Demolition Work: Safety Plan, Asbestos and Waste
A firm gets a job: demolish an old hall to make room for a new warehouse. The crew moves in with hammers, starts from the middle, cuts out whatever they can.
A firm gets a job: demolish an old hall to make room for a new warehouse. The crew moves in with hammers, starts from the middle, cuts out whatever they can. And suddenly a section of the floor slab that was holding up a wall comes down - because no one set the order of demolition. Demolition work looks simple ("we're knocking down, not building up"), yet it is one of the most dangerous types of construction work. On top of that there is asbestos in old buildings and a mountain of waste to account for. In this article I go through it step by step: what plan to prepare, how to demolish safely and what to do with the waste. If you would rather not write the demolition plan and IBWR (safe work procedure) from scratch, BudoReady gives you ready-made demolition documentation templates to fill in with your company's data.
Key points in brief
- Demolition requires a notification or a permit depending on the structure (Construction Law) - this is dealt with before the start.
- Demolition work is governed by the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 6 February 2003 - it is particularly hazardous work.
- Demolition is carried out from the top down, in a set order, so as not to disturb the stability of the structure.
- In old buildings, watch out for asbestos - it is a separate, strict procedure.
- Demolition waste (rubble, timber, scrap, asbestos) must be sorted and handed over to an authorised recipient, with records in the BDO (Polish waste database).
Before you start - notification or permit
Demolition is not "we roll in and knock it down". Depending on the structure, the Construction Law requires either a notification or a demolition permit. Simplifying: smaller, free-standing structures of low height that are not heritage-listed can often be demolished after a notification, while larger and more complex ones require a permit. Structures entered in the heritage register are a separate, harder route.
So before you reach for the hammer, check what your specific structure requires. Demolition without the required notification or permit is unauthorised building work - with consequences under the Construction Law, independent of OSH (occupational safety and health).
Demolition plan and OSH - particularly hazardous work
Demolition work is classified as particularly hazardous work. It is governed by the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 6 February 2003 on OSH during construction work. This means heightened requirements: direct supervision, an instruction briefing before starting, safeguards and a considered plan.
What the demolition plan must set out
- The order of demolition - from the top down, element by element, so as not to disturb the stability of what is still standing.
- The method - manual, mechanical (excavator with a demolition attachment), or mixed.
- Danger zones - fencing, marking, a ban on entering the fall zone.
- Protecting the surroundings - neighbouring buildings, roads, installations, bystanders.
- Disconnecting utilities - electricity, gas and water must be cut off before demolition.
The most dangerous mistake is demolishing "from the middle" or in a random order. A structure works as a whole - removing one load-bearing element can bring the rest down on people. That is why the order is crucial and must be set in advance.
IBWR and supervision - you do not start without them
Because demolition is particularly hazardous work, you need an IBWR (Safe Work Execution Procedure) for the specific structure. The IBWR describes step by step how to carry out this demolition safely - the order, methods, safeguards, and conduct in the event of a hazard. Alongside it, direct supervision of the works by an authorised person is required.
We set out when the IBWR is mandatory and what it must contain in the article IBWR - when it is mandatory. Demolition is one of the textbook cases where the inspector asks for the IBWR and the works plan.
Asbestos in an old building - double caution
This is a trap that is easy to forget in the heat of demolition. Old buildings often contain asbestos - corrugated asbestos-cement roofing, facade panels, insulation, pipes. You must not break this up with the rest and throw it in the rubble skip.
Asbestos is removed before the actual demolition, by a separate procedure: a firm prepared for asbestos removal, notification of the work (as a rule 7 days in advance), a work plan, securing the zone, limiting dust, and handing over asbestos waste to an authorised landfill. We described the whole procedure in the article hazardous substances and asbestos - safety data sheets. Ignoring asbestos during demolition is both a health danger and a serious breach.
Demolition waste - sorting and the BDO
Demolition produces mountains of material, and it does not disappear by itself. Construction and demolition waste has to be sorted and handed over to an authorised recipient, with records. As a waste producer you have obligations under the Waste Act.
| Type of waste | What to do |
|---|---|
| Rubble (concrete, brick, ceramics) | Sort, hand over for recovery/recycling or to a landfill |
| Timber, plastics | Sort, hand over to an authorised recipient |
| Scrap (steel, metals) | Hand over to a scrap-buyer / recycler |
| Asbestos | Hazardous waste - sealed packaging, KPO (waste transfer card), asbestos landfill |
| Other hazardous waste (tar, oils) | Separate records, authorised recipient |
Waste records and transfer cards (KPO) are kept in the BDO system (the Polish waste database). An inspector - not only the PIP (Polish Labour Inspectorate) but also the environmental protection inspectorate - can check where the demolition material ended up. "We took it somewhere" is not an answer that will hold up.
The documents you must have
The full set for demolition work:
- Demolition notification or permit - depending on the structure.
- Demolition plan / IBWR - order, methods, safeguards.
- Occupational risk assessment covering the risk of collapse, falling and crushing.
- BIOZ plan (health and safety plan) - where required.
- Asbestos documentation - notification, work plan, KPO - if there is asbestos in the building.
- Waste records in the BDO - waste transfer cards.
- Training and briefing cards - before hazardous work.
From 8 July 2026, the PIP reform tightens penalties - a fine of up to 5,000 zł, and demolition without a plan and supervision is grounds for stopping the work. Details are in the article PIP reform 2026 - what is changing.
Frequently asked questions
Does every demolition require a permit?
Not every one. Depending on the structure, the Construction Law requires either a notification or a demolition permit. Smaller, free-standing structures of low height can often be demolished after a notification, while larger and complex ones require a permit. Heritage structures are a separate, harder route. Check the requirement for your specific structure before starting.
In what order is demolition carried out?
As a rule from the top down, in a set order, so as not to disturb the stability of the elements still standing. A structure works as a whole, so randomly removing a load-bearing element can bring the rest down. The order is set in advance in the demolition plan and IBWR, and the work is carried out under direct supervision.
What to do with asbestos during demolition?
Asbestos is removed before the actual demolition, by a separate procedure - by a firm prepared for asbestos removal, after notifying the work (as a rule 7 days in advance) and drawing up a work plan. Asbestos waste must not be mixed with rubble; it is handed over as hazardous waste to an authorised landfill, with records in the BDO.
Do I have to keep records of demolition waste?
Yes. As a producer of construction and demolition waste you have obligations under the Waste Act - to sort it and hand it over to an authorised recipient, with records in the BDO system and waste transfer cards. The environmental protection inspectorate can check where the demolition material went.
Ready-made demolition documentation - the FULL package
The demolition plan, IBWR, risk assessment, waste documentation - you can put it together yourself or take the ready-made templates and enter the structure's data.
For demolition work the best choice is the FULL package (749 zł, 45 files) - the only one with a full set of IBWR for 6 types of work, including demolition. It contains the risk assessment, OSH instructions and training templates, in Polish and Ukrainian. For a smaller scope there is STANDARD (449 zł, 27 files) and STARTER (299 zł, 10 files), but the IBWR for demolition is only in FULL.
The promotion runs until 7 July 2026 - just before the PIP reform. See BudoReady packages and choose FULL: put the documentation together once and have peace of mind before the crew picks up the hammers.
This article is for information only and does not replace advice from an OSH (occupational safety and health) specialist or the current legal position. Document templates require individual adaptation to the reality of your company and specific workstations, and the current legal position should be verified as at the date of use.