Demolition Safety OSHA Sheet Highlights Hazards

October 23 2012 - OSHA  provides some very useful pointers for anyone planning to perform demolition work. Always remember to do an inspection for hazardous materials and asbestos containing materials prior to demolition work and to abate these hazards properly.

Demolition Safety
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: leadbased 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 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.

Mechanical Demolition OSHA Fact Sheet

October 10 2012 - OSHA provides these recommendations in their fact sheet entitled "Demolition and Cleanup" for Mechanical Demolition.

• No workers shall be permitted in any area when using a crane’s headache ball or clamshell to remove debris. Only those workers necessary to perform such operations must be permitted in this work area at any time.
• The weight of the demolition ball must not exceed 50 percent of the crane’s rated load. The crane boom and loadline must be as short as possible. The ball must be attached to the loadline with a swivel-type connection to prevent twisting of the loadline, and it must be attached by positive means in such a manner that the weight cannot become accidentally disconnected.
• When pulling over walls or portions thereof, all steel members affected must have previously been cut free. All roof cornices or other such ornamental stonework must be removed prior to pulling walls over.
• During demolition, continuing inspections by a competent person shall be made as the work progresses to detect hazards resulting from weakened or deteriorated floors, or walls, or loosened material. No employee shall be permitted to work where such hazards exist until they are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.

read more at OSHA

OSHA Engineering Survey Required Before Demolition Starts

October 14 2012 - On the OSHA website it states that 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.

Engineering Survery

Prior to starting all demolition operations, OSHA Standard 29 CFR 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. When indicated as advisable, any adjacent structure(s) or improvements should also be similarly checked. The demolition contractor must maintain a written copy of this survey. Photographing existing damage in neighboring structures is also advisable.

The engineering survey provides the demolition contractor with the opportunity to evaluate the job in its entirety. The contractor should plan for the wrecking of the structure, the equipment to do the work, manpower requirements, and the protection of the public. The safety of all workers on the job site should be a prime consideration. During the preparation of the engineering survey, the contractor should plan for potential hazards such as fires, cave-ins, and injuries.

If the structure to be demolished has been damaged by fire, flood, explosion, or some other cause, appropriate measures, including bracing and shoring of walls and floors, shall be taken to protect workers and any adjacent structures. It shall also be determined if any type of hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable material, or similar dangerous substances have been used or stored on the site. If the nature of a substance cannot be easily determined, samples should be taken and analyzed by a qualified person prior to demolition.

All safety equipment needs should be determined. The required number and type of respirators, lifelines, warning signs, safety nets, special face and eye protection, hearing protection, and other worker protection devices outlined in this manual should be determined during the preparation of the engineering survey. A separated comprehensive plan is necessary for any confined space entry.

First Step in the Demolition Process - Asbestos Survey

October 13 2012 - One of the first steps in the demolition of a property, building or structure is to perform an asbestos survey. 

• NESHAP requires a thorough inspection for the presence of asbestos prior to the start of all renovations and/or demolitions of any “facility”.  

• The US EPA requires asbestos inspections and agency notification prior to most building renovations and demolitions. Further, OSHA requires that building owners provide employees, contractors, and tenants with information concerning the presence and locations of asbestos-containing materials in buildings.

Three D Enterprises, LLC can assist clients to find a licensed asbestos sampling and survey firm and develop an approach and costs to properly and safely abate the ACM (asbestos containing materials)