Code of Practice — Demolition Work

The full title is the Code of Practice: Demolition Work, published by Safe Work Australia. The code becomes legally binding from 1 July 2026 under Section 26A of the WHS Act. It applies to all demolition work as defined in the WHS Regulation, which includes the dismantling, destroying, or removing of a structure or part of a structure that has been constructed in its installed position. The code covers the entire demolition lifecycle from initial site investigation through to post-demolition site clearance. Key requirements include structural engineering assessment before demolition commences, hazardous material surveys with particular emphasis on asbestos identification and management, demolition work plans that detail the sequence and method of demolition, competency requirements for demolition supervisors and workers, management of services disconnection, and protection of adjacent structures and the public. The code cross-references the codes for asbestos management, asbestos removal, and managing risks of plant in the workplace.

The code applies to licensed demolition contractors, principal contractors on projects involving demolition, structural engineers who assess structures for demolition, asbestos removalists who conduct pre-demolition hazardous material removal, PCBUs who commission demolition work, and workers who perform demolition tasks. Demolition work is classified as high-risk construction work under the WHS Regulation, requiring a SWMS before work commences. The licensed demolition contractor bears primary responsibility for compliance with the code, but the principal contractor on a larger construction project retains overarching duties to ensure that demolition work is planned and managed safely. Property owners and developers who commission demolition work have upstream PCBU duties to ensure they engage competent and licensed contractors and provide all available information about the structure's construction, history, and hazardous material content.

The code requires a pre-demolition investigation that includes a structural engineering assessment of the building or structure, identification of all hazardous materials through a comprehensive asbestos and hazardous material survey by a competent assessor, identification of services including electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, and stormwater that must be disconnected before demolition commences, and assessment of adjacent structures that may be affected by the demolition process. A demolition work plan must be prepared by a competent person and must detail the sequence of demolition, the methods and equipment to be used at each stage, the exclusion zones and barricading arrangements, the environmental controls including dust, noise, and vibration management, the emergency procedures, and the waste management arrangements. The code specifies competency requirements for demolition supervisors that were tightened under the WHS Regulation 2025. All workers must receive site-specific induction covering the demolition work plan, hazardous material locations, exclusion zones, and emergency procedures.

First, review all current demolition procedures, SWMS templates, and work plans against the code requirements, paying particular attention to pre-demolition investigation thoroughness, demolition sequencing methodology, hazardous material management, and environmental controls. Second, verify that all demolition supervisors hold the competency qualifications required under the WHS Regulation 2025 and that their training records are current and auditable. Third, review the qualifications and engagement processes for structural engineers and hazardous material assessors used in pre-demolition investigations to ensure they meet the competency standards specified in the code. Fourth, audit current demolition sites against the code's requirements for exclusion zones, barricading, dust control, environmental monitoring, and waste management, and close any identified gaps. Fifth, update subcontract and engagement documents to require compliance with the binding code as a condition of engagement, including provisions for the demolition contractor to provide evidence of code compliance before each stage of demolition commences.

Demolition failures can result in structural collapse, worker fatalities, public injuries, and environmental contamination. After 1 July 2026, failure to follow the code constitutes a standalone offence. The penalty framework is severe because demolition hazards are inherently life-threatening. Category 2 penalties of up to $1,731,500 for a body corporate apply where workers or the public are exposed to collapse risk. Where uncontrolled asbestos release occurs during demolition, environmental penalties may be imposed in addition to WHS penalties. Prohibition notices are routinely issued for demolition work that does not comply with the code, halting all work until compliance is demonstrated. The reputational consequences of a demolition incident — particularly one involving asbestos contamination or structural collapse affecting adjacent properties — can be commercially devastating. Industrial manslaughter charges are available where negligent demolition practices cause a worker's death. The combination of WHS penalties, environmental penalties, and civil liability makes compliance with the demolition code an essential investment.