Everything You Need Know About Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Demolition in Brisbane

faq

A demolition work is any kind of work that involves the complete dismantling of a structure or part of a structure. The structure can either be temporary or permanent, immovable or moveable like towers, storage tanks, sheds, buildings, storage towers and chimney stacks. When demolishing an element of a structure that is load bearing, it will be labeled as ‘high risk construction work’. When the demolition work involves high-risk construction work, you must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement.

Demolition work that requires a report under the WHS Regulation include

Demolition of any part of a building that supports the weight of other parts of the structure or is a fundamental part of the building’s core. Demolition of any part of a building that supports the weight of other parts of the structure or is a fundamental part of the building’s core.
Demolition work that involves the use of explosives Demolition work that involves the use of explosives
Structure that has reached 6 metres high Structure that has reached 6 metres high
Demolition work that consists of load shifting equipment on a suspended floor Demolition work that consists of load shifting equipment on a suspended floor

The demolition process is much simpler for small structures like houses that consist of a maximum of three stories. The man-made structure is flattened either manually or mechanically through the use of sizable hydraulic equipment such as bulldozers, excavators and cranes. Meanwhile, for larger structures, a wrecking ball may be required. A wrecking ball is a heavy ball made of metal that is swung by a crane to hit a building for the purpose of demolishing it. Wrecking balls are highly effective when used against stonework but it has a couple of disadvantages. One, wrecking balls are difficult to control and two; they are less effective compared to modern methods. Today, the latest methods make use of rotating hydraulic shears as well as silenced rock-breakers that are affixed to excavators to penetrate through concrete, steel and wood. Make sure you comply all the needed requirements before you start the demolition work.The demolition process is much simpler for small structures like houses that consist of a maximum of three stories. The man-made structure is flattened either manually or mechanically through the use of sizable hydraulic equipment such as bulldozers, excavators and cranes. Meanwhile, for larger structures, a wrecking ball may be required. A wrecking ball is a heavy ball made of metal that is swung by a crane to hit a building for the purpose of demolishing it. Wrecking balls are highly effective when used against stonework but it has a couple of disadvantages. One, wrecking balls are difficult to control and two; they are less effective compared to modern methods. Today, the latest methods make use of rotating hydraulic shears as well as silenced rock-breakers that are affixed to excavators to penetrate through concrete, steel and wood.

Make sure you comply all the needed requirements before you start the demolition work.

WHAT ARE THE HAZARDS OF DEMOLITION WORK?Demolition work has its own fair share of hazards. Identifying what these are can help manage the risks. The following are potential hazards of demolition work:

Unexpected collapse of the structure Unexpected collapse of the structure
Exposure to silica or asbestos Exposure to silica or asbestos
Falling debris Falling debris
Falls from one level to another Falls from one level to another
The nearness of the building being demolished to other buildings The nearness of the building being demolished to other buildings
Hazardous noise as a result of explosives and plant used to carry out demolition work Hazardous noise as a result of explosives and plant used to carry out demolition work
Being exposed to toxic chemicals that may be present in the ground or that could reek from the demolished materials Being exposed to toxic chemicals that may be present in the ground or that could reek from the demolished materials
Location of above and underground services such as telecommunications, sewerage, water, gas, fuel lines, refrigerant in pipes, electricity and chemicals Location of above and underground services such as telecommunications, sewerage, water, gas, fuel lines, refrigerant in pipes, electricity and chemicals

After you have identified the hazards, your next step is to perform a thorough risk assessment. A risk assessment is crucial to help you establish the control measures you are going to use to reduce the risk of potential hazards. This is a requirement when you are working with explosives and/or asbestos.

When evaluating the risks involved in demolition work, you should take into account the following:

Control measures for demolition hazards must have a ranking. The ranking must be from the highest reliability and protection to the lowest. The said ranking is commonly known as the hierarchy of control.

You should strive to remove the hazard but if this is not feasible then you should at least reduce the risk by one or a combination of the following:

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must obtain a demolition work licence as required by the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation.

There are specific legal requirements needed before demolition work:

1. OBTAIN A NOTICE OF DEMOLITION WORK – WHS REGULATION 2011, S142 (1) AND (2)
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that intends to pursue the following types of demolition work must present a written notice to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland at least five days before the work begins.

Unexpected collapse of the structure Unexpected collapse of the structure
Exposure to silica or asbestos Exposure to silica or asbestos
Exposure to silica or asbestos Exposure to silica or asbestos

The notice must be done using Form 65: Notification of licensed asbestos removal work, demolition work or emergency demolition.

2. OBTAIN A NOTICE DEMOLITION WORK BY AN EMERGENCY SERVICE ORGANISATION – WHS REGULATION 2011, S142 (2), (3), (4)
All emergency service organisations must provide a notice of demolition work (s142 (2), (3) and (4) as soon as possible. It can be done before or after the demolition work is carried out, when the demolition work is carried out while providing first aid to a person.

The notice must be done using Form 65: Notification of licensed asbestos removal work, demolition work or emergency demolition.

3. MUST HAVE A LICENCE TO CARRY OUT DEMOLITION WORK – WHS REGULATION 2011, S143
A PCBU or a direct worker must not be allowed to carry out demolition work unless they are licensed to perform demolition work.

4. NOMINATED COMPETENT PERSON MUST BE AVAILABLE AND PRESENT DURING DEMOLITION WORK – WHS REGULATION
Whoever is nominated under a demolition licence must be present to supervise the workers who will carry out the demolition work.

5. TRAINING FOR WORKERS – WHS REGULATION 2011, S144(2)
The PCBU that holds the licence to perform the demolition work must train the workers to ensure that the demolition work is done proficiently and safely.

6. CONSTRUCTION WORK – WHS REGULATION 2011 CHAPTER 6 CONSTRUCTION WORK
Under WHS Regulation, demolition work is regarded as construction work therefore it must be carried out in compliance with the strict regulations.

7. SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS – WHS REGULATION 2011, S291 AND S299
The safe work method statements are strictly necessary for all high risk construction work.

8. NOTIFIABLE INCIDENTS – WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2011, S35, S36, S37, S38 AND S39
Complete or partial collapse of a building is considered a dangerous incident. It is imperative that you notify the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland right away.

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must obtain a demolition work licence as required by the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation.

There are specific legal requirements needed before demolition work:

The first step is to complete Form 76 – Application for a licence to carry out demolition work. Make sure you attach all the necessary documents required. The first step is to complete Form 76 – Application for a licence to carry out demolition work. Make sure you attach all the necessary documents required.
Submit all the documents together with Form 76 to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. You will be required to pay a fee. Submit all the documents together with Form 76 to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. You will be required to pay a fee.
The WSHQ will get in touch with you if additional information is needed. The WSHQ will get in touch with you if additional information is needed.
If your request is approved, the WHSQ will issue the licence to the PCBU. If your request is approved, the WHSQ will issue the licence to the PCBU.
Followed by the issuance of the licence to the business. Followed by the issuance of the licence to the business.

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must obtain a demolition work licence as required by the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation.

There are specific legal requirements needed before demolition work:

Safety precautions are necessary in compliance with AS2601-2001, The Demolition of Structures’ Safety precautions are necessary in compliance with AS2601-2001, The Demolition of Structures’
The demolition work will not be allowed to push through unless all precautionary measures have been checked and approved. It is also required to inform nearby neighbors about the demolition work so they too can take measures like closing their doors and windows. The demolition work will not be allowed to push through unless all precautionary measures have been checked and approved. It is also required to inform nearby neighbors about the demolition work so they too can take measures like closing their doors and windows.
All apparatus that could be a source of danger and all electric cables must be disconnected before and during the demolition work. All apparatus that could be a source of danger and all electric cables must be disconnected before and during the demolition work.
A skilled foreman must be present to provide supervision while the demolition work is ongoing. A skilled foreman must be present to provide supervision while the demolition work is ongoing.
Demolition should be done storey-by-storey starting at the roof and working its way downward unless otherwise indicated. Demolition should be done storey-by-storey starting at the roof and working its way downward unless otherwise indicated.
All precautions must be taken to prevent danger from the collapse of a building. All precautions must be taken to prevent danger from the collapse of a building.
A professional asbestos removalist registered by the Victorian Work Cover Authority must remove all traces of asbestos at the demolition site in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Asbestos Regulations in 2003. A professional asbestos removalist registered by the Victorian Work Cover Authority must remove all traces of asbestos at the demolition site in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Asbestos Regulations in 2003.
If the demolition site borders a public walkway or a street, it is required to erect a hoarding that is 2.4 metres high on the boundary. A notice should be in place in compliance with AS1319 showing the words “WARNING DEMOLITION IN PROGRESS” and should be fixed to the security fence or the hoarding. If the demolition site borders a public walkway or a street, it is required to erect a hoarding that is 2.4 metres high on the boundary. A notice should be in place in compliance with AS1319 showing the words “WARNING DEMOLITION IN PROGRESS” and should be fixed to the security fence or the hoarding.
If the demolition site borders a public street or a walkway, apart from hoarding, the walkway has to be roofed by an overhead protective structure or a canopy unless the height above the walkway is below four metres. If the demolition site borders a public street or a walkway, apart from hoarding, the walkway has to be roofed by an overhead protective structure or a canopy unless the height above the walkway is below four metres.
Materials that result from the demolition must not be allowed to stay on the floor or the structure if its weight is more than the safe carrying capacity of the structure or floor. These materials have to be carefully and properly stacked or piled so as not to endanger the workers or any other person for that matter. All materials should be removed right away unless otherwise ordered by a Building Surveyor. Materials that result from the demolition must not be allowed to stay on the floor or the structure if its weight is more than the safe carrying capacity of the structure or floor. These materials have to be carefully and properly stacked or piled so as not to endanger the workers or any other person for that matter. All materials should be removed right away unless otherwise ordered by a Building Surveyor.
Materials that create dust should be completely dampened and should not be dropped or thrown from the building. It should be lowered using a hoisting equipment or through material chutes. Materials that create dust should be completely dampened and should not be dropped or thrown from the building. It should be lowered using a hoisting equipment or through material chutes.
Chutes should be enclosed completely with a danger sign strategically placed at the discharge end of each chute. Chutes should be enclosed completely with a danger sign strategically placed at the discharge end of each chute.
Not any part of the external wall or within a 3-metre radius of a street alignment is allowed to be pulled down not unless during the hours of 7:00 AM until 6PM on weekends and public holidays unless authorised by a Building Surveyor. Not any part of the external wall or within a 3-metre radius of a street alignment is allowed to be pulled down not unless during the hours of 7:00 AM until 6PM on weekends and public holidays unless authorised by a Building Surveyor.
No chimney, wall or any other structure or part of a structure should be left unsupported or unattended as it might potentially collapse as a result of vibration or wind since it can be very dangerous. You should install protective outriggers to places necessary to prevent danger. No chimney, wall or any other structure or part of a structure should be left unsupported or unattended as it might potentially collapse as a result of vibration or wind since it can be very dangerous. You should install protective outriggers to places necessary to prevent danger.
Once the demolition work has been completed, you should provide a notification to the Building Surveyor that the demolition project has been satisfactorily completed Once the demolition work has been completed, you should provide a notification to the Building Surveyor that the demolition project has been satisfactorily completed
No leveling of the site or bulk excavation forms part of the demolition permit. No leveling of the site or bulk excavation forms part of the demolition permit.
Demolition work should not be allowed at night or during a heavy rain or storm. If however, it requires to be done at night, you should install glaring red warning signals, working lights, sirens and provide watchmen. It is also necessary to install auditory warning devices at the demolition site. The workmen must be equipped with safely belts, boots, gloves, helmets and goggles that are made of celluloid lenses. Demolition work should not be allowed at night or during a heavy rain or storm. If however, it requires to be done at night, you should install glaring red warning signals, working lights, sirens and provide watchmen. It is also necessary to install auditory warning devices at the demolition site. The workmen must be equipped with safely belts, boots, gloves, helmets and goggles that are made of celluloid lenses.