WorkSafe Victoria Demolition Requirements: A Plain-English Guide

If you’ve ever tried reading the WorkSafe Victoria Compliance Code: Demolition, you’ll know it weighs in at 52 pages of legalese. Most homeowners, builders and developers don’t have time for that — they just want to know: what do I actually have to do before I knock something down in Victoria, and who is responsible if something goes wrong?

This guide cuts through it. As a licensed Melbourne demolition and Class B (non-friable) asbestos removal contractor, we live and breathe these rules every day. Below is the plain-English version of WorkSafe Victoria’s demolition requirements in 2026 — no jargon, no fluff, no pretending the regulations are simpler than they are.

Quick answer: Demolition in Victoria is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, the OHS Regulations 2017 and the Compliance Code: Demolition (Edition 2, 2019). Before any structure is demolished, you must identify asbestos, prepare a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for any high-risk construction work, remove asbestos-containing materials where reasonably practicable, and notify WorkSafe of licensed asbestos removal. Most demolition work is classed as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW).

Why WorkSafe Victoria Cares About Demolition

Demolition isn’t just “smashing stuff”. From WorkSafe’s perspective, it’s one of the highest-risk activities on any worksite. The hazards stack up fast: structural collapse, falls from height, asbestos and silica exposure, live services, hazardous substances, working near traffic, and heavy plant moving in tight spaces.

That’s why demolition sits inside Victoria’s construction compliance code framework, alongside excavation, asbestos removal, prevention of falls, hazardous substances and confined spaces.

The bottom line: if you’re demolishing a house in Brighton, gutting a warehouse in Dandenong, or knocking down a shopfront in Footscray, the same legislative framework applies.

Who Is Legally Responsible? (The “Duty Holders”)

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the demolition contractor is the only one carrying the risk. The OHS Act spreads duties across multiple parties:

Employers and self-employed persons doing the work
Principal contractors managing the site
Persons with management or control of the workplace (often the owner or builder)
Designers of buildings or structures
People who install, erect or commission plant
Employees themselves

If you’re a homeowner engaging a demolition company, you’re not off the hook entirely — you have duties around providing accurate information (especially about asbestos) and choosing a competent, licensed contractor. If you’re a builder or developer, your principal contractor duties are significant.

The 7 Core WorkSafe Victoria Demolition Requirements

Here’s what every demolition project across Melbourne and Victoria has to address, in plain English.

1. Identify Asbestos Before You Touch Anything

Under Part 4.4, Division 6 of the OHS Regulations 2017, before any demolition or refurbishment work begins, the person managing the workplace must identify whether asbestos is present that is likely to be disturbed.

In practice, this means:

A hazardous materials survey (often called an asbestos audit) by a competent person
Reviewing any existing asbestos register for the building
If there’s any doubt, treating the material as if it is asbestos until proven otherwise

Reality check for Melbourne: if your home was built before the late 1980s, assume asbestos. Eaves, cement sheet cladding, fences, vinyl floor tiles, old bathroom walls, electrical backing boards — they’re all common ACM hot spots in Victorian homes.

2. Remove Asbestos Before Demolition (Where Reasonably Practicable)

WorkSafe is unambiguous on this: where ACM is identified, it must be removed before demolition, so far as reasonably practicable. You cannot just push the building over and deal with the asbestos in the rubble. Doing so creates a friable, contaminated demolition — a serious offence and a public-health hazard.

Removal rules in Victoria:

Non-friable (bonded) asbestos can be removed by a Class B licensed asbestos removalist
Friable asbestos can only be removed by a Class A licensed asbestos removalist — a Class B licence does not cover friable work
Small jobs exemption: a non-friable ACM job under 10 square metres and taking less than one hour in any 7-day period does not legally require a licence — but you still need to follow safe practice and disposal rules

For most Melbourne residential demolitions, a Class B licensed contractor (like us) handles the asbestos sheets, eaves and floor tiles before the excavator ever rolls in.

3. Prepare a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Demolition is classed as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) when it involves:

Demolition of an element of a structure related to its physical integrity
Work that is likely to disturb asbestos
Structural alteration or repair requiring temporary support to prevent collapse
Work near powered mobile plant, traffic corridors, or at heights over 2 metres
Work near energised electrical installations or services

Almost every demolition we do ticks at least one of these boxes — usually all of them.

That triggers a legal requirement to prepare and follow a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for each high-risk activity. The SWMS must:

Identify the hazards
Spell out the control measures
Describe how those controls will be implemented, monitored and reviewed
Be developed in consultation with workers
Be reviewed if conditions change

A SWMS is not a “tick-and-flick” form. WorkSafe inspectors regularly issue improvement notices on poorly written or generic SWMS documents.

4. Run a Genuine Risk Management Process

The 2019 demolition compliance code expanded the focus on risk management. The expected approach is the standard hierarchy:

Identify hazards (structural, asbestos, services, fall, plant, traffic, hazardous substances, silica)
Assess the risks
Control them using the hierarchy: eliminate → substitute → isolate → engineering → administration → PPE
Review controls on an ongoing basis

This must be documented, communicated, and revisited if anything on site changes — a wall is more decayed than expected, a service comes in unmarked, or weather turns the site into a different beast.

5. Train, Induct and Consult

Three layers of training are non-negotiable:

Construction induction training (the white card) for everyone on site
Site-specific induction for this particular project
Task-specific training for high-risk work (asbestos, plant operation, working at heights)

Employers must also consult with employees and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) on health and safety matters — share information, give a reasonable opportunity to express views, and take those views into account before deciding. Skipping consultation is a duty breach in itself, separate from any actual incident.

6. Notify WorkSafe Where Required

WorkSafe Victoria requires notifications for several activities tied to demolition:

Licensed asbestos removal: the licensed removalist must notify WorkSafe before starting work (online form). The standard is 5 days for non-friable removal in most circumstances.
Construction excavation: notify at least 3 days before starting excavation work where someone could enter the excavation or there is a health and safety risk (unless covered by a current Building Act 1993 permit).
Use of explosives for demolition: tightly regulated and only permitted where no other reasonably practicable method is available.
Notifiable incidents: any death, serious injury or dangerous incident must be reported to WorkSafe immediately.

⚠️ Unlike some other states (e.g. WorkSafe ACT), Victoria does not require a separate generic “demolition notification” for every demolition — but the asbestos and excavation notifications still catch most jobs. Always check current WorkSafe Victoria guidance, because rules and forms are updated regularly.

7. Control Specific Hazards Properly

The 2019 compliance code goes deep on specific hazards. The big ones to plan for:

Hazardous substances: asbestos, lead paint, synthetic mineral fibres (SMF), PCBs in old fluorescent ballasts, and crystalline silica from concrete and brick
Plant and cranes: including a 33% reduction in safe working load when testing suspended loads to be cut and lowered (revised in the 2019 code from the old 50%)
No Go Zones around overhead and underground electrical services
Special structures: pre- and post-tensioned concrete, fire-damaged buildings, masonry, storage tanks and lift shafts each have their own additional considerations
Hot works: only where alternatives aren’t reasonably practicable
Falls protection: governed by the Prevention of Falls in General Construction and Housing Construction compliance codes

Special Case: Fire-Damaged Buildings With Asbestos

This is one of the trickiest scenarios in Victoria, and one we’ve seen more of in Melbourne after bushfire seasons and shed/garage fires.

If a structure with non-friable asbestos has been fire-damaged, the friability of the ACM may have changed. Heat and water damage often turn bonded sheet into friable material.

Key rules to remember:

A competent person (such as an occupational hygienist) should determine whether the fire-damaged ACM is friable or non-friable.
If condition can’t be determined, or there are inaccessible areas likely to contain asbestos, assume it’s friable.
Friable removal requires a Class A licence — Class B is not permitted for friable work.
The soil around fire-damaged structures may also be contaminated and may require scraping back the top ~100 mm as asbestos waste.
Emergency notification timeframes apply, but should match the standard notification periods so far as reasonably practicable.

If you’re dealing with a fire-affected property in Melbourne, don’t guess — call a licensed asbestos removalist before anything is moved.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

WorkSafe Victoria has real teeth. Penalties under the OHS Act can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for corporations and significant fines (and even imprisonment) for individuals. We’ve seen recent prosecutions where construction companies have been fined $40,000 to $150,000+ over single safety failures on building sites.

Beyond fines, non-compliance can trigger:

Improvement and prohibition notices that stop the job
Insurance claim refusals
Council enforcement action and EPA involvement (especially for asbestos contamination)
Civil liability if a worker, neighbour or future occupant is harmed
Reputational damage that follows your business or property for years

The “save a few thousand on asbestos removal” calculation almost always loses — and that’s before anyone considers the human cost of mesothelioma decades later.

How a Licensed Melbourne Demolition Contractor Handles WorkSafe Compliance

When you engage a properly licensed demolition company in Melbourne, this is what compliance should look like in practice:

Pre-start hazardous materials survey with a written report
Class B licensed asbestos removal for bonded asbestos in homes, garages, sheds, eaves, fences and floor tiles (and partnering with Class A specialists for friable work)
Site-specific SWMS for every HRCW activity, not a generic template
WorkSafe notifications for asbestos removal and excavation as required
Service disconnections (gas, power, water, telecoms) confirmed in writing before work begins
Dust, noise and vibration controls to protect neighbouring properties
Asbestos clearance certificate issued before demolition begins on any structure that contained ACM
Lawful disposal at EPA-licensed waste facilities, with weighbridge dockets retained
Public liability insurance at appropriate levels, plus workers’ compensation

If your quote doesn’t mention any of this, that’s a red flag.

Plain-English Demolition Compliance Checklist (Save This)

Before any structure is demolished in Victoria, make sure you can tick every box:

[ ] Hazardous materials survey completed
[ ] Asbestos register reviewed (or assumed positive if unknown)
[ ] Licensed asbestos removalist engaged (Class B for non-friable, Class A for friable)
[ ] WorkSafe asbestos removal notification lodged
[ ] Asbestos clearance certificate issued post-removal
[ ] SWMS prepared for every HRCW activity
[ ] Construction induction (white card) verified for all workers
[ ] Site-specific induction completed
[ ] All services disconnected and confirmed in writing
[ ] Excavation notification lodged with WorkSafe (if applicable)
[ ] Public protection (hoarding, signage, dust controls) in place
[ ] Council demolition permit and any planning approvals in place
[ ] Public liability insurance current and certificate sighted
[ ] Disposal facility EPA-licensed and dockets retained

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Victoria?

Yes. You need a demolition permit from a Registered Building Surveyor under the Building Act 1993, in addition to meeting WorkSafe Victoria’s OHS requirements. Local council planning approval may also be required, particularly in heritage overlays or for properties over 50 years old in some councils.

Does WorkSafe Victoria need to be notified before every demolition?

Not as a standalone “demolition notification” — Victoria does not currently have a blanket demolition notification form like some other states. However, you almost always need to notify WorkSafe for the asbestos removal component and sometimes for construction excavation. Most Melbourne demolitions trigger at least one of these notifications.

What is the difference between Class A and Class B asbestos removal?

Class B licences cover non-friable (bonded) asbestos — typically cement sheeting, eaves, vinyl floor tiles and similar bonded products. Class A licences cover friable asbestos — material that can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. A Class B licence holder is not permitted to remove friable asbestos.

Can I remove a small amount of asbestos myself in Victoria?

Legally, an unlicensed person can remove non-friable ACM if it is less than 10 square metres and takes less than one hour in any 7-day period. You still must follow safe practice (PPE, wetting down, no power tools, double-bagging and lawful disposal at a licensed facility). For anything larger, more complex, or friable — engage a licensed removalist.

What is a SWMS and who has to prepare it?

A Safe Work Method Statement is a document that identifies high-risk construction work, the hazards, and the control measures to be used. It must be prepared by the person conducting the business or undertaking doing the HRCW, in consultation with workers, and provided to the principal contractor. It must be available on site and followed.

Is the demolition compliance code legally binding?

A compliance code is not directly enforceable like a regulation, but if you follow it, you are deemed to have complied with the related duties under the OHS Act and OHS Regulations to the extent the code covers them. If you don’t follow it, you must be able to demonstrate you’ve achieved an equivalent or better standard. In practice, courts and inspectors treat the code as the benchmark.

How long does compliant demolition take for a typical Melbourne home?

A standard single-storey weatherboard or brick veneer in Melbourne typically takes 2–5 days of on-site work, plus 1–2 weeks of pre-start compliance (asbestos survey, removal, notifications, service disconnections). Heritage, multi-storey, fire-damaged or commercial properties take longer.

What does WorkSafe-compliant demolition cost in Melbourne?

Costs vary widely depending on size, structure type, asbestos quantity, access and disposal volumes. The cheapest quote is rarely the compliant one — if a quote doesn’t itemise asbestos removal, SWMS preparation, service disconnections and lawful disposal, treat it with caution.

Get a WorkSafe-Compliant Demolition Quote in Melbourne

We’re a fully licensed Melbourne demolition company with Class B (non-friable) asbestos removal capability — meaning your demolition and your asbestos work can be handled under one compliant, insured roof, across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Whether it’s a residential knock-down rebuild in the suburbs, a commercial strip-out in the CBD, a fire-damaged property, or a partial structural demolition for a renovation, we’ll handle the WorkSafe compliance, the council paperwork, the asbestos and the heavy lifting — properly, the first time.

Call us today for a free site inspection and fixed-price quote — and get a project that meets every WorkSafe Victoria demolition requirement without the headache.

Disclaimer: This guide summarises WorkSafe Victoria’s demolition requirements as of May 2026 in plain English. It is not legal advice. Always check the current Compliance Code: Demolition and OHS Regulations on the WorkSafe Victoria website, or consult a qualified OHS professional, before relying on this information for a specific project.

Sources & Further Reading

WorkSafe Victoria — Compliance Code: Demolition (Edition 2, December 2019)
WorkSafe Victoria — Demolition hub: worksafe.vic.gov.au/demolition
WorkSafe Victoria — Notify or register high risk work
WorkSafe Victoria — Demolition of buildings or structures with fire-damaged non-friable asbestos-containing material
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), particularly Part 4.4
Safe Work Australia — High risk construction work requiring a SWMS