FOREWORD
This Code of Practice for managing health and safety risks associated with demolition work is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act ( the WHS Act ).
An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health , safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations ( the WHS Regulations ).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code . In most cases , following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act , in relation to the subject matter of the code . Like regulations , codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risks which may arise . The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work , not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist .
Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations . Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard , risk or control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates .
Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations may be achieved by following another method , such as a technical or an industry standard , if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code .
An inspector may refer to an approved code of practice when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice .
This Code of Practice has been developed by Safe Work Australia as a model code of practice under the Council of Australian Governments ’ Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety for adoption by the Commonwealth , state and territory governments .
SCOPE AND APPLICATION
This Code provides practical guidance to persons conducting a business or undertaking on how to manage the health and safety risks associated with the demolition work . This Code applies to all types of demolition work .
The guidance in this Code is relevant to demolition contractors as well as persons conducting a business or undertaking who have management or control of workplaces where demolition work is carried out , such as principal contractors .
Persons who have duties in relation to demolition work should also refer to the Code of Practice : Construction Work .
HOW TO USE THIS CODE OF PRACTICE In providing guidance , the word ‘ should ’ is used in this Code to indicate a recommended course of action , while ‘ may ’ is used to indicate an optional course of action .
This Code also includes various references to provisions of the WHS Act and Regulations which set out the legal requirements . These references are not exhaustive . The words ‘ must ’, ‘ requires ’ or ‘ mandatory ’ indicate that a legal requirement exists and must be complied with .
2 CODE OF PRACTICE | DEMOLITION WORK