Before you cut, core or break out, know what's behind it. Services and structure get confirmed first.
Start safeControl the riskStop when it changes
Scroll the journey
1
When it applies
If you're doing any of this, this guide is in play.
Local demolition
Concrete cancer breakout
Render removal
Chasing
Slab / balcony repair
Penetrations
2
Before you start
Before the work begins, the Site Supervisor confirms — and you check your own work area.
Structure
Services
Hazardous materials
Exclusion zones
Noise / vibration / dust
Manual handling
Waste
3
The controls
Work down the hierarchy — collective protection first, PPE last. PPE never carries the job on its own.
The RPD rule
Use an engineered sequence where needed, isolate services, protect residents and public, control dust and noise, manage falling objects and remove waste progressively.
Engineered sequenceIsolate servicesControl dust & noiseProgressive wasteHold point — never skip
Do not cut, core or break out until services and structural constraints are confirmed.
A service scan and a structural check come before the saw — what's behind the wall can kill.
5
Stop & escalate
See any one of these? The job stops until it's fixed — no exceptions.
- Unexpected cracking
- Live services found
- Hazardous material exposed
- Uncontrolled dust or noise
Stop work→ tell the Site Supervisor → don't restart until the control is back and the SWMS is reviewed.
6
What gets recorded
The job isn't done until the evidence exists. Live records go in Breadcrumb.
Breadcrumb · live site
- SWMS
- Permits
- Plant inductions
- Pre-starts & toolbox talks
- Site alerts for exclusion zones
- Hazard reporting for changed conditions