Demolition Safety

Demolition work involves many of the same hazards that arise during other construction activites.  However, demolition also involves additional hazards due to a variety of other factors.  Some of theese include: lead based paint, sharp or protruding objects and asbestos-containing material.

• Brace or shore up the walls and floors of structures which have been damaged and which employees must enter.
• Inspect personal protective equipment (PPE) before use.
• Select, wear and use appropriate PPE for the task.
• Inspect all stairs, passageways, and ladders; illuminate all stairways.
• Shut off or cap all electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines; notify appropriate utility companies.
• Guard wall openings to a height of 42 inches; cover and secure floor openings with material able to withstand the loads likely to be imposed.
• Floor openings used for material disposal must not be more than 25% of the total floor area.
• Use inclosed chutes with gates on the discharge end to drop demolition material to the ground or into debris containers.
• Demolition of exterior walls and floors must begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward.
• Structural or load-supporting members on any floor must not be cut or removed until all stories above that floor have been removed.
• All roof cornices or other ornamental stonework must be removed prior to pulling walls down.
• Employees must not be permitted to work where structural collapse hazards exist until they are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.

For mor complete information contact the U.S. Department of Labor at 800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov