Do I need a demolition licence?

Depends on the structure and the state: most jurisdictions require a licensed demolisher (or notification to the regulator) for structures above a certain height or for load-bearing demolition. Check your state regulator's thresholds — the SWMS does not replace the licence.

Who provides the asbestos survey?

The person commissioning the demolition must ensure a hazardous materials assessment exists before work starts, and you must sight it. If a client cannot produce one for a pre-1990 building, the answer is a survey first — not a careful strip-out.

Does internal strip-out count as demolition?

Soft strip-out of non-load-bearing fit-out is construction work but may fall outside the demolition category itself. It still commonly triggers other categories — asbestos in old fit-outs, temporary support when walls come out. Assess the categories, not the job title.

All templatesDemolition

Demolition SWMS template

Strip out and structural demolition including services isolation.

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Demolition compresses more high-risk categories into one activity than any other trade: load-bearing structure coming down, asbestos in anything built before 1990, live services still connected, and plant working close to people. The SWMS is where you show the demolition sequence was planned rather than improvised.

This template covers soft strip-out through structural demolition, starting where every demolition job must start: isolating services and confirming what the hazardous materials survey found before the first wall comes down.

What this SWMS covers

The typical scope of work the document describes, step by step. The builder lets you add, remove and reword steps so the sequence matches your actual job.

1Site set up and services isolation
2Review hazardous materials survey
3Establish exclusion zones
4Soft strip out
5Structural demolition in planned sequence
6Load out and remove waste

Hazards and example controls

The controls below are starting points ordered by the hierarchy of control — the builder helps you adapt them to the site and add your own.

Unplanned structural collapse

Demolish in the planned sequence — top down, no undermining
Temporary propping where load paths are altered
Engineer input for load-bearing elements before they are cut

Asbestos disturbance

Hazardous materials survey reviewed before work starts
Licensed removalist clears identified ACM before demolition
Stop work immediately on suspect material found mid-job

Live services still connected

Confirm electrical, gas and water abolishment in writing
Treat every cable and pipe as live until proven dead

Dust, noise and flying debris

Water suppression during mechanical demolition
Exclusion zones sized for the structure height
Scheduled hours and notification for noisy works

High risk construction work

Demolition of load-bearing structures
Disturbance of asbestos

Demolition of load-bearing structure is its own category, and pre-1990 buildings add the asbestos category until a survey proves otherwise. Excavators bring in mobile plant; work near the street brings in traffic corridors. Most demolition SWMS should name four or more categories — naming only one is usually a sign something was missed.

All 18 high-risk categories explained

Common questions

Do I need a demolition licence?: Depends on the structure and the state: most jurisdictions require a licensed demolisher (or notification to the regulator) for structures above a certain height or for load-bearing demolition. Check your state regulator's thresholds — the SWMS does not replace the licence.
Who provides the asbestos survey?: The person commissioning the demolition must ensure a hazardous materials assessment exists before work starts, and you must sight it. If a client cannot produce one for a pre-1990 building, the answer is a survey first — not a careful strip-out.
Does internal strip-out count as demolition?: Soft strip-out of non-load-bearing fit-out is construction work but may fall outside the demolition category itself. It still commonly triggers other categories — asbestos in old fit-outs, temporary support when walls come out. Assess the categories, not the job title.

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Start from this template and answer a few questions about the job — state, site, crew, method. Preview the whole document free; pay only when you download the PDF.

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Before you start

Users are responsible for reviewing and adapting the SWMS to the actual worksite, work methods and applicable regulatory requirements before work begins.