Concrete Cutting & Breaking - Demolition SWMS

Concrete cutting and breaking is the sawing, drilling, coring and mechanical breaking of concrete and masonry. It is high risk construction work under the WHS Regulation because it can involve structural alteration requiring temporary support to prevent collapse, cutting on or near energised embedded electrical services, work more than 2 m above the ground or above an opening, and the movement of powered mobile plant such as excavator-mounted breakers (s291), so a SWMS is mandatory (s299). Two hazards define it. The first is structural collapse: cutting a load-bearing element without support, or cutting out of sequence, can cause an uncontrolled or progressive collapse. The second is respirable crystalline silica: dry cutting, coring, grinding and breaking generate substantial RCS that exceeds the 0.05 mg/m3 workplace exposure standard many times over when uncontrolled — the dominant health hazard. Around them sit blade contact and kickback on hand and ring saws, excavator-breaker debris and interaction, cutting into live embedded electrical, water, gas or comms services, falls from height or through the created opening, and very high noise. The SWMS controls the structural sequence and support, silica suppression and RPE, service detection, fall protection and plant separation. It supports the engineer's staging and does not replace it. It is supplied in eight jurisdiction editions, each citing its own Act, Regulation and regulator.

Hazards identified

8 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Elimination — Design out the cut, or use a pre-formed opening, so structural cutting and its silica are avoided where possible
2. 2Substitution — Substitute wet-cutting and remote/robotic breaking for dry, hand-held cutting to cut both silica and kickback exposure
3. 3Engineering — On-tool water suppression to the blade, bit or breaker at the source, or H-class (HEPA) on-tool extraction where water is impractical
4. 4Engineering — Temporary propping/support to the structure before any load-bearing cut, and cover or barricade the created opening
5. 5Engineering — Cable/service detection and scanning before cutting, and blade guards and anti-kickback devices on saws
6. 6Administrative — Competent structural assessment before any load-bearing cut, and a cut sequence per the engineer's staging with hold points
7. 7Administrative — Silica exposure monitoring and health monitoring for silica-exposed workers, with respirator fit-testing
8. 8Administrative — Fall-protection plan for work at height and near openings, and a plant traffic-management plan for excavator breakers
9. 9PPE — Fit-tested P2 minimum (P3/PAPR for high-energy or enclosed tasks) respiratory protection, plus Class 5 hearing protection
10. 10PPE — Eye/face protection, cut-resistant gloves, Type 1 hard hat and fall-arrest where required

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

At 7:30 am a cutting crew from Precision Saw & Core is set to remove a section of a load-bearing wall for a new opening. Before any cut, the structural engineer's assessment and staging are confirmed and temporary props are installed to carry the load — the rule is no load-bearing cut without support in place. The wall is scanned for embedded services and a live conduit is located and isolated before the saw goes in. The crew wet-cut throughout to control silica, and every operator is in a fit-tested P3 respirator; the silica-exposed workers are on health monitoring. Because the opening is at first-floor level, the working area is edge-protected and the opening is barricaded as it forms so no one falls through, and a drop zone below is exclusion-fenced against falling material. The saw runs with its guard and anti-kickback device, and the operator keeps clear of the blade line. An excavator breaker working a slab nearby is kept separated from the crew by a spotter. The section is removed in the engineered sequence with each hold point signed, and the props stay until the new lintel is in.

Related legislation

• WHS Act 2011 (model)
• WHS Regulation 2025
• Working with Silica and Silica Containing Products Code of Practice
• Demolition Work Code of Practice

Frequently asked questions