According to Safe Work Australia and the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, any work that concerns the demolishing of a structure, whether it’s building demolition, house demolition or some other demolition, is considered "construction work".

Demolition contractors must therefore refer to the Code of Practice before conducting their demolition to ensure that they are in compliance with regulations, including permit requirements.

Depending on the type of work you are conducting, a demolition license may be required. Demolition work, under regulations, may not always be what is conventionally thought to be demolition. Demolition involves the complete or partial destruction of a building or structure by demolition contractors with pre-planned and controlled methods and procedures. Some regulations do not apply to the demolition of a structure by a person in the metal fabrication or engineering industry in the course of maintaining, refurbishing, upgrading, modifying or decommissioning a plant. Work in mines is covered by the Mines Safety and Inspection Act, and should follow those regulations rather than general demolition ones.

In some states and territories, you may be exempt from requiring a license, should the demolition contractor be able to demonstrate sufficient experience and expertise in previous projects.

Details that may be required to prove expertise includes:

• The address of previous projects.
• Descriptions of demolition work.
• Descriptions of structures that were demolished.
• The applicant’s role in the demolition.
• The date when the work was undertaken.
• The clients’ names and contact details.

If you do require a demolition license, it will be handled by the National Occupational Licensing System (NOLS). You will need to ask your local WHS regulator and the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) for the conditions you need to meet in order to acquire a demolition license in your state or territory.

If the demolition will involve the destruction of an element of the structure that is related to the physical integrity of the structure, or is load-bearing, the demolition will then be considered "high risk construction work". Before such construction can take place, a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared.

This statement should include:

• identification of the type of high risk construction work being conducted
• specifications of any risks and hazards to health and safety
• descriptions of how risks are being controlled, including implementation, monitoring and review, and
• development with input from workers and representatives who are carrying out the work itself.

Note that there may also be other aspects of the demolition procedures that require licenses or permits and not just the overall demolition. For example, workers will need to have licenses, and possibly training, to use demolition machinery such as an excavator or a crane. They may also require additional expertise and certification for specialist work.

If your excavation requires the use of explosives, then you must have a worker who is licensed in the setting and use of explosives. A blast management plan must be developed before explosives are used and the licensed, competent person must take responsibility for all aspects of the use of explosives in the demolition.

You should be sure to check all the Codes of Practice and Work Health and Safety regulations in your state or territory before conducting demolition. Contact your local Work Health and Safety regulator and the National Occupational Licensing Authority as a place to begin.