Educational guidance on how workplace induction and safety instruction generally work — connected to workplace safety, occupations, industries, employment documents and company types. Informational only — not certified training, not an official qualification and not a substitute for mandatory workplace instruction; employers remain responsible for required training, competence and authorisation.
What this instruction covers
This page outlines, in general educational terms, the safety information around demolition — the hazards, why a survey and plan are needed, the controlled sequence of work, and how problems should be reported.
It is awareness material, not training. Demolition is specialist, high-risk work that requires planning by competent people; this page does not deliver, replace or satisfy that.
The hazards
- Unplanned collapse of part or all of the structure during the work.
- Falls, falling materials and debris, and unstable remaining structure.
- Hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead and contaminated ground.
- Buried and live services, dust, noise and the use of heavy plant.
Who this is for
- Workers involved in or near demolition operations.
- Plant operators and those controlling the demolition area.
- Supervisors and those planning demolition work.
- New starters before the instruction and training demolition requires.
The safe system of work
- Survey the structure first to identify its construction, condition and hazardous materials.
- Work to a demolition plan that sets the method, sequence and controls.
- Take the structure down in a controlled sequence so it does not collapse unexpectedly.
- Use exclusion zones, control dust and debris, and keep people clear of the work.
Required PPE & controls
- Hard hat, high-visibility clothing, footwear, eye and respiratory protection for the task.
- Exclusion zones, barriers and controlled access around the demolition.
- Dust suppression and measures for noise and falling materials.
- The controls set by the demolition plan and the employer’s risk assessment.
Pre-task checks
- Confirm the survey and demolition plan are in place and understood.
- Check that services are disconnected or isolated before work begins.
- Confirm exclusion zones, access controls and plant are set up correctly.
- Do not start if the plan, surveys or controls are not in place.
Surveys, plan & hazardous materials
- A demolition survey identifies the structure, its stability and hazardous materials such as asbestos.
- A demolition plan, prepared by a competent person, sets out the method, sequence and precautions.
- Asbestos and other hazardous materials are dealt with under their own controls — often by licensed specialists — before or during demolition.
- These surveys and plans are part of the employer’s arrangements, prepared by competent people — not provided by this page.
What you are and are not authorised to do
- Carry out demolition work only as set out in the plan and when instructed to do so.
- Do not depart from the planned sequence or remove load-bearing elements out of order.
- Do not disturb asbestos or other hazardous materials — stop and report them.
- Authorisation comes from competence and the employer, not from this page.
Emergency response & reporting
- On any sign of unexpected movement or collapse, withdraw, raise the alarm and keep clear.
- Stop work and report suspected asbestos or other hazardous materials rather than disturbing them.
- Call the emergency services for collapse, injury or a struck service.
- Report incidents, near misses and any departure from the plan through the site’s reporting route.
Training & competence
Demolition is specialist work that is generally expected to be planned and supervised by competent people and carried out by trained workers, with surveys and a demolition plan in place. Where asbestos or other hazardous materials are present, their removal often requires licensed, separately trained specialists.
Instruction such as this page is information, not competence. Reading it does not make anyone competent to plan or carry out demolition; that comes from proper training, assessment and the employer’s arrangements.
Documentation
- The demolition survey and demolition plan.
- Records for hazardous materials and their removal.
- Records of training and competence for the work.
- A record documents what was done; it is not, by itself, proof of competence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting demolition without a survey and a plan.
- Departing from the planned sequence and triggering an unplanned collapse.
- Disturbing asbestos or other hazardous materials instead of reporting them.
- Treating awareness material as the training and competence demolition requires.
Who is responsible
The employer and, on construction, the principal contractor are responsible for surveys and plans, for competent planning and supervision, for hazardous material controls, and for keeping records. This page is an educational outline only.
It does not deliver training, authorise anyone, satisfy any legal requirement, or transfer responsibility for demolition safety.
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