3 . PLANNING THE DEMOLITION WORK
3.2 Principal contractor
Where the value of construction work is $ 250 000 or more , the construction work is considered a ‘ construction project ’ for which additional duties apply to the principal contractor . There can only be one principal contractor for a construction project and this will be either the person commissioning the construction work or a person that is appointed as the principal contractor by the person commissioning the construction work .
The principal contractor has a range of duties in relation to a construction project , including :
• preparing and reviewing a WHS management plan
• obtaining SWMS before any high risk construction work commences
• putting in place arrangements to manage the work environment , including falls , facilities , first aid , an emergency plan and traffic management
• installing signs showing the principal contactor ’ s name , contact details and location of any site office , and
• securing the construction workplace .
It is possible that the demolition contractor may be appointed as the principal contractor . This may occur , for example , where there is significant demolition work required and there is a clear separation or delay between the demolition activity and any subsequent building work . In this case the person who commissions the construction work may appoint the demolition contractor as the principal contractor , who must then comply with all the duties of a principal contractor until the demolition work is complete .
Further guidance on principal contractor duties is available in the Code of Practice : Construction Work .
3.3 Designers
Section 22
Regulation 295
Designers must ensure , so far as is reasonably practicable , that the structure is designed to be without risks to the health and safety of persons in relation to the proper demolition or disposal of the structure .
The designer of a structure or any part of a structure that is to be constructed must give the person conducting a business or undertaking who commissioned the design a written report that specifies the hazards associated with the design of the structure that , so far as the designer is reasonably aware :
• create a risk to the health or safety of persons who are to carry out construction work on the structure or part , and
• are associated only with the particular design and not with other designs of the same type of structure .
This is particularly important with modern designs where ‘ limit state ’ design techniques are used by the structural designer . In this approach , the designer considers the structure in its completed form with all the structural components , including bracing , installed . The completed structure can withstand much higher loads ( e . g . wind and other live loads ) than when the structure is in the construction or demolition stage . With this in mind , it may be necessary for the designer to provide guidance to the demolisher on how the structure will remain standing as it is demolished or dismantled .
10 CODE OF PRACTICE | DEMOLITION WORK