Demolition

Demolition is high risk construction work, but doesn’t include:

• dismantling formwork, falsework, or other structures used to provide support, access or containment during construction
• removing power poles, light poles or phone poles.

Demolition licence holders

Learn about working as a demolition licence holder (including assessing risks and who to notify) and how to get an unrestricted licence or a restricted licence.

Check for asbestos

Check the asbestos register before beginning demolition. If a register is not available, have a competent person inspect the structure for asbestos. Remove all asbestos before beginning demolition work.

Confirm whether the site contains chemicals

The licence holder and/or the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must confirm whether the site contains chemicals or not immediately before commencing demolition work.

Working in the demolition industry from 1 March 2023

The information below includes some of the changes to the regulation.

Penalties and on-the-spot fines

From 1 March 2023 you can be fined or prosecuted under the WHS Regulation for not:

• ensuring licensed demolition work you have commissioned is carried out by a person with a licence (clause 142B).
• ensuring a named supervisor is present and supervising licensed demolition work (clause 142C)
• keeping records of the training undertaken by workers carrying out licensed demolition work, or not ensuring those records are available for inspection by SafeWork NSW (clause 142E)
• having your licence available for inspection by SafeWork NSW (clause 143I)
• providing written notice within 14 days of a change of relevant information related to your licence (clause 143J).
• applying to SafeWork NSW to remove a named supervisor from your licence within 14 days of ceasing to use that person as a supervisor (clause 143K)
• returning your licence when requested in writing and within the time specified by SafeWork NSW when the licence has been amended (clause 143P)
• notifying SafeWork NSW as soon as practicable if you lose your licence (clause 143Q)
• returning your licence to SafeWork NSW in accordance with the details (including timeframe) specified in a written notice issued by SafeWork NSW advising that your licence has been cancelled or suspended or that you are disqualified from holding a licence (clause 143ZD).

From 1 March 2025, you can be prosecuted for allowing a worker to carry out licensed demolition work without completing the SafeWork NSW approved training course (clause 142D).

Mandatory training for demolition workers

You will need to ensure your demolition workers have mandatory training by 1 March 2025.

From 1 March 2025, demolition licence holders must ensure demolition workers have completed the course approved by SafeWork NSW: CPCCDE3016 - Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies, if required to undertake licensed demolition work.

This is one of the 11 units of competency required for licence holders and/or named supervisors.

The pre-requisite for the course is CPCCWHS2001 – Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry.

Who requires training?

Workers who must be trained are those who:

• physically undertake licensed demolition work
• operate plant or equipment involved in licensed demolition work
• undertake work directly connected to the performance of licensed demolition work. i.e. a worker whether employed directly or indirectly who enters an area of the demolition site where licensed demolition work has commenced or is in progress.

The following people do not require training:

• truck drivers transporting demolition waste from the site who always remain in the cabin
• persons always accompanied by a named supervisor eg. engineers or people who are not undertaking licensed demolition works but are required to access the site i.e. to provide advice
• any persons not required to enter the demolition site, such as:
  • persons providing services who remain outside of the demolition site
  • traffic controllers, providing they remain outside of the demolition site.

Recognition of prior learning

Your registered training organisation (RTO) may consider recognising your prior learning.

Training records

You will need to keep your demolition worker training records and have them available for inspection under 142E from 1 March 2023.

The reason this requirement comes into effect prior to the mandatory training requirement is so licence holders are ready when the mandated training requirement begins on 1 March 2025.

Registered training organisations (RTOs)

A list of RTOs offering the approved training will be published on the SafeWork NSW website when it becomes available.

If you completed the 11 units of competency before the RTO approval program commenced, the training will still be valid.

Chemical installations

The information below provides clarity about what a chemical installation is, the licence you need, and what you must do if you want to carry out demolition work at a site that contains chemicals.

The licence holder and/or the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must confirm whether the site contains chemicals or not immediately before commencing demolition work.

As a guide, plant that involves a chemical installation may include, but is not limited to:

• above ground and underground tanks
• reaction, blending, boiling, conveying and other vessels
• pipework
• pipelines
• laboratories
• dispensing equipment such as fuel dispensers and gantries
• wash bays
• testing facilities
• spill, firewater and contaminated stormwater containment facilities
• contaminated ground or water table.

If an underground storage tank cannot be certified free from hazardous chemicals it is considered licensed demolition work.

You will need an unrestricted demolition licence to demolish (or partially demolish) any building, structure, major plant or installation that contains or may contain a hazardous chemical. Unless it has been declared in writing to be free of hazardous chemicals by a competent person as defined under the WHS Regulation, who should put in writing the date their declaration expires.

A competent person in this instance:

• is a person who has acquired through training, qualifications or experience, the knowledge and skills to inspect a chemical installation.
• may be a certified occupational hygienist of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.

If you are a restricted demolition licence holder you can apply to SafeWork for a chemical installation condition to be added to your licence to undertake this type of work.

To upgrade your restricted demolition licence complete the amend a restricted demolition licence application form (PDF, 190.4 KB).

More information

Learn about SafeWork NSW's position on risks of induced collapse on residential properties.

For general information about planning demolition work, controlling risks, using different demolition methods and demolishing special structures, see the code of practice for demolition work.