Plumbing Strip-Out & Demolition Make-Safe SWMS

Plumbing demolition and strip-out covers the disconnection, removal and making-safe of plumbing, drainage, gas and services during demolition and strip-out works — removing the fixtures, pipework, hot water systems and connections from a building being demolished or stripped out. It combines the demolition environment with the making-safe of services, and the defining hazards are the disconnection and making-safe of water, gas and drainage so they are not left live or hazardous, asbestos and hazardous materials in older buildings, and the demolition and strip-out hazards. This document is written on the basis that plumbing demolition and strip-out is carried out by a licensed plumber and gasfitter with the service-making-safe, asbestos, gas and demolition controls in place.

Plumbing demolition and strip-out is carried out in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice and the relevant plumbing and gas requirements, with the water, gas and drainage isolated, disconnected and made safe, the gas capped to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, and asbestos and hazardous materials in older buildings identified and not disturbed. The making-safe of services, the asbestos hazard, the gas, and the demolition hazards are the considerations. This document coordinates the service-making-safe, asbestos, gas and demolition controls so the strip-out is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: isolate, disconnect and make safe the water, gas and drainage before and during the strip-out, so no service is left live or hazardous, and cap the gas to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022.
2. 2Administrative: where the building is older or the strip-out may encounter asbestos, identify and do not disturb asbestos materials — assume older materials are asbestos until determined otherwise — and have asbestos removed by a licensed asbestos process before the strip-out where required.
3. 3Administrative: carry out the strip-out in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice, with the demolition structural, falling and site hazards controlled and coordinated.
4. 4Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
5. 5Engineering: manage the stored water and energy of the systems, isolating and draining so water and hot water are not released uncontrolled, and manage scalding from hot water systems.
6. 6Engineering: use mechanical aids and correct technique to remove heavy fixtures, pipework and systems.
7. 7Administrative: confirm the services are made safe and the work area is safe on completion of the strip-out.
8. 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber, drainer or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 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.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 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.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A licensed plumber and gasfitter are engaged to strip out the plumbing and services from a building being refurbished. The water, gas and drainage are isolated, disconnected and made safe before and during the strip-out, so no service is left live or hazardous, and the gas is capped to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022. Because the building is older and the strip-out may encounter asbestos, asbestos materials are identified and not disturbed — assumed asbestos until determined otherwise — and asbestos is removed by a licensed asbestos process before the strip-out where required. The strip-out is carried out in connection with the demolition work Code of Practice, with the demolition structural, falling and site hazards controlled. The biological hazard of the drainage is managed. The stored water and energy of the systems are managed, isolating and draining so water and hot water are not released uncontrolled, and scalding managed. Mechanical aids are used to remove heavy fixtures and systems. The services are confirmed made safe and the work area safe on completion, 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 — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space, excavation, demolition and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, the pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, the AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals, demolition and asbestos requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility, insurer and site requirements.
• Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for the specialist work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; 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 high risk construction work, confined space, excavation and demolition provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions