Demolition Safety Tips
Demolition work involves many of the same hazards that arise during other construction activities. However, demolition also involves additional hazards due to a variety of other factors. Some of these include: lead-based paint, sharp or protruding objects and asbestos-containing material.
Prevent Falls
- 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 enclosed 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 more complete information:
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Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration |
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA
OSHA 3290-10N-05
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