Demolition, though necessary is a dangerous part of building construction. It comes with many health and safety risks that need to be addressed for the welfare of the project and crew. In construction demolition, there is a difference between hazard and risk and both are equally important. A hazard is something such as an object that can cause harm. A risk is the chance that the object will cause harm. The building contractor needs to make a thorough risk assessment to look for both risks and hazards. Control measures are then implemented to prevent any accident that could be fatal. Hazards cannot be avoided but the risks that they pose can be prevented.

What is the difference between hazard and risk?

A hazard can be any physical object or entity such as heavy machinery, pipelines, gas, and the building itself. These have the potential to cause harm such as injuries and disease. It can be weather, toxins, and biochemical waste. Despite precautionary measures, they can still pose as risks. A risk is the chance that these dangerous objects can cause physical injury to crews. They can endanger the health of the demolition staff. Many hazards in construction and demolition are unavoidable. You need the machinery. The damaged building will need demolishing. You cannot avoid it. You need to neutralize the health risks that arise from such hazards during the demolition operation.

A building contractor first needs to make a thorough risk assessment to look for both risks and hazards. Control measures are then implemented to prevent any accident or an incident that could be fatal.

Different types of demolition methods and the risk involved

Manual demolition: This too includes the risks of falling objects and demolished walls. It includes manual handling of equipment and exposure to dust and noise. Manual demolition includes the use of explosives that are a high-risk hazard. Untrained handling of explosives can cause fatalities.

Manual roof demolition: This poses a risk of cave-ins that can cause the fall of workers. Roofs include chimneys and spires which need to be demolished by hand. This makes them high-risk objects.

Wall demolition: The biggest risk of demolishing walls is a partial collapse of a wall injuring workers and damaging equipment. Asbestos within walls can pose a high-risk to the health of workers

Manual floor demolition:  If too much load is placed on the floors, it can collapse.  Without reinforcing steel below the floors, workers can even fall through floors.

Mechanical demolition:  This demolition uses powered mobile plants such as cranes, loaders, bulldozers and excavating equipment. Injuries from equipment are not likely and only trained staff should operate them. In mechanical demolition, workers need to be careful of tensioned tendons in the concrete which can cause damage to property. Complex lift shafts needs preliminary evaluation and assessment before demolition.

How to make a good risk assessment

While a good building contractor will make sure demolition safety hazards are considered for safe work, there will be huge risks. One big risk is the likelihood of a wall or structure collapse. There are demolition hazards which unlike risks are physically present in a project site. Safety measures need to be implemented for the good of crews and staff involved.  A project manager’s main job is to organize such measures to decrease the hazards and risks for safe work. The first stage of risk assessment includes:

Look for the hazards that include:

• A collapse of an unplanned structure
• workers falling from a height
• Falling objects which can injure
• Location of the essential services
• Exposure to dangerous chemicals
• Noise pollution from explosives
• The location of other buildings to the demolition project
• potential fire hazards
• Faults in electrical and gas lines
• Exposure to silica dust
• Heavy machinery such as a wrecking ball
• Environmental hazards such as heat or cold temperatures

Besides these main hazards that pose as potential risks of demolition work, there are several microbiological hazards too that include:

• Birds and Rats
• Biochemical agents
• Used syringes and needles
• Horsehair plaster or Anthrax
• Sewage can cause tetanus

Assessing the risks of the demolition

A risk assessment is necessary for any demolition project that includes manual and mechanical methods. This helps in finding out what control measures need to be implemented.

• Identifying any construction worker who needs protection for occupational safety, and health
• The strength and load-bearing capacity of the structure for demolishing
• What are the precautions and control measures that can be taken
• The layout of the demolition space
• The risks involved when working in confined spaces
• What equipment and plant machinery can be used?
• The technical skill of workers
• What environmental risks will works face such as UV exposure from sunlight?
• Study manufacturer’s data and supplies to find safety information and guidelines of products
• Speaking to crew workers for their input and advice based on their experience
• The different protection clothing that can be used during demolition
• What will be the schedule of work best suited for minimizing risks of demolition?
• Browsing the Chicago city web sites for guidelines on safety, and risk assessment

Who can make a risk assessment?

It is a building contractor or a trained specialist from the crew who can make a risk assessment. The person needs sound technical knowledge of the work, factors of demolition and the risks involved. He should have the experience to identify the hazards and know the accidents that can happen because of them. He should be familiar with OSHA standards. OSHA is the Act created by the Occupational Safety, and Health Administration. It requires work projects with high risks to enforce safety measures in the workplace. OSHA will give you information, guidelines, and training to help you understand the process of risk management better.

We are ECG, we are safety first.

This field definitely needs some expert hands and skill. So, have you decided on what type of project you need? Make sure you research on this for a while before coming up with a decision.

We pride ourselves in providing Demolition, Abatement and Environmental Services you can depend on. (Concrete cutting, coring, green demolition, disinfection and sterilization cleaning services, asbestos abatement and more)

Contact us to get started on your next project, Call us: 562-438-7999.