High-risk construction work · New South Wales
Demolition SWMS
Demolition is high-risk construction work (HRCW) under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW). A Safe Work Method Statement must be prepared before the work starts — by, or in consultation with, a competent person.
Generate your demolition SWMS freeFirst one's free · about a minute · cited to the regulation
More than a SWMS
demolition needs a compliance pack — not just a SWMS
- Demolition Plan — Demolition work (Demolition work COP Aug 2019, Appendix B).
SWMSBuilder drafts the whole pack together — the SWMS, the Demolition Plan, and a Toolbox Talk to brief the crew — sharing the same site details so no two documents can disagree.
The pack: SWMS · Demolition Plan · Toolbox Talk — generated together, cited to the regulation.
Why demolition needs a SWMS
It is classified as high-risk construction work because the work:
- Involves demolition of a load-bearing element or element related to the structure's physical integrity.
It's the law — and the gate to getting on site
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), a SWMS for demolition must be prepared before the high-risk work starts and kept available on site. SafeWork NSW inspectors can issue improvement and prohibition notices and on-the-spot penalties where it's missing or inadequate — and principal contractors will not let your crew start demolition without a current, site-specific SWMS.
SafeWork NSW is an active construction-safety regulator running targeted site blitzes. A compliant SWMS is the cheapest insurance against a stop-work order or a failed site induction.
Hazards a demolition SWMS must address
- Structural collapse
- Dust
- Falling debris
- Hazardous materials
- Noise
What the SWMS must contain
Under the WHS Regulation, a SWMS must:
- identify the work that is high-risk construction work.
- specify the hazards and the risks to health and safety.
- describe the control measures, applying the hierarchy of controls.
- describe how the control measures are implemented, monitored and reviewed.
- be developed in consultation with the workers carrying out the work.
Regulatory references
SWMSBuilder grounds demolition controls in, and cites, sources including:
- — WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) Pt 4.6 (demolition work)
- — Code of Practice: Demolition work (SafeWork NSW)
- — AS 2601 (demolition of structures)
The law in your state or territory
SWMS is required for high-risk construction work right across Australia. SWMSBuilder's AI is grounded and live for New South Wales today; the table below shows the governing instrument in every jurisdiction.
| Jurisdiction | Principal regulation | Regulator | AI coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) | SafeWork NSW | ● Live |
| Victoria | Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)Separate OHS regime — Victorian compliance codes apply. | WorkSafe Victoria | In progress |
| Queensland | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) | Workplace Health and Safety Queensland | In progress |
| Western Australia | Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)Model WHS adopted with WA variations. | WorkSafe WA | In progress |
| South Australia | Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) | SafeWork SA | In progress |
| Tasmania | Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 (Tas) | WorkSafe Tasmania | In progress |
| Australian Capital Territory | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT) | WorkSafe ACT | In progress |
| Northern Territory | Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (NT) | NT WorkSafe | In progress |
Not in New South Wales yet?Join the waitlist — we'll email you the moment SWMSBuilder goes live for your state, grounded in its own instruments, never mixed.
Regulatory references current as at 2026-06-28. Confirm currency for your jurisdiction before use; the PCBU and competent person remain responsible for compliance.
Demolition SWMS — frequently asked
- Do I need a SWMS for demolition in New South Wales?
- Yes. Demolition is high-risk construction work under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), so a Safe Work Method Statement must be prepared before the work starts and followed on site.
- Who has to prepare the demolition SWMS?
- The PCBU (business) carrying out the high-risk work prepares it — in consultation with the workers doing the job — before work begins. SafeWork NSW can ask to see it at any time, and the principal contractor must be given a copy.
- Is the free SafeWork NSW template enough?
- A blank template is a starting point, not a compliant SWMS. Yours must identify the specific hazards of your job and the controls you'll use, applying the hierarchy of controls. SWMSBuilder generates a site-specific demolition SWMS with every control cited to its source.
- How fast is it, and what does it cost?
- About a minute. Your first demolition SWMS is free — no card. We're in early access, so pricing lands once we've learned what the product is worth; founding members use the whole product free. Every document is cited to its source and signed on by your crew from a QR code.
Build your demolition SWMS in about a minute.
Cited to the regulation, branded as yours, signed on by your crew from a QR code. First one's free.
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