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Risk Assessment for Demolition Template

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Demolition Risk Assessment

~10,000 employees

~500 employees

~10 employees

~25,000 employees

~200 employees

~1,500 employees

~20 employees

What is a Risk Assessment for Demolition?

A demolition risk assessment is a safety planning document that evaluates possible dangers during the demolition activity and provides the necessary safety controls to mitigate or eliminate them. This evaluation should be completed before any deconstruction or structural alterations begin, and it should be revisited on a regular basis while the project develops.

With a risk assessment, all inherent dangers of a demolition job are effectively controlled, ensuring a safe activity from start to finish.

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Demolition works risk assessment: Demolition Hazards

Demolition is inherently a dangerous activity. Personnel should be well versed and aware of all the hazards that come along with this activity to help them use the provided safety controls responsibly and efficiently. Here are some common hazards that are found in demolition projects.

Structural Failure

Structural failure can often occur when a demolition project was not carefully planned. When critical building structures—structures that have a critical part in holding loads—are deconstructed poorly, it can result in other parts toppling over. This situation can be very dangerous, especially if the whole building collapses. An administrative control measure in the form of a safety procedure can effectively counter this situation.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a heat-retardant material used in buildings for insulation. However, when these materials are deconstructed or damaged, they release microscopic fibers that, when inhaled, can cause serious, permanent damage to the lungs. Including these variables in the risk assessment can prepare the personnel to wear the correct PPE before deconstruction.

Falling Objects

Demolition in its essence is the deconstruction of a structure. Given this knowledge, it's reasonable to anticipate that undertaking this activity on taller buildings will inevitably lead to falling hazards. Materials that can fall during demolition range from objects as small as grains to large boulders, like slabs, which can critically injure someone if they are struck. Proper controls can be achieved through a risk assessment to effectively isolate areas where fall hazards are present.

Electrical Shock

Buildings contain numerous electrical components and wires. If not managed properly, demolition personnel can become electrocuted, which can cause second- to third-degree burns or cardiac arrest. These hazardous components must be properly identified and managed through a risk assessment to avoid such unwanted outcomes.

Demolition Work Risk Assessment Example

A risk assessment is a procedural activity that helps you identify hazards and provide the appropriate controls. To effectively construct a risk assessment, here is an example of the procedures you can integrate into your workflow.

Determine who is involved

Supervisors can effectively manage their personnel better if they are identified first. It guarantees that the appropriate and competent individuals are selected for the demolition activity. This procedure prevents improper handling and lowers the possibility of mishaps brought on by inexperienced staff.

Analysis of Task Hazards

The demolition risk assessment example provided here has integrated a task hazard analysis. This helps thoroughly examine every step in the activity and pinpoint the risks associated with each one. In this step, it would be advantageous to have multiple heads working on the task to help identify all possible hazards.

Evaluation of Risk

The Risk Assessment Matrix is used to assess the probability and severity of each identified danger. The score will assist in determining which control measures are appropriate for each danger. The hierarchy of controls—elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE)—can serve as a foundation for choosing the control measure. For a more tangible and efficient risk assessment, it would be ideal to include numerous individuals in assessing the hazard and determining the controls, similar to the task hazard analysis.

Review

The department manager should confirm the precision and correctness of the three aforementioned stages when the risk assessment is drafted—like the risk assessment demolition example shown here. This ensures that no risk is overlooked and that every control successfully removes or lessens it. This procedure guarantees a more stringent risk assessment that can successfully protect your assets and personnel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this the best Demolition Risk Assessment template?

Sitemate’s Demolition Risk Assessment Template stands out because it’s been tested and trusted by thousands of construction and demolition teams. It’s built around industry best practices, so you’re not starting from scratch or guessing what to include. The layout is clear, the fields are practical, and it’s designed to work smoothly whether you're in the office or on-site. That means any worker — from site supervisors to contractors — can complete it quickly and confidently, helping teams stay compliant and focused on safe execution.

Is this template compliant with standards?

Yes – this template can be configured to align with ISO 45001 and local safety regulations across the world, including regions like Australia, the UK, New Zealand, the US, and more. It's already used by certified contractors globally in the construction and demolition industry to support compliance and maintain certification standards.

Can I edit this Risk Asssessment for Demolition for my project or company?

Yes – this template is fully editable and powered by Dashpivot’s intuitive template builder, which uses simple drag-and-drop functionality. You can easily customise it to suit any data capture needs by adding a wide range of field types such as tables, formulas, sketches, photos, and more. You can also include your company logo, custom headers, and specific layout elements to match your documentation standards. With thousands of possible configurations, the template adapts to how you work.

Which devices are compatible with this Demolition Risk Assessment template?

You can use this Demolition Risk Assessment template on any device — desktop, tablet, or mobile. It’s built to work wherever you are, whether you’re filling it out at your desk or completing it on-site in real time. Once the form is filled, you can instantly generate or export it as a PDF or CSV, making it easy to share, store, or report — without switching between tools. It’s flexibility and efficiency in one package.

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This risk assessment was generated with Dashpivot

Blow away hazards with this Demolition Risk Assessment. This risk assessment can be simply modified to fit your demolition operation. It meets all regulatory criteria and may be tailored to demolition-specific methods, assuring compliance as well as practicality.

  • Complete, edit, and review the risk assessment for demolition from any device.
  • Export and send assessments as perfectly formatted PDF documents with your company logo.
  • Securely store and manage your report assessments for easy searching and finding.
  • Directly notify managers for review and sign-off after completing the assessment.

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