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    New South Wales · OnShift Education

    The demolition supervisor’s fieldbook

    Planning, risk control and site supervision

    Explore the decisions behind demolition supervision—from reading the site to planning the work and managing change. Start with the introduction, or find the topic that matters to you.

    Start reading Contents ↓Workplace & case studies ↓
    Illustrated cover of The Demolition Supervisor’s Fieldbook, showing a supervisor overlooking an industrial site.OnShift Education · Free online fieldbook

    Contents

    Introduction
    PART 01

    Foundations of demolition supervision

    1. 01Demolition as controlled change
    2. 02Experience and sound judgement
    3. 03The NSW demolition context
    4. 04Observation and verification
    5. 05Clear technical communication
    6. 06Hazards, controls and decision authority
    PART 02

    The demolition business compliance system

    1. 07Law, standards and project controls
    2. 08HSEQ systems and minimum standards
    3. 09Roles, responsibilities, authority and escalation
    4. 10Consultation, communication, induction, training and toolbox talks
    5. 11Fitness for work, fatigue, wellbeing and worker support
    6. 12Audits, inspections, incident investigation and continuous improvement
    7. 13Records, registers, diaries and document control
    PART 03

    Hazard and risk control

    1. 14Hazard identification and the hierarchy of control
    2. 15Structural integrity, falling objects and flying debris
    3. 16Services, isolation and hazardous energy
    4. 17Plant, people and exclusion zones
    5. 18Dust, silica, airborne contaminants, noise and vibration
    6. 19Fire, explosion, residual fuels and hot-work interfaces
    7. 20Working at heights, confined spaces and rescue planning
    8. 21Traffic, public protection and neighbouring properties
    9. 22Water, stormwater, groundwater, waste and environmental protection
    10. 23Hazardous materials and asbestos interfaces
    PART 04

    Demolition planning and project documents

    1. 24Scope, specifications and site information
    2. 25Site inspection and pre-commencement checks
    3. 26Demolition work plans and sequencing
    4. 27SWMS, risk assessments and control verification
    5. 28Environmental, traffic and emergency plans
    6. 29Permits, notifications and authorisations
    7. 30Inductions, briefings, communication and change control
    8. 31Project resources, schedules, plant and workforce planning
    PART 05

    Plant, tools and operational knowledge

    1. 32Small plant and equipment selection
    2. 33Hand tools, demolition tools and equipment limitations
    3. 34Pre-starts, maintenance, faults and safe operating information
    4. 35Small-structure demolition processes and sequencing
    5. 36Hot work: cutting, grinding, gas equipment and fire prevention
    6. 37LEL concepts, atmospheric hazards and escalation
    7. 38Materials, stockpiles, salvage, recycling and load-out
    PART 06

    Plans, structures and engineering interface

    1. 39Demolition plans, drawing views and specifications
    2. 40Legends, symbols, abbreviations, scale, levels and dimensions
    3. 41Plan currency, amendments and site orientation
    4. 42Structural systems and load paths
    5. 43Structural behaviour: compression, tension, bending and combined actions
    6. 44Floors, walls, roofs, cladding, columns and retaining systems
    7. 45Soil, ground capacity, temporary works and adjacent structures
    8. 46Engineering reports and conditions for stopping work
    PART 07

    Supervision through the project lifecycle

    1. 47Preparing the team and work area
    2. 48Monitoring work against the plan
    3. 49Responding to changed conditions and stopping work
    4. 50Quality, productivity, housekeeping and environmental performance
    5. 51Incidents, emergencies, rescue and recovery
    6. 52Clean-up, records, debrief and improvement
    PART 08

    Project decisions and technical references

    1. 53A depot project from scope to handover
    2. 54Connecting project decisions
    3. 55How project documents connect
    4. 56Technical glossary
    5. 57Plans and diagrams
    6. 58Forms and registers
    7. 59Seeking and interpreting specialist advice
    Recognise the job before you start

    Your simulated workplace and four case studies

    Start with the company, then follow each project from its source information to planning, supervision and handover. These links explain the context; they do not release later assessment information.

    Meet CEDR — your simulated workplaceCompany roles, procedures, registers and project allocations →
    Banksia House case-study visual: C1-P01 R04 – Banksia House building context. Brick veneer over timber framing; timber roof trusses; metal roof; concrete slab on ground. Exterior appearance reference only; use the controlled drawings for dimensions and concealed construction. Reproduced in this guide at reduced size; use written dimensions, not a ruler on this page.
    Cronulla case-study visual: C-P01 – Street and balconies; date and exact viewpoint unverified. Visible context is not hidden-structure or capacity evidence.
    Real project sources with labelled simulation

    Cronulla

    Keep the existing building separate from the proposed civil works. Use C320 and the photographs to recognise the site, not to invent hidden structural details.

    Explore Cronulla →
    Related chapters
    Cardwell case-study visual: User-supplied historical old-station photograph
    Riverbend case-study visual: C4-P01 R04 – Riverbend Fabrication Hall building context. Eleven steel portal frames at 10 m centres; metal cladding on purlins and girts; ground slab; independent office mezzanine; overhead crane runway. Exterior appearance reference only; use the controlled drawings for dimensions and concealed construction. Reproduced in this guide at reduced size; use written dimensions, not a ruler on this page.
    Fictional industrial project

    Riverbend Fabrication Hall

    Follow an industrial structure through initial planning, professional advice and later review. Your assessor releases changed conditions at the relevant point.

    Explore Riverbend Fabrication Hall →
    Related chapters

    The fieldbook is free to read. If you are working towards a supervisor role, these are the training pages that cover the same ground.

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