• Confirm the refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey is complete before starting.
• Verify all electrical services are isolated and confirmed dead before stripping begins.
• Identify and protect all structural elements — do not remove load-bearing walls or columns.
• Use RPE and dust control measures when demolishing plasterboard, screed, or ceiling tiles.
• Wear hearing protection when using power tools in enclosed building spaces.
• Use mechanical aids and team lifts for heavy items like radiators and door frames.
• Segregate waste during soft strip — separate timber, metal, plasterboard, and hazardous waste.
• Provide safe access equipment for ceiling-level work — do not use improvised platforms.
• Maintain escape routes and fire exits clear throughout the soft strip operation.
• Brief the team daily on the sequence, known hazards, and any new findings discovered.

• DON'T begin soft strip without a completed asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey.
• DON'T cut cables or strip fittings until electrical isolation is confirmed and proved dead.
• DON'T remove any wall, column, or element that may be structural without authorisation.
• DON'T create dust clouds by dry demolishing plasterboard or screed without RPE and controls.
• DON'T work without hearing protection in enclosed spaces with demolition noise.
• DON'T manually lift heavy items like radiators alone — use a colleague or mechanical aid.
• DON'T mix hazardous waste with general waste — segregate correctly from the start.
• DON'T work at ceiling height from buckets, chairs, or stacked materials.
• DON'T block fire exits or escape routes with stripped-out materials and rubble.
• DON'T assume the building is safe because it looks empty — hidden hazards remain.

See also: Demolition Safety Awareness | Asbestos Awareness