Tank & Silo Demolition SWMS
Demolition of industrial tanks (steel, concrete) and silos. Includes residue purging and cleaning, confined space entry for internal cutting where required, oxy or plasma cutting of steel, sequenced collapse, hauling off-site.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Demolition of industrial tanks and silos involves residue purging, internal hot work in confined spaces, oxy/plasma cutting of steel, and sequenced collapse. This constitutes High Risk Construction Work under WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1, requiring a SWMS before work commences due to structural collapse, confined space, and chemical exposure risks.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Explosion, fatal burns, structural rupture
Asphyxiation, toxic exposure, entrapment fatality
Crush injuries, fatality, adjacent damage
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Purge, clean and gas-test to LEL <5% before any hot work; reverify continuously.
- 2Confined space permit, standby attendant, retrieval system and continuous atmospheric monitoring per AS 2865.
- 3Engineered demolition sequence by competent person; exclusion zones and remote cutting where collapse risk identified.
Applicable Codes of Practice
HRCW Cat 4 and 5 — SWMS mandatory
Internal tank entry, permits, atmospheric testing
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Tanks and silos are load-bearing structures requiring sequenced demolition to prevent uncontrolled collapse.
Internal cutting requires entry into tank interior meeting confined space definition under WHS Reg.
No SWMS = Cat 2 offence, fines up to $63,000 (individual).
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS tailored to tank and silo demolition
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT)
- ✓Hazard register covering residue, hot work, confined space and collapse risks
- ✓Worker sign-on register for SWMS consultation evidence
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s.19 — primary duty of care
- WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.3 — Confined spaces
- WHS Regulation 2025 Chapter 6 — Construction work