Load-Bearing Wall Removal and Temporary Propping SWMS

Suits builders, renovators and structural contractors who remove a load-bearing wall and install a steel beam. It covers the engineer’s design, services, dust control, temporary props, staged wall removal, lifting and fixing the beam, and releasing the props. Strip-out and the demolition of whole structures are covered by other SWMS.

Removing a load-bearing wall is demolition of a load-bearing element (WHS Regulation s 291(c)) and needs temporary support to prevent collapse (s 291(e)), so both items are ticked. It is also demolition work as defined in Schedule 19, which needs a demolition licence under s 143; a s 142 notice is needed only where s 142 applies. Tick the other items the job involves, for example asbestos disturbance, energised electrical services, a fall of more than 2 metres, and the contaminated atmosphere item when cutting masonry or concrete creates silica dust.

New to SWMS? Read What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?

What Is Covered In Our Load-Bearing Wall Removal and Temporary Propping SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Confirm the structural design and survey the wall” to “Make good, clean up and hand over”. The hazards and controls include:

• Collapse of the structure above the wall
• Prop kick-out and buckling
• Wrong beam or support sequence
• Live cables, gas and water pipes in walls
• Silica and plaster dust
• Hidden asbestos and lead paint
• Heavy lifting of steel beams
• Falls from ladders and platforms
• Dropped beam or wall sections
• Noise from saws and breakers
• Welding fire and fume
• Sudden load transfer when props come out

High Risk Construction Work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Involves demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure
• Involves structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work
• Demolition licence (WHS Regulation s 143; ss 143 to 144L): removing a load-bearing wall is demolition work as defined in Schedule 19, and the person doing the work, or the person it is done for, must hold the licence
• Written design, propping plan and removal sequence from the engineer
• Competent person who inspects the props and supervises the propping and removal
• High risk work licence in the dogging class, or a higher rigging class (Schedule 3), for anyone who slings a load or directs a crane operator when the load is out of the operator’s view (Schedule 19, dogging work)
• High risk work licence in the class required for any crane used to lift the beam (Schedule 3)
• Licensed electrician, licensed plumber and gas fitter to isolate and reinstate services
• Asbestos identification and handling training for workers who may meet asbestos (WHS Regulation s 445)
• Crystalline silica training where the silica assessment finds the work high risk (chapter 8A)
• Site induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Demolition Work Code of Practice 2021
• Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
• Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): electrical work and exclusion zones (schedule 2)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 10 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; hard hat; safety glasses; gloves
• Emergency arrangements for: prop movement or unexpected structural noise and cut service or fire
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.