SAFETY IN DEMOLITION

presented by

Engr. Alexander B. Trillana

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OSH Consultant
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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
GENERAL

• REGULATIONS AND CODES: Where

applicable all ordinances governing any and
all phases of demolition work shall be
observed at all times.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
PLANNING
• Before the start of every demolition job, the
demolition contractor should take a number of steps
to safeguard the health and safety of workers at the
job site.

• These preparatory operations involve the overall

planning of the demolition job, including the
methods to be used to bring the structure down and
the equipment necessary to do the job.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
PLANNING
• No employee shall be permitted in any area
that can be adversely affected when
demolition operations are being performed.
• Only those employees necessary for the
performance of the Demolition shall be
permitted in these areas.

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ENGINEERING SURVEY.
• Prior to starting all demolition operations, OSHA
Standard 1926.850(a) requires that an engineering
survey of the structure must be conducted by a
competent person.
• The purpose of this survey is to determine the
condition of the framing, floors, and walls so that
measures can be taken, if necessary, to prevent the
premature collapse of any portion of the structure.

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ENGINEERING SURVEY.
• When indicated as advisable, any adjacent
structure(s) or improvements should also be similarly
checked. Photographing existing damage in
neighboring structures is also advisable
• During the preparation of the engineering survey, the
contractor should plan for potential hazards such as
fires, cave-ins, and injuries to workers.

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UTILITY LOCATION.

• One of the most important elements of the

pre-job planning is the location of all utility
services.
• All electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and
other services lines should be shut off,
capped, or otherwise controlled, at or outside
the building before demolition work is started.

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UTILITY LOCATION.
• If it is necessary to maintain any power, water,
or other utilities during demolition, such lines
shall be temporarily relocated as necessary
and / or protected.
• The location of all overhead power sources
should also be determined, as they can prove
especially hazardous during any machine
demolition.

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MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID.

• Prior to starting work, provisions should be made for

prompt medical attention in case of serious injury.
The job supervisor should be provided with
instructions for the most direct route to these
facilities.
• Proper equipment for prompt transportation of an
injured worker, as well as communication system to
contact any necessary ambulance service, must be
available at the job site.

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MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID.
• A properly stocked first aid kit as determined
by an occupational physician, must be
available at the job site. The contents of the
kit shall be checked before being sent out on
each job and at least weekly to ensure the
expended items are replaced.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
POLICE AND FIRE CONTACT.
• The telephone numbers of the local police,
ambulance, and fire departments should be
available at each job site.
• This information can prove useful to the job
supervisor in the event of any traffic
problems, such as the movement of
equipment to the job, uncontrolled fires, or
other police / fire matters.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.

• A “Fire Plan" should be set up prior to beginning a

demolition job. Common sense should be the general
rule in all fire prevention planning as follows:

– All potential sources of ignition should be

evaluated and the necessary corrective measures
taken.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.
– Electrical wiring and equipment for
providing light or power should be installed
by a competent person and inspected
regularly.
– Sufficient fire fighting equipment should be
located near any flammable or combustible
liquid storage area.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.
• Smoking should be prohibited at or in the vicinity of
hazardous operations or materials.
• Where smoking is permitted, safe receptacles shall
be provided.
• An ample number of fully charged portable fire
extinguishers should be provided throughout the
operation.
• All motor-driven mobile equipment should be
equipped with an approved fire extinguisher.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT:
HAND GLOVES
shall be worn
during demolition
activities.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION

• HARDHATS or
HELMETS shall be
worn by all
workmen exposed
to the danger of
falling objects.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• GOGGLES: Approved type safety goggles or
spectacles shall be worn to protect the eyes
against injury from flying objects and from dirt
or dust blown by the wind.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• EARMUFF or
EAR PLUG:
Workers using
jackhammers
shall wear
approved Ear
protections.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION

PROTECTION OF EYES: Face

Shield shall be used during
Grinding Work.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• PROTECTION OF EYES:
Where it is necessary
to do any burning or
cutting with
acetylene, the
workmen so engaged
shall wear Welding
Mask / Goggles of
approved type.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• SAFETY SHOES:
shall be worn by all
workers to protect
their feet.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• FULL BODY HARNESS:
shall be worn by
workers working @
height and shall be
Tied on strong
materials or to
approved Lifeline.

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
SAFE WORK PRACTICE:
a. When hand demolition is required, it should be
carried out from a working platform.
– Experienced Scaffolders must install a self-supporting
tubular scaffold, suspended platform around the
structure.
– It is essential that there be adequate working clearance
between the structure and the work platform.
– Access to the top of the scaffold should be provided by
means of portable walkways.

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• OVERLOADING: No structure or part of the
structure of any floor or temporary support or
scaffold, sidewalk, shed or bridge or any
device or piece of equipment shall be loaded
in excess of its safe carrying capacity.

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REMOVAL OF WALLS:
• ORDER OF DEMOLITION: Demolition of exterior
walls and floor construction shall begin at the top of
the structure and proceed downward.
OVERLOADING FLOORS:
• Masonry walls or other sections of masonry shall
not be permitted to fall upon the floors of the
building in masses that exceed the safe carrying
capacity of the floors.

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• ILLUMINATIONS: During the hours of darkness,
Flashing red lights or Reflectorized Warning Devices
or Signboards shall be placed on or about all
barricades.
• WATCHMEN: When operations are not in progress, a
watchman shall be stationed to prevent the public
from entering the danger zone and to maintain all
Signboards, Lights, and Barricades.
• GLASS: Glazed Sashes and Glazed Doors and other
Glass Fixtures shall be removed before demolition
work is started.

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• SHORING: If structure to be demolished is
considered not secured, then the walls shall
be shored or braced in accordance with the
requirements of the authorities having
jurisdiction or in accordance with accepted
engineering practice before any demolition
work is started

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DEBRIS CLEARANCE.
• If machines are used for removal of debris, proper
overhead protection for the operator should be used.
• The foreman should determine when debris is to be
removed, halt all demolition during debris removal,
and make sure the area is clear of cleanup workers
before continuing demolition.
• Excessive debris should not be allowed to accumulate
inside or outside the structure as the excess weight of
the debris can impose pressure on the wall of the
structure and might cause to collapse.

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REMOVAL OF MATERIALS:
• DROPPING MATERIAL: No material shall be dropped
to any point lying outside the exterior walls of the
building except through enclosed wooden or metal
chutes.
• GATE AT CHUTE: A strong gate shall be installed in
each chute at or near the discharge end and a
reliable employee shall be designated to control the
gate and the backing up and loading of trucks.

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• PROTECTION OF PASSERBY: A designated
employee shall be instructed to prevent any
person from standing or passing under the
discharge end of the chute.
• Provide Barricade and signboard.

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SAFE WORK PRACTICES WHEN WORKING IN
CONFINED SPACES.

• Demolition contractors often come in contact with

confined spaces when demolishing structure at
industrial sites.

These confined spaces can be generally categorized

in two major groups:
1). Those with open tops and a depth that
restricts the natural movement of air and

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SIDEWALK SHEDS:
• PUBLIC THOROUGH FARES: Before any demolition
work is commenced every sidewalk or public
thoroughfare adjacent to the work site shall either be
closed or protected as specified. Such thoroughfares,
which are open to the public, shall be kept clear and
unobstructed at all times.
• ILLUMINATION: Sidewalk shed shall be lighted either
by natural or artificial means sufficient to ensure
safety of passerby at all times.

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• TAGLINES: A tagline or guide rope should be used on
all hoisted or lowered loads.
• RIDING LOAD: The riding of the load line in any lifting
device is prohibited.
• LIFTING OF ACETYLENE OR OXYGEN CYLINDERS:
Whenever acetylene or oxygen cylinders are
transported or lifted by crane or derrick, such
cylinders shall be placed in substantial stands or
cradles in an upright position.

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 Chain

Cylinders are not protected from falling. Note

that the Chain is not secured across.
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Unsecured
cylinder

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Unsecured Cylinder

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 Free standing cylinders

Chain

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 SAFETY IN DEMOLITION
• SWINGING BEAMS: No beams shall be cut
until precautions have been taken to prevent
it from swinging freely and possibly striking
any worker or any piece of equipment or any
part of the structure being demolished.
• LOWERING STEEL: All structural steel shall be
lowered from the building, it shall never be
allowed to drop.

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CHEMICAL HAZARDS:
- In different forms (air borne as Dust,
Fumes, Vapors, Gases from materials as
Cement Powder, Organic Solvent, Tar
etc.).
- Illness linked with construction
chemical hazards are silicosis,
Asbestosis, Lead poisoning, Allergies, etc.

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OTHER HAZARDS:
• NOISE: from sources as vehicles, air compressors, cranes,
pneumatic hammers, power saws, etc.

• VIBRATION: occur with Pneumatic Hammers, Concrete or

Rock Breaker, Hand and Power Tools, etc.

• HEAT: Roofers are exposed to sun, working beside Hot

Engines, Heated pots of tar etc.

• ILLUMINATION: Workers are working without proper

illumination during nighttime activities or Lightings are not
properly aimed.

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OTHER HAZARDS:
• FALLS: due to unstable footing, unguarded holes,
slips off scaffolding or ladders, etc.

• MANUAL HANDLING: leading to Back problems,

Hernia etc.

• SOCIAL PROBLEMS: due to intermittent & constantly

changing pattern of life of demolition workers.

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 END OF MODULE:
SAFETY IN DEMOLITION

THANK YOU

presented by

Engr. Alexander B. Trillana

94
OSH Consultant