Soft Demolition / Strip-Out SWMS
Soft demolition (strip-out) covers internal non-structural demolition, asbestos identification before commencement, dust suppression, manual handling of removed materials, and exposed-fastener controls for fit-out replacement.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Soft demolition, also known as strip-out works, involves the systematic removal of non-structural internal elements including partitions, ceilings, floor coverings, joinery, services fittings and wall linings ahead of refurbishment or fit-out. Although the building shell remains intact, the work exposes workers to legacy asbestos-containing materials, synthetic mineral fibres, silica dust from rendered substrates, sharp exposed fasteners, unstable suspended elements and significant manual handling loads. Under WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1, demolition work and work involving the disturbance of asbestos are classified as High Risk Construction Work, which obligates the PCBU to prepare a Safe Work Method Statement before any task commences. The SWMS must identify each hazard, document hierarchy-of-control measures, and be available for inspection by the regulator, principal contractor and every worker on site. This SWMS is structured to meet those obligations for commercial, retail and residential strip-out scopes.
Hazards identified
7 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Inhalation of respirable fibres causing mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer; notifiable exposure incident under WHS Reg 2025
Respiratory irritation, dermatitis and conjunctivitis; long-term sensitisation and lost-time injury for repeated unprotected exposure
Accelerated silicosis, COPD and lung cancer; mandatory health monitoring and Workers Compensation claims under jurisdictional schemes
Musculoskeletal disorders, crush injuries to hands and feet, and chronic lower back injury requiring surgical intervention
Puncture wounds, tetanus exposure and deep laceration requiring surgical debridement and lost-time medical treatment
Head and torso impact injuries, concussion and fractures from falling tiles, grid sections and unbraced wall panels
Electrocution, scalding, gas inhalation or water damage flooding; notifiable incident with potential fatality and prosecution
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination — Decommission, isolate and lock out all electrical, gas, water and data services at the source distribution board before any demolition activity begins on the floor.
- 2Elimination — Remove identified asbestos-containing materials under a separate licensed asbestos removal SWMS prior to mobilising the soft strip-out crew to the work area.
- 3Substitution — Substitute mechanical hand demolition tools for percussive grinders where render removal is required, reducing respirable silica generation at the source.
- 4Substitution — Replace dry sweeping of debris with wet wiping and H-class HEPA vacuum recovery to lower airborne fibre and dust re-entrainment levels.
- 5Engineering — Install temporary polythene containment hoardings, negative-pressure HEPA air scrubbers and localised on-tool dust extraction connected to M or H-class vacuums.
- 6Engineering — Erect propped temporary supports beneath suspended ceiling sections being cut down and use mechanical material hoists for loads exceeding 20kg per worker.
- 7Administrative — Conduct documented pre-start hazardous materials register review, daily toolbox talks, exclusion zone signage and a permit-to-work for any concealed services breach.
- 8Administrative — Rotate workers performing repetitive overhead and bent-posture tasks at maximum 45-minute intervals, with mandatory rest cycles documented on the fatigue management log.
- 9PPE — Issue P2 minimum half-face respirators (P3 for confirmed SMF or silica zones), Type 5/6 disposable coveralls, cut-5 gloves, safety glasses and steel midsole boots.
- 10PPE — Provide impact-rated hard hats, hearing protection rated SLC80 26dB minimum, and ensure fit-testing records under AS/NZS 1715 are current for every respirator user.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates licensed removal triggers, air monitoring thresholds and clearance certification before strip-out crews may enter previously contaminated zones.
Requires the SWMS to be prepared, consulted on with workers, and kept available for inspection for the duration of the high risk construction work.
Requires risk assessment of repetitive movement, force, posture and duration when removing and stacking demolished partition and joinery components.
Imposes workplace exposure standard of 0.05 mg/m³ over 8 hours, mandates control review, atmospheric monitoring and health surveillance for exposed workers.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Pre-1990 strip-out scopes routinely disturb vinyl floor backing, wall sheeting and pipe lagging containing chrysotile or amosite asbestos requiring controlled handling protocols.
Removal of non-structural partitions adjoining load paths and suspended ceiling grids frequently requires temporary propping to prevent uncontrolled secondary collapse during stripping.
PCBU must prepare, consult workers on and retain this SWMS for the duration of works plus two years post-incident; penalties for Category 1 breaches are substantial and indexed, with the current maximum following the prevailing WHS schedule.
Who this is for
- →Strip-out subcontractors on commercial fit-out projects
- →Principal contractors managing retail refurbishment programs
- →Demolition supervisors coordinating pre-fit-out trade sequencing
- →Facilities managers overseeing tenancy make-good works
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX template — Microsoft Word compatible
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule (NSW/VIC/QLD/SA/WA/TAS/NT/ACT)
- ✓Hazard register with risk ratings + hierarchy-of-control mapping
- ✓Worker sign-on register, pre-start checklist, and incident escalation flow
Worked example
On a mid-rise commercial office strip-out preceding a Cat A fit-out, the site supervisor opens the pre-start briefing in the lift lobby at 6:45am with the printed SWMS and the hazardous materials register. The crew of six is walked through the day's scope: removal of carpet tiles, demountable partitions and the suspended ceiling on Level 4. The supervisor references hazard line 1 of this SWMS and confirms the licensed asbestos clearance certificate has been issued for the vinyl backing previously removed from the kitchenette zone, marking that area as cleared on the floor plate plan. Hazard 4 — manual handling — is discussed and the mechanical scissor lift and material trolley are nominated as the engineering control for ceiling tile removal above 2.4 metres. Workers sign on to the SWMS register acknowledging they have read the controls and have been fit-tested for their P2 respirators. Mid-morning, a previously unidentified pipe lagging is exposed behind a partition. The leading hand halts work, isolates the zone using the exclusion barriers listed under the engineering controls, photographs the material and calls the hygienist for sampling. The SWMS is amended on site, workers re-sign the revision, and only then does soft strip-out resume in adjacent unaffected grids.
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 (model)
- WHS Regulation 2025
- How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace CoP