Demolition Hazards & Precaution

Demolition Hazards & Precaution

Demolition is the dismantling, razing, destroying or wrecking of any building or structure or any part thereof. Demolition work involves many of the hazards associated with construction. However, demolition involves additional hazards due to unknown factors which makes demolition work particularly dangerous.

Demolition Hazards:-

Demolition involves the knocking down of buildings to clear ground, but it also includes smaller works in maintenance and renovation, such as the dismantling of parts of structures (e.g. one part of a steel-framed building) or the removal of walls (e.g. to create open-plan rooms). The hazards associated with demolition are very similar to those encountered in other types of building work, with a few additions.

Demolition hazards vary depending on the nature of the

 work, but typical hazards-

Ø Movement of vehicles.

    Noise and vibration.

Ø Hazardous substances from previous use of the building.

Ø Biological hazards from vermin or stagnant water.

Ø Sharp objects, including glass and nails from the demolition, or syringes left by trespassers.

Ø Manual handling.

Ø The premature collapse of structures.

Ø Work at height.

Ø Plant and machinery.

Ø Contact with live overheads.

Ø Contact with buried services

Demolition Hazards Control measures

Ø  Careful assessment and planning of the work to eliminate hazards where possible, e.g. selecting a demolition method that keeps workers away from the immediate area, such as a long-reach machine or a crane and ball.

Ø  Elimination or control of work at height.

Ø  Structural surveys to assess the strength and stability of the structure and adjacent structures; propping and supporting may be necessary to prevent collapse.

Ø  Assessing the strength and stability of floors to ensure that plant, machinery, and debris put on those floors do not exceed their tolerance.

Ø  Disconnection of services (e.g. gas, electricity, water).

Ø  Removal and disposal of any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, prior to demolition.

Ø  Securing the site with fencing or hoardings to create a buffer zone and exclude unauthorized people.

Ø  Damping down with water spray to reduce dust creation.

Points to be included in demolition during planning

v  Location of the building to be demolished.

v  Time duration required for the completion of demolition operation

v  Type of the building structure

v  Ground properties

v  Adjacent buildings and its strength

v  Procedure/Sequence of the demolition operation

v  Equipment requires for demolishing

v  Method of handling hazardous materials if any

v  Method of handling final debris