Demolition method statement example: internal soft-strip, commercial unit

HSE five steps · CDM 2015

You write this: Soft-strip and demolish internal non-load-bearing partition walls, suspended ceilings and redundant fixtures within an unoccupied commercial unit ahead of refurbishment.
You get this: Meridian Strip-Out & Demolition Ltd will soft-strip and demolish internal non-load-bearing partition walls, suspended ceilings and redundant fixtures within an unoccupied commercial unit ahead of refurbishment. The site is Unit 5, Kingsway Trade Park, Sheffield S9 1H** (project ref MSD-3312) for Northgate Commercial Interiors Ltd as Principal Contractor. Work starts Tue 23 Jun 2026 and runs for 4 days with 4 operatives. The author is R. Okafor, Site Supervisor (CCDO Black Card, SMSTS). The work will be done under a permit to work and a service isolation permit, with the live services proven dead before any strip-out, dust controlled at source, and asbestos checked for and identified before anything is disturbed. Items to confirm before work starts: (1) the building age and the client's asbestos register or management survey for the unit, plus a refurbishment and demolition survey of the strip-out area if the register does not cover it, to be confirmed by the Principal Contractor before the permit is issued; (2) what the partitions are made of (stud and plasterboard or blockwork), to be confirmed on the pre-start walk with the Principal Contractor, which decides how much masonry dust control is needed; (3) written confirmation that the walls are non-load-bearing and that nothing above relies on them, from the Principal Contractor's designer; (4) service drawings and the location of the electrical, gas and water isolation points, from the Principal Contractor and the building owner; (5) skip position, vehicle access route and the state of adjoining units, to be agreed with the Principal Contractor on the pre-start walk; (6) fire alarm arrangements and assembly point, to be confirmed with the Principal Contractor at induction.

Generated for an example job to show the format. Make your own site-specific version and have a competent person review it.

Document details
Contractor	Meridian Strip-Out & Demolition Ltd
Author	R. Okafor, Site Supervisor (CCDO Black Card, SMSTS)
Client / Principal Contractor	Northgate Commercial Interiors Ltd
Site	Unit 5, Kingsway Trade Park, Sheffield S9 1H**
Project reference	MSD-3312
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 4 days

1. Scope of works

Meridian Strip-Out & Demolition Ltd will soft-strip and demolish internal non-load-bearing partition walls, suspended ceilings and redundant fixtures within an unoccupied commercial unit ahead of refurbishment. The site is Unit 5, Kingsway Trade Park, Sheffield S9 1H** (project ref MSD-3312) for Northgate Commercial Interiors Ltd as Principal Contractor. Work starts Tue 23 Jun 2026 and runs for 4 days with 4 operatives. The author is R. Okafor, Site Supervisor (CCDO Black Card, SMSTS). The work will be done under a permit to work and a service isolation permit, with the live services proven dead before any strip-out, dust controlled at source, and asbestos checked for and identified before anything is disturbed. Items to confirm before work starts: (1) the building age and the client's asbestos register or management survey for the unit, plus a refurbishment and demolition survey of the strip-out area if the register does not cover it, to be confirmed by the Principal Contractor before the permit is issued; (2) what the partitions are made of (stud and plasterboard or blockwork), to be confirmed on the pre-start walk with the Principal Contractor, which decides how much masonry dust control is needed; (3) written confirmation that the walls are non-load-bearing and that nothing above relies on them, from the Principal Contractor's designer; (4) service drawings and the location of the electrical, gas and water isolation points, from the Principal Contractor and the building owner; (5) skip position, vehicle access route and the state of adjoining units, to be agreed with the Principal Contractor on the pre-start walk; (6) fire alarm arrangements and assembly point, to be confirmed with the Principal Contractor at induction.

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Before mobilising, the supervisor reviews the client's asbestos register or management survey for Unit 5 and confirms in writing with the Principal Contractor that it covers every area to be stripped. If it does not, a refurbishment and demolition survey of the area is obtained first (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 5). Work does not start until this is signed off.
Supervisor confirms with the Principal Contractor the building age, the construction of the partitions, the non-load-bearing status of the walls and the service drawings, and records the answers on the permit.
Induction and briefing for all 4 operatives on this RAMS, the asbestos stop-work rule, the emergency arrangements, the exclusion zones and the permit conditions. Everyone signs on. Check CCDO cards, UKATA asbestos awareness certificates and face-fit test records.
Walk the unit with the Principal Contractor. Identify and tag all electrical, gas and water isolation points, and mark all services running through the walls and ceiling void.
Service isolation permit: a competent person isolates the electrics, gas and water to the strip-out area. Locks and tags are fitted. The supply is proven dead with an approved voltage indicator before anyone works near it. Any service that must stay live is clearly marked and protected, and no work is done near it. Isolation is rechecked each morning.
Set up the work area: barrier and sign the exclusion zone, secure the roller shutter against unauthorised entry, set the protected route to the skip, position the skips and the dust extraction, and set up the 110V RCD-protected supply on a safe cable route.
Strip the area in stages. Start with redundant fixtures: lights, fittings, signage, shelving and loose items, once the circuits are proven dead. Cap and make safe any cut ends. Fluorescent tubes are kept whole and put in a separate container.
Visually check the ceiling void and wall linings as they are opened up. If any suspect material is found that is not in the asbestos register, STOP work, keep everyone out of the area, report to the supervisor and the Principal Contractor, and do not restart until the material has been identified or sampled and cleared in writing.
Remove the suspended ceiling tiles by hand, from podium steps, working in bays. Bag or box the tiles and send them to the skip straight away. Lower the grid and hangers rather than dropping them. Use dust extraction and damp down where possible.
Remove ceiling services only once confirmed isolated and dead. Cut cable and pipework with hand tools or the reciprocating saw, never by pulling.
Demolish the partitions top-down in controlled sections. Take stud and plasterboard partitions apart by hand, cutting out the studs with the reciprocating saw and never pulling over a whole wall. Break masonry partitions out in controlled sections with the breakers, using on-tool extraction or water suppression, working away from adjacent walls and services. Keep other operatives out of the fall zone.
Move debris to the skips by wheeled skip or protected route, in loads that suit the person. Use two-person lifts or mechanical aids for heavy or bulky items. Do not overfill skips or leave debris stacked above shoulder height.
Housekeeping is done as the work goes on. Clear walkways at least every break and at the end of each shift. Clean up dust with an H-class or M-class vacuum. No dry sweeping and no compressed air.
At the end of each shift, make the area safe, isolate the 110V supply, secure the shutter, lock the plant away and brief the next shift on the day's status. Check the exclusion zone is intact and the isolation tags are still in place.
On completion, carry out a final clean with an H-class vacuum, check for sharps, loose cable and protruding fixings, and hold a handover walk with the Principal Contractor. Close out the permits, return the keys and leave the area in an agreed safe state for the refurbishment trades.

3. Risk assessment

Built on the HSE five steps, MHSWR 1999 regulation 3 and the hierarchy of control.

Live services: electricity (contact with live cables, fittings, distribution boards and containment while stripping out lights, sockets and ceiling services)
Medium
Who / how
Operatives: electric shock, burns, fatality. Others in the unit if a fire is started.
Existing controls
Competent supervisor, CCDO carded operatives, 110V RCD-protected tools.
L×S
3×5=15
Additional controls
Service isolation permit and permit to work in place before any strip-out. Electrical supply isolated by a competent person, locked off and tagged, then proven dead with an approved voltage indicator (Electricity at Work Regulations 1989). Service drawings checked and cable routes marked. Any live circuit that has to stay on is marked, protected and kept out of the work area. Cut ends made safe and capped as they are exposed. Cable detection or visual tracing before cutting into walls or ceiling voids. Isolation rechecked at the start of every shift. Insulated hand tools and 110V supply only. Insulating gloves for any electrical handling as a back-up.
Live services: gas and water (striking or cutting pipework in walls, floors and ceiling voids; flooding; gas escape)
Medium
Who / how
Operatives and anyone nearby: asphyxiation, fire or explosion, slips on water, damage to the unit and neighbouring units.
Existing controls
Permit to work, isolation permit, supervisor on site.
L×S
2×5=10
Additional controls
Gas and water isolated at the main and the pipework in the strip-out area identified using the service drawings and the PC. Gas pipes confirmed as capped or purged by a Gas Safe registered engineer before any cutting. Do not cut or break into any pipe unless it is confirmed isolated, drained and made safe. Know the location of the isolation valves. If a gas smell or leak is found, stop work, remove people from the building, do not use electrical switches or phones inside, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Spill kit and wet vacuum for water leaks. Pipework cut with hand tools only after proving it is dead and drained.
Asbestos: disturbing suspected asbestos-containing materials (for example ceiling tiles, partition linings, boxing, lagging, floor tiles, textured coatings) in a unit where asbestos is likely to be present
Medium
Who / how
Operatives and anyone nearby or entering the unit afterwards: inhaled asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, often decades later.
Existing controls
UKATA asbestos awareness training, face-fit tested operatives.
L×S
3×5=15
Additional controls
Check the client's asbestos register or management survey for the unit before work starts. For strip-out where the register does not cover the area, a refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any work (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 5). The permit is not issued until this is confirmed. Briefing on the stop-work rule: if suspect material is found, stop, keep people away, report it to the supervisor and the Principal Contractor, and do not carry on until it has been identified. Any asbestos found is dealt with by an appropriately licensed or competent contractor as the survey and regulations require. Operatives hold awareness training only and do not carry out any asbestos removal themselves. Do not break, drill or scrape unidentified material. Keep the exclusion zone and a clean access route. Disposable FFP3 RPE and coveralls available for an emergency stop-and-secure only.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust from breaking, cutting or drilling masonry, block, concrete, mortar, render or plaster partitions and fixings
Medium
Who / how
Operatives doing the work and anyone nearby breathing the dust: silicosis, lung cancer, COPD and other long-term lung disease.
Existing controls
Dust extraction on site, face-fit tested operatives.
L×S
4×4=16
Additional controls
Plan the work to reduce cutting, breaking and drilling, for example by taking partitions out at joints and fixings where possible. On-tool extraction (M-class or H-class vacuum) or water suppression on every breaker, drill, chaser and saw used on masonry or concrete. Keep others out of the area, and clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air (COSHH Regulations 2002; HSE CIS36 Construction dust). The RCS workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 (8-hour TWA) in HSE EH40/2005 applies. Limit the number of people and the time in the dust area. RPE with an assigned protection factor of at least 20 (FFP3 disposable or equivalent), face-fit tested and worn clean shaven, as the last line of defence.
General dust and fibres from ceiling tiles, insulation, plasterboard, old dust in the ceiling void and debris disturbed during strip-out
Low
Who / how
Operatives: irritation of eyes, nose, throat and skin, and breathing problems with repeated exposure.
Existing controls
Dust extraction, supervisor monitoring.
L×S
4×3=12
Additional controls
Remove tiles and linings carefully by hand rather than breaking them up. Damp down lightly where suitable and bag debris at source. Use extraction at the point of dust creation, and a vacuum rather than brushing. Keep the exclusion zone closed and limit time in dusty areas (COSHH Regulations 2002; HSE CIS36). FFP3 disposable RPE, goggles and gloves as back-up.
Uncontrolled collapse of partitions, ceiling grid, boxing or fixtures during demolition (falling debris, structure stability)
Medium
Who / how
Operatives: crush injuries, struck by falling material, fatality. Other people entering the area.
Existing controls
Walls to be confirmed non-load-bearing, CCDO carded operatives, supervision.
L×S
3×5=15
Additional controls
Written confirmation from the Principal Contractor's designer that the partitions are non-load-bearing before any demolition, and that nothing above or beside relies on them. Demolish top-down in small controlled sections following the sequence in this method statement (CDM 2015, Regulation 22 on preventing danger from demolition and dismantling). Never pull over or undermine a complete wall. Keep a fall zone clear and marked, and work on one section at a time. Stop and review if any unexpected structure, a steel or a defect is found. Hard hats and safety boots as back-up.
Working at height at low level: removing ceiling grids, tiles, lights and services from podium steps or stepladders
Low
Who / how
Operatives: falls of up to about 2 to 3 metres causing fractures and head injuries. People below from dropped items.
Existing controls
CCDO carded operatives, supervision.
L×S
3×4=12
Additional controls
Work from podium steps or a low-level platform, not stepladders or makeshift access, where reasonably practicable (Work at Height Regulations 2005). Check equipment before use and keep it on firm, level ground clear of debris. Take work down to ground level where possible rather than reaching. Keep the area below clear of other people while overhead work is under way. Do not overreach. Do not use ladders as a work platform for heavy items. Hard hats as back-up.
Manual handling of debris, plasterboard sheets, stud and rubble, and pushing and loading wheeled skips
Medium
Who / how
Operatives: back, shoulder and arm injuries, sprains, crush injuries to hands and feet.
Existing controls
Wheeled skips, 4 operatives, trained operatives.
L×S
4×3=12
Additional controls
Reduce load size by breaking material into smaller sections, use wheeled skips and trolleys, and two-person lifts for bulky or heavy items (Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992). Keep the route to the skip level, clear and short. Rotate tasks and take breaks. Do not overfill wheeled skips. Gloves and safety boots as back-up.
Noise and hand-arm vibration from breakers, the reciprocating saw and other power tools
Low
Who / how
Operatives: hearing damage, tinnitus, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and others nearby affected by noise.
Existing controls
Rotation of operatives, RCD-protected 110V tools.
L×S
4×3=12
Additional controls
Use hand demolition methods where practical rather than breakers. Choose low-vibration, well-maintained tools and the right size of breaker for the job. Limit trigger time and rotate operatives across tasks. Keep the exclusion zone for noise and tell the Principal Contractor and neighbouring units when breaking starts. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 apply, with exposure times tracked by the supervisor. Hearing protection to the specification on the noise assessment, and anti-vibration gloves where suitable, as back-up.
Cuts and puncture injuries from the reciprocating saw, sharp metal studs, track, nails, screws, broken glass and light fittings
Low
Who / how
Operatives: lacerations, eye injuries, puncture wounds.
Existing controls
Competent operatives, tools maintained, RCD-protected 110V supply.
L×S
3×3=9
Additional controls
Equipment inspected and used in line with PUWER 1998, with guards in place and the right blade for the material. Secure the work, keep hands clear of the blade path and cut away from the body. Bend over or remove protruding nails, screws and sharp edges as the wall is stripped. Put broken glass, tubes and sharps into a rigid container. Cut-resistant gloves, eye protection and safety boots as back-up.
Slips, trips and falls on debris, cables, uneven floors, wet floors and trailing 110V leads
Low
Who / how
Operatives and anyone entering the unit: sprains, fractures, head injuries.
Existing controls
Protected routes to the skip, supervisor checks.
L×S
4×2=8
Additional controls
Housekeeping as the work progresses, with debris cleared to the skips at least every break and at the end of each shift. Keep leads off the floor on hooks or ramps and away from walkways. Keep the protected route to the skip clear and lit. Fix any area of wet floor and use adequate temporary lighting. Safety boots with slip-resistant soles as back-up.
Fire: dust build-up, cutting sparks, combustible waste in skips, cable damage and an unfamiliar escape route
Low
Who / how
Operatives, other trades and neighbouring units: burns, smoke inhalation.
Existing controls
Permit to work, site cabin and canteen provided by the Principal Contractor.
L×S
2×4=8
Additional controls
No hot works planned. Any hot work needs a separate permit from the Principal Contractor. Keep combustible waste to a minimum and keep skips away from the building. Keep escape routes clear. Fit extinguishers close to the work area and carry out a briefing on the alarm and assembly point. Remove dust build-up regularly. Do not smoke in the unit. Fire-retardant coveralls are not normally needed.
Vehicle movements and loading of skips: skip lorry delivery and collection, reversing and loading at the unit entrance and roller shutter, and the general trade park vehicle traffic
Medium
Who / how
Operatives, trade park users and members of the public: being struck or run over, fatality.
Existing controls
Skips positioned by the Principal Contractor, protected routes to the skip.
L×S
2×5=10
Additional controls
Agree skip position, delivery and collection times and the vehicle route with the Principal Contractor before the start. Use a banksman to guide vehicles when a skip is delivered, loaded or collected. Segregate pedestrians from vehicles with barriers and cones. Keep the roller shutter area clear. High-visibility clothing as back-up.
Unauthorised entry and other people on site: Principal Contractor staff, other trades, neighbouring unit staff and visitors to the trade park entering the strip-out area
Low
Who / how
Other trades, neighbouring unit staff and visitors: exposure to dust and possible asbestos, falling debris, noise and tripping.
Existing controls
Unit is unoccupied, roller shutter and door, permit to work.
L×S
3×4=12
Additional controls
Keep the unit secured when unattended. Barrier and sign the exclusion zone and tell the Principal Contractor and neighbouring units when noisy and dusty work is under way. All visitors report to the supervisor and sign in. Only people on the permit are allowed in the strip-out area. Remove no barrier until the supervisor has signed the area off. Signs and barriers checked at the start of every shift.

Risk assessment: hazards, who may be harmed, controls and residual risk
Hazard	Who / how	Existing controls	L×S	Additional controls	Residual
Live services: electricity (contact with live cables, fittings, distribution boards and containment while stripping out lights, sockets and ceiling services)	Operatives: electric shock, burns, fatality. Others in the unit if a fire is started.	Competent supervisor, CCDO carded operatives, 110V RCD-protected tools.	3×5=15	Service isolation permit and permit to work in place before any strip-out. Electrical supply isolated by a competent person, locked off and tagged, then proven dead with an approved voltage indicator (Electricity at Work Regulations 1989). Service drawings checked and cable routes marked. Any live circuit that has to stay on is marked, protected and kept out of the work area. Cut ends made safe and capped as they are exposed. Cable detection or visual tracing before cutting into walls or ceiling voids. Isolation rechecked at the start of every shift. Insulated hand tools and 110V supply only. Insulating gloves for any electrical handling as a back-up.	Medium
Live services: gas and water (striking or cutting pipework in walls, floors and ceiling voids; flooding; gas escape)	Operatives and anyone nearby: asphyxiation, fire or explosion, slips on water, damage to the unit and neighbouring units.	Permit to work, isolation permit, supervisor on site.	2×5=10	Gas and water isolated at the main and the pipework in the strip-out area identified using the service drawings and the PC. Gas pipes confirmed as capped or purged by a Gas Safe registered engineer before any cutting. Do not cut or break into any pipe unless it is confirmed isolated, drained and made safe. Know the location of the isolation valves. If a gas smell or leak is found, stop work, remove people from the building, do not use electrical switches or phones inside, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Spill kit and wet vacuum for water leaks. Pipework cut with hand tools only after proving it is dead and drained.	Medium
Asbestos: disturbing suspected asbestos-containing materials (for example ceiling tiles, partition linings, boxing, lagging, floor tiles, textured coatings) in a unit where asbestos is likely to be present	Operatives and anyone nearby or entering the unit afterwards: inhaled asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, often decades later.	UKATA asbestos awareness training, face-fit tested operatives.	3×5=15	Check the client's asbestos register or management survey for the unit before work starts. For strip-out where the register does not cover the area, a refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any work (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 5). The permit is not issued until this is confirmed. Briefing on the stop-work rule: if suspect material is found, stop, keep people away, report it to the supervisor and the Principal Contractor, and do not carry on until it has been identified. Any asbestos found is dealt with by an appropriately licensed or competent contractor as the survey and regulations require. Operatives hold awareness training only and do not carry out any asbestos removal themselves. Do not break, drill or scrape unidentified material. Keep the exclusion zone and a clean access route. Disposable FFP3 RPE and coveralls available for an emergency stop-and-secure only.	Medium
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust from breaking, cutting or drilling masonry, block, concrete, mortar, render or plaster partitions and fixings	Operatives doing the work and anyone nearby breathing the dust: silicosis, lung cancer, COPD and other long-term lung disease.	Dust extraction on site, face-fit tested operatives.	4×4=16	Plan the work to reduce cutting, breaking and drilling, for example by taking partitions out at joints and fixings where possible. On-tool extraction (M-class or H-class vacuum) or water suppression on every breaker, drill, chaser and saw used on masonry or concrete. Keep others out of the area, and clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air (COSHH Regulations 2002; HSE CIS36 Construction dust). The RCS workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 (8-hour TWA) in HSE EH40/2005 applies. Limit the number of people and the time in the dust area. RPE with an assigned protection factor of at least 20 (FFP3 disposable or equivalent), face-fit tested and worn clean shaven, as the last line of defence.	Medium
General dust and fibres from ceiling tiles, insulation, plasterboard, old dust in the ceiling void and debris disturbed during strip-out	Operatives: irritation of eyes, nose, throat and skin, and breathing problems with repeated exposure.	Dust extraction, supervisor monitoring.	4×3=12	Remove tiles and linings carefully by hand rather than breaking them up. Damp down lightly where suitable and bag debris at source. Use extraction at the point of dust creation, and a vacuum rather than brushing. Keep the exclusion zone closed and limit time in dusty areas (COSHH Regulations 2002; HSE CIS36). FFP3 disposable RPE, goggles and gloves as back-up.	Low
Uncontrolled collapse of partitions, ceiling grid, boxing or fixtures during demolition (falling debris, structure stability)	Operatives: crush injuries, struck by falling material, fatality. Other people entering the area.	Walls to be confirmed non-load-bearing, CCDO carded operatives, supervision.	3×5=15	Written confirmation from the Principal Contractor's designer that the partitions are non-load-bearing before any demolition, and that nothing above or beside relies on them. Demolish top-down in small controlled sections following the sequence in this method statement (CDM 2015, Regulation 22 on preventing danger from demolition and dismantling). Never pull over or undermine a complete wall. Keep a fall zone clear and marked, and work on one section at a time. Stop and review if any unexpected structure, a steel or a defect is found. Hard hats and safety boots as back-up.	Medium
Working at height at low level: removing ceiling grids, tiles, lights and services from podium steps or stepladders	Operatives: falls of up to about 2 to 3 metres causing fractures and head injuries. People below from dropped items.	CCDO carded operatives, supervision.	3×4=12	Work from podium steps or a low-level platform, not stepladders or makeshift access, where reasonably practicable (Work at Height Regulations 2005). Check equipment before use and keep it on firm, level ground clear of debris. Take work down to ground level where possible rather than reaching. Keep the area below clear of other people while overhead work is under way. Do not overreach. Do not use ladders as a work platform for heavy items. Hard hats as back-up.	Low
Manual handling of debris, plasterboard sheets, stud and rubble, and pushing and loading wheeled skips	Operatives: back, shoulder and arm injuries, sprains, crush injuries to hands and feet.	Wheeled skips, 4 operatives, trained operatives.	4×3=12	Reduce load size by breaking material into smaller sections, use wheeled skips and trolleys, and two-person lifts for bulky or heavy items (Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992). Keep the route to the skip level, clear and short. Rotate tasks and take breaks. Do not overfill wheeled skips. Gloves and safety boots as back-up.	Medium
Noise and hand-arm vibration from breakers, the reciprocating saw and other power tools	Operatives: hearing damage, tinnitus, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and others nearby affected by noise.	Rotation of operatives, RCD-protected 110V tools.	4×3=12	Use hand demolition methods where practical rather than breakers. Choose low-vibration, well-maintained tools and the right size of breaker for the job. Limit trigger time and rotate operatives across tasks. Keep the exclusion zone for noise and tell the Principal Contractor and neighbouring units when breaking starts. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 apply, with exposure times tracked by the supervisor. Hearing protection to the specification on the noise assessment, and anti-vibration gloves where suitable, as back-up.	Low
Cuts and puncture injuries from the reciprocating saw, sharp metal studs, track, nails, screws, broken glass and light fittings	Operatives: lacerations, eye injuries, puncture wounds.	Competent operatives, tools maintained, RCD-protected 110V supply.	3×3=9	Equipment inspected and used in line with PUWER 1998, with guards in place and the right blade for the material. Secure the work, keep hands clear of the blade path and cut away from the body. Bend over or remove protruding nails, screws and sharp edges as the wall is stripped. Put broken glass, tubes and sharps into a rigid container. Cut-resistant gloves, eye protection and safety boots as back-up.	Low
Slips, trips and falls on debris, cables, uneven floors, wet floors and trailing 110V leads	Operatives and anyone entering the unit: sprains, fractures, head injuries.	Protected routes to the skip, supervisor checks.	4×2=8	Housekeeping as the work progresses, with debris cleared to the skips at least every break and at the end of each shift. Keep leads off the floor on hooks or ramps and away from walkways. Keep the protected route to the skip clear and lit. Fix any area of wet floor and use adequate temporary lighting. Safety boots with slip-resistant soles as back-up.	Low
Fire: dust build-up, cutting sparks, combustible waste in skips, cable damage and an unfamiliar escape route	Operatives, other trades and neighbouring units: burns, smoke inhalation.	Permit to work, site cabin and canteen provided by the Principal Contractor.	2×4=8	No hot works planned. Any hot work needs a separate permit from the Principal Contractor. Keep combustible waste to a minimum and keep skips away from the building. Keep escape routes clear. Fit extinguishers close to the work area and carry out a briefing on the alarm and assembly point. Remove dust build-up regularly. Do not smoke in the unit. Fire-retardant coveralls are not normally needed.	Low
Vehicle movements and loading of skips: skip lorry delivery and collection, reversing and loading at the unit entrance and roller shutter, and the general trade park vehicle traffic	Operatives, trade park users and members of the public: being struck or run over, fatality.	Skips positioned by the Principal Contractor, protected routes to the skip.	2×5=10	Agree skip position, delivery and collection times and the vehicle route with the Principal Contractor before the start. Use a banksman to guide vehicles when a skip is delivered, loaded or collected. Segregate pedestrians from vehicles with barriers and cones. Keep the roller shutter area clear. High-visibility clothing as back-up.	Medium
Unauthorised entry and other people on site: Principal Contractor staff, other trades, neighbouring unit staff and visitors to the trade park entering the strip-out area	Other trades, neighbouring unit staff and visitors: exposure to dust and possible asbestos, falling debris, noise and tripping.	Unit is unoccupied, roller shutter and door, permit to work.	3×4=12	Keep the unit secured when unattended. Barrier and sign the exclusion zone and tell the Principal Contractor and neighbouring units when noisy and dusty work is under way. All visitors report to the supervisor and sign in. Only people on the permit are allowed in the strip-out area. Remove no barrier until the supervisor has signed the area off. Signs and barriers checked at the start of every shift.	Low

4. COSHH assessment

Built on COSHH 2002 regulations 6 and 7 and HSE guidance L5.

Check each entry against the supplier's Safety Data Sheet before work starts. Take workplace exposure limits from HSE EH40/2005.

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust from breaking out masonry, block, concrete, mortar, render or plaster partitions and fixings

Task or use: Created when the breakers, reciprocating saw or hand tools are used on any masonry, block, concrete, mortar, render or plaster partitions and fixings during the demolition and strip-out. Partition construction is to be confirmed with the Principal Contractor.
Route of exposure: Inhalation of fine dust. Also eye contact and skin contact. Ingestion if dust is left on hands or clothing.
Who could be harmed: Operatives doing the work and anyone nearby breathing the dust. Long-term exposure can cause silicosis, lung cancer and chronic lung disease.
Hazards: Fine silica dust can cause serious and irreversible lung disease. There is no SDS for dust created by the work, so use HSE CIS36 Construction dust and the guidance in HSE EH40/2005 for the hazards and the workplace exposure limit.
Controls: Plan the work to reduce breaking, cutting and drilling of masonry, for example by taking partitions out at joints and fixings where possible, and use hand demolition methods where practical.
On-tool extraction (M-class or H-class vacuum) or water suppression on every breaker, drill, chaser and saw used on masonry, block, concrete and plaster.
Limit the number of people in the area and the exposure time, rotating operatives. Keep others out of the exclusion zone.
Clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air. Bag dust and waste at source.
Check the effectiveness of the controls each shift and stop work if dust is visible in the air.
PPE: Respiratory protective equipment with an assigned protection factor of at least 20 (FFP3 disposable or equivalent), face-fit tested and worn clean shaven.
Disposable coveralls, removed and bagged before leaving the dust area.
Safety glasses or goggles to BS EN 166.
Gloves suitable for the task.
Storage and disposal: Collect dust and debris in sealed, labelled bags or the covered skip. Do not leave dust to build up. Dispose of waste through the Principal Contractor's licensed waste carrier and in line with the site waste plan.
First aid and spillage: Eyes: rinse with clean water for at least 10 minutes and get medical advice if irritation continues. Breathing difficulty: move to fresh air and seek medical help. Dust deposits: clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, never by dry sweeping.
Health surveillance: Respiratory health surveillance is needed for regular exposure to silica dust. Confirm with the employer's occupational health provider that the operatives' surveillance is in place and current. Report coughs and breathing problems to the supervisor.
Check against the Safety Data Sheet: Before work starts, confirm the masonry, block, concrete or plaster content of the partitions. Check HSE guidance CIS36 and the workplace exposure limit in HSE EH40/2005. Under COSHH Regulations 2002 and HSE L5 (the COSHH Approved Code of Practice), confirm the extraction and RPE specifications before work starts.

General construction dust from plasterboard, ceiling tiles, insulation and old dust in ceiling voids

Task or use: Created when removing suspended ceiling tiles and grid, taking plasterboard partitions apart and stripping out fixtures and linings.
Route of exposure: Inhalation of dust and fibres. Skin contact and eye contact. Ingestion if hands are not washed.
Who could be harmed: Operatives and anyone nearby. Dust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin, and repeated exposure can affect the lungs.
Hazards: Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin, and breathing problems with heavy or repeated exposure. Where the hazards depend on the specific material, check section 2 of the supplier's Safety Data Sheet. Take workplace exposure limits from HSE EH40/2005.
Controls: Remove tiles, boards and linings carefully and by hand rather than breaking them up, so less dust is made.
Use extraction at the point where the dust is made and damp down lightly where it is suitable to do so.
Bag debris at source and move it straight to the skip. Keep the area enclosed by the exclusion zone.
Limit the number of people and the time in dusty areas.
Clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, not dry sweeping or compressed air.
PPE: FFP3 disposable RPE, face-fit tested and worn clean shaven.
Safety goggles to BS EN 166.
Gloves and disposable coveralls.
Storage and disposal: Bag and seal debris at the point of work and place in the skip. Dispose of waste through the Principal Contractor's licensed waste carrier. Keep ceiling tiles and boards separate from any suspect material until the asbestos check has been cleared.
First aid and spillage: Eyes: rinse with clean water for at least 10 minutes and get medical advice if irritation continues. Skin: wash with soap and water. Breathing: move to fresh air and seek medical help if symptoms continue. Clean up dust with an H-class or M-class vacuum.
Health surveillance: None is expected for occasional exposure to general dust on this 4-day job. Operatives should report any breathing or skin problems to the supervisor.
Check against the Safety Data Sheet: Confirm from the supplier's Safety Data Sheet section 2 where the material is a manufactured product, and from HSE EH40/2005 for any workplace exposure limit. Confirm that the asbestos register or survey has cleared the ceiling tiles and linings before they are removed. Follow COSHH Regulations 2002 and HSE L5 (the COSHH Approved Code of Practice).

5. Plant & equipment

Reciprocating saw (110V, RCD-protected, blades suited to the material)
Breakers (110V electric, with on-tool extraction or water suppression)
Hand tools (bars, hammers, pry bars, snips, hand saws)
Wheeled skips for debris
Dust extraction (M-class or H-class vacuum), with H-class vacuum for clean-up
RCD-protected 110V supply, with leads on hooks off the floor
Podium steps for ceiling work, inspected before use
Voltage indicator and lock-off kit for the isolation permit

6. Materials / COSHH

No materials are brought onto site. The work creates respirable crystalline silica dust where masonry or plaster partitions are broken out, and general dust from plasterboard, ceiling tiles and insulation. Details are in the COSHH assessments. If suspect asbestos-containing material is found, work stops and it is handled under the asbestos stop-work rule.

7. PPE

Safety helmet to BS EN 397
Safety boots with steel toecap and midsole to BS EN ISO 20345
Cut-resistant gloves suitable for the task (BS EN 388)
Safety glasses or goggles to BS EN 166
Hearing protection to the noise assessment when using breakers (BS EN 352)
FFP3 disposable RPE, face-fit tested and worn clean shaven
Disposable coveralls where dust is created
High-visibility clothing to BS EN ISO 20471

8. Competence & training

All 4 operatives are CCDO carded and hold UKATA asbestos awareness training and valid face-fit tests. The supervisor, R. Okafor, holds a CCDO Black Card and SMSTS. Asbestos awareness training does not qualify anyone to work with or remove asbestos, so no operative will do so. Operatives are briefed on this RAMS, the permits and the asbestos stop-work rule before starting, and each signs the briefing record. The supervisor checks competence and cards at induction. Breaker operators are trained in the use of the tools and the control of noise and vibration.

9. Permits

Permit to work, issued by the Principal Contractor before the strip-out starts and only once the asbestos register or survey has been confirmed for the work area
Service isolation permit for electricity, gas and water, with lock-off, tagging and proving dead before work starts, and rechecked at the start of every shift

10. Access & egress

Access is through the existing unit entrance and roller shutter, with protected, barriered routes to the skip. Keep routes clear of debris, cables and tools. The shutter is secured when the unit is unattended. A clear escape route to the assembly point is kept open at all times. The vehicle route and skip position are agreed with the Principal Contractor before the start, and a banksman is used for skip deliveries and collections.

11. Welfare

Welfare is provided by the Principal Contractor: a site cabin with a WC and a canteen. Operatives wash hands and face before eating, drinking or smoking, and dusty coveralls are removed before entering the welfare area. Clean drinking water is available. The location of welfare is confirmed at induction.

12. First aid

A first aid kit is held on site and a first aider is identified at induction. The supervisor is the point of contact for incidents. Any injury, however minor, is reported and recorded in the accident book. Serious incidents and dangerous occurrences are reported to the Principal Contractor immediately and, where required, under RIDDOR. Eye wash is kept at the work area.

13. Emergency procedures

On the alarm or on being told to evacuate, stop work, isolate tools where safe to do so and go to the assembly point agreed at induction. The supervisor takes a head count. Call 999 for fire or serious injury and give the site address (Unit 5, Kingsway Trade Park, Sheffield S9 1H**). Gas leak: stop work, evacuate, do not use switches or phones inside, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Electric shock: do not touch the casualty until the supply is isolated, then call 999. Suspected asbestos: stop, keep people away, report to the supervisor and the Principal Contractor, and do not carry on until cleared. Unexpected collapse or instability: stop work, clear the area and inform the Principal Contractor.

14. Environmental

Waste is segregated at source into plasterboard, metal, ceiling tiles, fluorescent tubes and general waste, and collected by a licensed waste carrier arranged with the Principal Contractor, with waste transfer notes kept. Fluorescent tubes are kept whole and disposed of as hazardous waste. Any suspect asbestos material is kept separate and handled only by a suitably licensed or competent contractor. Dust is controlled by extraction and damping down so it does not spread to neighbouring units. Noise is minimised and work is kept to agreed hours. Drains are protected from dust and slurry, and water used for suppression is contained and not allowed into surface water drains.

This document was AI-generated as a drafting aid. It is not a substitute for professional health & safety advice. It must be reviewed, verified and made site-specific by a competent person before use, briefed to all operatives, and updated when site conditions or the method change. The provider accepts no liability for use of this document on site.

Demolition method statement: what it covers

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