Floor Covering Removal & Strip-Out SWMS
Floor covering removal covers carpet, vinyl, parquetry, and tile strip-out, asbestos and silica identification before commencement, mechanical scraper use, dust suppression, and waste segregation for renovation strip-outs.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Floor covering removal covers the removal of existing floor coverings — taking up old vinyl, carpet, tiles, timber and other floor coverings and their adhesives in preparation for new flooring. The defining hazard is asbestos: vinyl floor tiles, sheet vinyl and lino, cork tiles, their adhesives (particularly black bitumen 'blackjack') and old levelling compounds in buildings from before 1990 commonly contained asbestos, and disturbing, grinding or sanding them releases asbestos fibres. This document is written on the basis that floor covering removal is carried out with the asbestos identification, licensed-removal, dust and chemical controls in place.
Floor covering removal is carried out in connection with the asbestos Codes of Practice, with floor coverings, adhesives and levelling compounds in pre-1990 buildings assumed to contain asbestos until determined otherwise by a licensed assessor, asbestos-containing materials removed by a licensed asbestos removalist, and a Class A licence holder used where removal makes the material friable. Where the removal disturbs asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives it is high risk construction work. The asbestos, the friability from the removal method, the dust, and the manual handling are the considerations. This document coordinates the asbestos, licensed-removal, dust and chemical controls so the floor covering removal is carried out safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Asbestos exposure and disease from disturbing asbestos-containing floor coverings
Release of asbestos fibres where the removal method makes the material friable
Asbestos exposure from the black bitumen adhesive and old levelling compounds
Respiratory exposure to dust, which may contain asbestos, from the removal
Asbestos exposure from disturbing materials before they are identified
Musculoskeletal injury handling the removed coverings and materials
Knee injury and lacerations from kneeling and cutting tools
Skin and respiratory exposure to adhesive residues and any chemicals
Plant and tool hazards from the removal equipment
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: assume floor coverings, adhesives, levelling compounds and underlays in buildings built or refurbished before 1990 contain asbestos until determined otherwise by a licensed asbestos assessor — including sheet vinyl, vinyl and cork tiles, black bitumen adhesive (blackjack), and old levelling compounds — and do not disturb, grind or sand them uncontrolled.
- 2Administrative: where asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives are present, have them removed by a licensed asbestos removalist to the asbestos Codes of Practice, and where removal requires grinding or sanding that makes the material friable, a Class A asbestos removal licence holder must carry out the work, with the appropriate respiratory protection, dust suppression and licensed disposal.
- 3Administrative: do not disturb, grind or sand floor coverings, adhesives or levelling compounds in pre-1990 buildings until they have been identified, because disturbing materials before identification can release asbestos fibres.
- 4Engineering: control dust from the removal at the source with dust suppression and extraction, with respiratory protection, recognising the dust may contain asbestos until determined otherwise.
- 5Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy rolls, packs, bags and panels, and manage the awkward kneeling and bending postures of flooring work with knee protection, task rotation and breaks.
- 6Administrative: use the cutting knives and tools safely, with sharp blades, correct technique and cut-resistant protection, to prevent lacerations.
- 7Administrative: manage adhesive residues and chemicals to their safety data sheets, and use the removal plant and tools safely.
- 8Administrative: where the removal disturbs asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives, prepare a SWMS for the high risk construction work before it commences.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the flooring, asbestos-awareness and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, knee protection for kneeling work, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
- 14Administrative: ensure the work is carried out by competent flooring installers, with any electrical work by a licensed electrician and any asbestos removal by a licensed asbestos removalist, under the applicable requirements.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Identification, assessment and control of asbestos in old floor coverings, adhesives, levelling compounds and underlays.
The safe removal of asbestos-containing floor coverings and adhesives, including by a licensed asbestos removalist.
Management of the coatings, adhesives, hardeners and chemicals, including safety data sheets and exposure controls.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection for wood dust, silica, asbestos, isocyanates and other airborne hazards.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Removing pre-1990 floor coverings and adhesives is likely to disturb asbestos, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences, and any asbestos removal must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist.
This is flooring work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — on or in a structure where the work is likely to involve the disturbance of asbestos — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. The work is carried out in connection with the relevant asbestos, hazardous chemicals, silica and construction requirements, which are called up by the relevant legislation, with the controls for the specific hazards applied, and any asbestos removal carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist. A failure in this work can cause asbestos exposure, respiratory disease, chemical harm or injury, and breaches of the relevant legislation and the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Workers removing existing floor coverings.
- →Flooring and demolition contractors removing floor coverings.
- →Flooring businesses preparing floors for new coverings.
- →Builders and PCBUs requiring floor covering removal.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the asbestos and dust controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the floor covering removal hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Floor covering removal prompts referencing the asbestos Codes of Practice, an asbestos-identification and assume-asbestos section, a licensed-removal and friability section, and a dust-control record.
- ✓Competency and licensing prompts for the flooring work and any asbestos removal or electrical work, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A worker is engaged to remove the existing floor coverings from a building constructed before 1990. The floor coverings, adhesives and levelling compounds are assumed to contain asbestos until determined otherwise by a licensed asbestos assessor — including the sheet vinyl, the cork tiles, the black bitumen adhesive (blackjack) and the old levelling compound — and are not disturbed, ground or sanded until identified. Where asbestos-containing materials are present, they are removed by a licensed asbestos removalist to the asbestos Codes of Practice, with a Class A asbestos removal licence holder where removal requires grinding or sanding that makes the material friable, and with respiratory protection, dust suppression and licensed disposal. Because the removal disturbs asbestos-containing floor coverings, a SWMS is prepared for the high risk construction work. Dust is controlled at the source with suppression and extraction. The removed coverings are handled with mechanical aids, and the kneeling and cutting managed. The removal is completed safely, and the records retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the asbestos provisions and licensing, the hazardous chemicals and silica provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The asbestos Codes of Practice (managing and controlling asbestos, and safely removing asbestos), the hazardous chemicals and silica requirements, and the respiratory protection standards AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716, are called up by the relevant safety legislation, together with the construction and product requirements.
- Asbestos removal is licensed under each state and territory's asbestos licensing scheme, with friable asbestos and asbestos made friable by the removal method requiring a Class A asbestos removal licence holder; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the asbestos, hazardous chemicals and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
Why is asbestos the defining hazard of floor covering removal?
Vinyl floor tiles, sheet vinyl, lino, cork tiles, their adhesives — particularly black bitumen 'blackjack' adhesive — and old levelling compounds in buildings from before 1990 commonly contained asbestos, and disturbing, grinding or sanding them releases asbestos fibres. The materials are assumed to contain asbestos until determined otherwise, and removed by a licensed asbestos removalist.
When must a Class A asbestos removalist be used?
Vinyl tiles and adhesives are generally non-friable, but the removal method can make them friable — for example grinding or sanding — and where removal makes the material friable, a Class A asbestos removal licence holder must carry out the work. The Class A requirement applies where the removal method makes the asbestos friable.
What must not be disturbed before identification?
Floor coverings, adhesives and levelling compounds in pre-1990 buildings must not be disturbed, ground or sanded until they have been identified by a licensed assessor, because disturbing materials before identification can release asbestos fibres. The assume-asbestos approach prevents uncontrolled disturbance of asbestos.
Is floor covering removal high risk construction work?
Where the removal disturbs asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives, it is likely to involve the disturbance of asbestos, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences, and any asbestos removal must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist. The asbestos disturbance is the high risk construction work trigger.
Who removes floor coverings?
Floor covering removal is carried out with the asbestos identification, licensed-removal, dust and chemical controls, and any asbestos removal carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist, with a Class A licence holder where the material is made friable. The materials are assumed to contain asbestos until determined otherwise and removed safely.