02 — Construction Work
The site-application section. The Foundations are conceptual; this is what they look like on a build. Five topics covering the lifecycle from design intent to demolition, with housing-specific falls included because that's where most Saiyu work sits.
Topics in this section
| Topic | One-liner |
|---|---|
| [[general_construction_work]] | The umbrella code: $250k threshold, principal-contractor duties, WHS Management Plan, the 18 HRCW activities and SWMS rules, white-card induction. |
| [[safe_design_of_structures]] | Designer duty (s.22); eliminate hazards at design stage; safety report (Reg 295); information must reach the constructor. |
| [[demolition_work]] | Reverse construction; notifiable thresholds (≥ 6 m, suspended-floor plant, explosives); asbestos pre-check; services isolation; the 900 mm wall buffer rule. |
| [[excavation_work]] | > 1.5 m = HRCW; soil classification; benching/battering/shoring; spoil ≥ 1 m; ladder within 7.5 m; zone of influence and plant. |
| [[falls_in_housing_construction]] | NCC Class 1a/1b/10; the 2 m HRCW trigger; roof pitch thresholds (≤ 26°/> 26°/> 35°); ladder rules; void protection. |
When to use this section
- Tendering or scoping any project — confirm the $250k principal-contractor threshold and what that triggers.
- Pre-mobilisation — collect SWMS, white cards, induction sign-off, services info.
- Pre-demolition / pre-excavation — go through the relevant topic's pre-checks before site setup.
- Roof / framing weeks — open [[falls_in_housing_construction]] on phone for the day's stage.
- Designer hand-off — verify safety report received, safety info passed to all subs.
Related sections
- §01 [[01 - Foundations/_section_overview|Foundations]] — risk process, consultation, glossary.
- §03 [[03 - Falls and Heights/_section_overview|Falls and Heights]] — generic falls (non-housing, multi-storey, maintenance).
- §04 Plant & Electrical (Phase 3) — plant near excavations, EWPs, energised services.
- §07 Dust & Asbestos (Phase 4) — asbestos pre-check details for renovation/demolition.
Notes on currency
- General construction work, demolition, excavation, falls in housing, generic falls — current SWA model editions at 2026-04-27 (Oct 2018 baseline; some superseded — see individual topic pages).
- Safe design of structures — source PDF October 2018; SWA published a November 2024 model edition. Re-verify before relying on legal detail.
- From 1 July 2026: complying with this Code (or equivalent/higher) becomes a positive duty.