous materials — particularly asbestos — silica dust, heavy plant, and the inherent unpredictability of aged structures means that demolition businesses must have robust safety systems in place before any work begins.
This page is a practical resource hub for demolition contractors. It covers WHS obligations, SWMS requirements, asbestos management, licensing, and links to the guides, checklists, and SWMS templates relevant to demolition work in Australia. Use it as a starting point to understand your compliance obligations and find the documents you need.
Note: WHS laws in Australia are based on the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011, but each state and territory has its own legislation and regulator. Demolition licensing, asbestos removal licences, and notification requirements also vary by jurisdiction. Always check the requirements that apply in your state or territory.
WHS obligations for demolition contractors
Demolition contractors carry WHS obligations in multiple capacities, often simultaneously. Understanding which duties apply to your business and your role on each project is the first step to compliance.
Duty as a PCBU
Any demolition contractor carrying on a business — whether as a sole trader, partnership, or company — is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under Australian WHS legislation. As a PCBU, a demolition contractor must ensure the health and safety of:
- their own workers (employees and labour hire)
- subcontractors and their workers
- other people on or near the workplace, including visitors, adjacent occupants, and members of the public
The PCBU duty is to eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or if that is not possible, to minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable.
Duty as a principal contractor
When a demolition contractor manages or controls a demolition site, they are typically the principal contractor for that project. Principal contractor duties apply to all notifiable construction work and include:
- Preparing a WHS management plan before demolition work commences
- Ensuring a SWMS is prepared and followed for all HRCW activities on site
- Ensuring all workers are inducted before they access the site
- Notifying the relevant WHS regulator before notifiable demolition work begins
- Consulting, cooperating, and coordinating with other duty holders
- Maintaining site safety documentation and making it available on site
Given that demolition work is almost always either HRCW or notifiable — and frequently both — the principal contractor role carries significant obligations on demolition projects of any scale.
Demolition as HRCW
Demolition work is expressly listed as a category of high risk construction work (HRCW) under the WHS Regulations. This means a SWMS must be prepared before demolition work commences on any project. There is no minimum size threshold — even small demolition jobs trigger the HRCW and SWMS obligations.
For a full list of HRCW categories relevant to demolition work, see the High Risk Construction Work list.
Asbestos requirements for demolition contractors
Asbestos management is one of the most critical compliance obligations for demolition contractors in Australia. Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were used extensively in Australian construction until the national ban on new use of asbestos took effect on 31 December 2003. Any structure built or refurbished before 2004 must be treated as potentially containing ACM until proven otherwise.
Asbestos survey before demolition
Before demolition work commences on a structure built or refurbished prior to 1 January 2004, the principal contractor must ensure that an asbestos survey has been carried out by a suitably qualified person. The survey must:
- Identify all ACM present in the structure
- Document the location, type, condition, and extent of ACM
- Be incorporated into an asbestos register that is available on site before and during work
Demolition cannot proceed until the asbestos survey is complete and the information is communicated to all workers and contractors on site.
Asbestos removal before demolition
Where ACM is identified, it must generally be removed before structural demolition begins, unless safe removal in place can be demonstrated. Asbestos removal on demolition projects is subject to strict requirements:
- Non-friable ACM (bonded asbestos, such as fibro sheeting) must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist (Class B licence) for quantities above 10 square metres
- Friable ACM (loose or crumbly asbestos, including materials that can be reduced to powder by hand pressure) must always be removed by a Class A licensed asbestos removalist
- Asbestos removal work above specified quantities must be notified to the WHS regulator before removal commences
See the Asbestos SWMS Guide and the Asbestos Safety Checklist for detailed guidance on managing asbestos in demolition work.
Silica dust management in demolition
Demolition work — particularly concrete breaking, jackhammering, cutting, and grinding — generates respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust, which causes silicosis and other serious and irreversible lung diseases. Silica dust is a significant and well-documented hazard in demolition work.
Demolition contractors must:
- Identify all tasks where silica dust may be generated
- Implement engineering controls (water suppression, on-tool dust extraction, enclosed cabs with filtered air supply) as the primary controls
- Provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) as a supplementary control — not as the first line of defence
- Conduct health monitoring for workers with ongoing silica dust exposure, in accordance with regulatory requirements
- Include silica dust management in SWMS for all relevant demolition activities
For detailed guidance, see the Silica Dust SWMS.
Demolition licensing requirements
Demolition contracting and certain demolition tasks require licensing. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, but contractors and businesses should be aware of the following categories:
- Demolition contractor licence: Most jurisdictions require a licensed demolition contractor to carry out structural demolition above a specified scale (number of storeys, building size, or construction type). Check the requirements in your state or territory before commencing work.
- Class A asbestos removal licence: Required for the removal of any quantity of friable asbestos. This is an individual licence held by the removalist, not just the company.
- Class B asbestos removal licence: Required for the removal of non-friable ACM in quantities exceeding 10 square metres. Smaller quantities can be removed by an unlicensed person following prescribed procedures, but only under strictly controlled conditions.
- High risk work licences: Workers operating plant such as excavators with demolition attachments may require a relevant high risk work licence depending on the type of plant and the jurisdiction.
Demolition contractors should maintain a current register of all licences held by the business and its workers, and confirm licence currency before workers commence any licensed activity.
Common SWMS for demolition contractors
The table below lists the SWMS most commonly needed on demolition sites, with the typical situations in which they apply.
| SWMS | When needed |
|---|---|
| Demolition of Concrete SWMS | Breaking out, cutting, or demolishing concrete structures, footings, and slabs |
| Structural Heavy Demolition and Induced Collapse SWMS | Demolition of load-bearing or structurally significant elements; controlled collapse or implosion techniques |
| Asbestos Containing Materials Removal SWMS | Removal of bonded or friable ACM from structures being demolished or stripped |
| Mechanical Demolition, Excavator Attachments and Robotics SWMS | Demolition using excavators fitted with hydraulic demolition attachments, shears, or remote-controlled demolition robots |
| Silica Dust SWMS | Any demolition activity that generates respirable crystalline silica dust — concrete breaking, cutting, jackhammering |
| Manual Demolition, Jackhammering and Concrete Breaking SWMS | Hand-held and manually operated jackhammers, concrete breakers, and rotary hammers |
| Hot Work SWMS | Cutting, welding, grinding, or other hot work during demolition — particularly where flammable materials may be present |
WHS documents a demolition contractor needs
Beyond SWMS, a demolition contractor needs a comprehensive set of WHS documents to support a compliant and well-managed business and project. The table below outlines the core documents, their purpose, and when they are required.
| Document | Purpose | When required |
|---|---|---|
| WHS Policy | Demonstrates leadership commitment; sets out WHS responsibilities | Any business with workers; expected by clients, principal contractors, and insurers |
| WHS Management Plan | Sets out how WHS will be managed across the project; covers roles, hazards, consultation, and emergency arrangements | Notifiable demolition work; prepared by principal contractor before work commences |
| SWMS | Identifies HRCW activities, hazards, and risk controls | Before commencing any HRCW activity — mandatory for all demolition work; kept on site throughout |
| Asbestos Survey / Asbestos Register | Documents the location, type, and condition of ACM in the structure | Required before demolition commences on structures built or refurbished prior to 1 January 2004 |
| Asbestos Removal Plan | Describes the method and controls for removing identified ACM | Required for licensed asbestos removal work before removal commences |
| Site Induction Records | Evidence that workers and visitors have received site-specific safety information | Before any person accesses the site |
| Hazard / Risk Register | Documents identified hazards, risk ratings, and controls | Maintained throughout the project; updated as new hazards are identified |
| Incident Register | Records incidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and injuries | Ongoing; serious incidents and dangerous occurrences must be notified to the regulator |
| Plant and Equipment Register | Tracks demolition plant on site, inspection status, and operator licences | Maintained while plant is in use |
| Training and Licence Register | Records qualifications, licences, and training — including asbestos, demolition, and high risk work licences | Ongoing; current licences confirmed before workers commence licensed work |
| Contractor / Subcontractor Register | Documents subcontractors engaged — including asbestos removalists — with their insurances and WHS documents | Maintained for all subcontractors engaged on the project |
| Emergency Plan | Sets out emergency response procedures, including procedures for asbestos fibre release and structural collapse | Required for all workplaces; site-specific procedures for each project |
For a full guide to WHS documents for demolition businesses, see WHS Documents for Demolition Contractors.
Pre-demolition checklist
The following checklist covers the WHS preparation that should be completed before demolition work commences on any site.
Before work commences:
- Demolition contractor licence confirmed current and appropriate for the scope of work
- Asbestos survey completed (for structures built or refurbished before 1 January 2004)
- Asbestos register prepared and available on site; all workers briefed on ACM locations
- Licensed asbestos removal engaged where required; asbestos removal plan prepared
- Asbestos removal notification lodged with regulator (where required) before removal commences
- Notifiable construction work notification lodged with regulator (where required) before demolition commences
- WHS management plan prepared (for notifiable construction work)
- SWMS prepared for all HRCW activities to be performed on site
- Structural engineering or demolition engineering report obtained (for structural or heavy demolition)
- Services identification completed; all utilities isolated or protected
- Site exclusion zones established and site secured against unauthorised access
- Emergency procedures documented and communicated to all workers
- Site induction process established; all workers inducted before access
- Plant and equipment register started; pre-start inspections complete; operator licences confirmed
- Subcontractor register started; insurances, licences, and SWMS received from all subcontractors
Ongoing throughout the project:
- SWMS reviewed with workers at pre-start; sign-off obtained before each HRCW activity commences
- Silica dust controls in place and functioning before concrete breaking or cutting commences
- Toolbox talks conducted and recorded
- Site inspections completed and recorded
- Hazard/risk register updated as conditions change during demolition
- Incident register maintained; notifiable incidents and dangerous occurrences reported promptly
- Structural stability monitored and engineering advice sought before any unplanned collapse risk arises
- Waste management and hazardous materials disposal records maintained
Useful guides for demolition contractors
The following guides cover the WHS topics most relevant to demolition businesses and demolition work.
- Demolition SWMS Guide — SWMS requirements for demolition work in Australia
- Asbestos SWMS Guide — How to prepare a SWMS for asbestos removal on demolition sites
- High Risk Construction Work — Full list of HRCW categories, including demolition
- WHS Documents for Demolition Contractors — Full guide to WHS documents for demolition businesses
- Asbestos Safety Checklist — Pre-work asbestos safety checklist for demolition and refurbishment sites
SWMS templates for demolition contractors
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates for the demolition activities most commonly required on Australian demolition sites. Templates are professionally prepared, editable, and ready to customise to your specific site, structure type, and work methods.
Browse the full range of demolition SWMS at Blue Safe Online.
Frequently asked questions
Is demolition work high risk construction work?
Yes. Demolition work is specifically listed as a category of high risk construction work (HRCW) under the Work Health and Safety Regulations. This means a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before any demolition work commences, regardless of the scale of the job. In addition, demolition work that meets the threshold for notifiable construction work requires a WHS management plan, and the work must be notified to the relevant regulator before it begins.
When is demolition work notifiable?
Demolition work is notifiable construction work if it involves the demolition of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure, regardless of project value. It is also notifiable on any project where the estimated construction cost reaches the notifiable threshold (generally $250,000 or more, although this varies by jurisdiction). For notifiable demolition work, the principal contractor must notify the WHS regulator before work commences, prepare a WHS management plan, and ensure SWMS are in place for all HRCW activities.
Does a demolition contractor need an asbestos survey before demolition?
Yes, in most cases. Before demolition work begins on a structure built or refurbished prior to 1 January 2004, the principal contractor must ensure that a suitably qualified person has inspected the structure and prepared an asbestos register or asbestos survey report. This requirement applies because asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were widely used in Australian construction before the national ban took effect. Demolition without identifying and managing ACM is a serious safety and legal risk. The survey must be completed before any demolition work starts — not partway through the job.
Do demolition contractors need a licence?
Yes. In Australia, demolition work above specified thresholds requires a licensed contractor. The licensing requirements differ by jurisdiction, but generally a demolition licence (or contractor's licence endorsed for demolition) is required to carry out structural demolition, induced collapse, or the demolition of buildings beyond a certain size or storey height. Workers performing certain tasks — such as the removal of friable asbestos — must also hold specific individual licences. Before engaging demolition work, contractors should confirm the licensing requirements that apply in their state or territory.
Get your WHS documents sorted
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates and WHS management systems for Australian demolition contractors. Whether you are setting up your business for the first time, preparing for a new demolition project, or updating outdated documents, Blue Safe Online gives you access to professionally prepared, ready-to-customise WHS documents for the demolition industry.
Browse SWMS and WHS documents for demolition contractors on Blue Safe Online
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. WHS requirements may vary by state or territory, project type, contract conditions, and your role on site. Demolition licensing, asbestos removal licensing, and notification requirements are particularly subject to jurisdictional variation. Consult the relevant WHS regulator or a qualified WHS professional for advice specific to your circumstances.