Performing demolition safely is a tough challenge. Two key elements in meeting it successfully are conscientious preparation, and - as with most OSHA matters - paying attention. OSHA\'s demolition standards are largely (but not entirely)
within 29 C.F.R. 1926, subpart T, \"Demolition.\" Of particular
importance is § 1926.850, \"Preparatory Operations.\" Neglecting prescribed pre-demolition measures often results in
OSHA citations. Before employees are permitted to start demolition
operations: Identifying the presence and location of lead, asbestos, and
other hazardous substances is an important part of the pre-demolition
survey. If \"any type of hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives,
flammable materials, or similarly dangerous substances\" has been used in
\"any pipes, tanks, or other equipment on the property,\" or is even
suspected of being present, testing and purging must precede actual
demolition. The failure to comply with this requirement is another
frequently-cited OSHA violation. All utility service lines must be shut
off, capped, or otherwise controlled, and the service providers
notified. If any power, water, or other utilities are to be maintained
during demolition, the lines must be temporarily relocated and
protected. Another key component of the survey is identifying the
structure\'s weak points. OSHA frequently cites employers for failing to
provide shoring or bracing for walls, to prevent premature collapse.
Where the structure to be demolished has been damaged by fire, flood,
explosion or other cause, the walls and/or floor must be shored or
braced, as appropriate. Another often-neglected precaution is the erection of an
overhead shed and/or canopy to provide safe entrance into the structure
to be demolished, and protection from falling objects. Any multistory
building must be protected for a minimum of 8 feet from the perimeter of
the building. All canopies shall be at least two feet wider than the
building entrances or openings (1 foot wider on each side) and capable
of sustaining a load of 150 pounds per square foot The #1 cause of construction injuries - fall hazards - is very
much present on demolition projects. Wherever a hazard exists to
employees falling through wall openings, each opening must be protected
to a height of approximately 42\". Since demolition operations are subject to the fall protection
standards of Subpart M, note that employees on walking/working surfaces
must be protected from falling through holes (a \"hole\" being defined as
\"a gap or void 2\" or more in its least dimension\") more than 6\' above
lower levels, by covers, guardrail systems, or personal fall arrest
systems. Covers are required, also, to protect against objects falling
through holes. Floor openings not used as material drops \"shall be
covered over with material substantial enough to support the weight of
any load which may be imposed,\" the covering to be \"properly secured to
prevent its accidental movement.\" As guardrails are a preferred means of fall protection in
building interiors, you should become intimately familiar with the
provisions of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502. In addition to other, technical
requirements, guardrails must be capable of withstanding, without
failure, a force of at least 200 lbs., applied within 2\" of the top edge
in any outward of downward direction. Access ways to the structure of the building are to be entirely
closed at all times, excepting designated stairways, passageways and
ladders. These must be periodically inspected, and maintained in a
clean safe condition. Where a stairwell is being used in a multistory
building, it must be properly illuminated, and completely and
substantially covered over at a point not less than two floors below the
floor on which work is being performed. Access to the floor where
demolition is in progress shall be through a properly-lighted,
protected, and separate passageway. Where debris is to be dropped through holes in the floor,
without the use of chutes, the area onto which the material will be
dropped must be completely enclosed, with barricades not less than 42\"
high, and not less than 6\' back from the projected edge in the opening
above. Signs warning of the hazard of falling materials must be posted
at each level. The removal of debris from the lower area shall not be
permitted, until debris handling above has stopped. Where chutes are employed, the chute openings must be protected
by a guardrail about 42\" above the floor, and any gap between the chute
and the edge of openings in the floors through which it passes must be
solidly covered over. Except at ground level, chute openings must be
kept closed when not in use. No material may be dropped to any point
lying outside the structure\'s exterior walls, unless the area is
effectively protected. Where material is deposited into chutes by
wheelbarrows or mechanical equipment, a securely-attached toeboard or
bumper, at least 4\" thick and 6\" high, must be provided at each chute
opening. At the top of this article, I mentioned that in addition to
careful preparation, \"paying attention\" is a major component of
demolition safety. The regulations codify a number of requirements
where watchfulness is needed. To cite just a few examples: \"a
substantial gate shall be installed in each chute at or near the
discharge end. A competent employee shall be assigned to control the
operation of the gate, and the backing and loading of trucks.\"/p>
Where floor arches are being removed, \"employees shall not
be allowed in the area directly underneath, and such an area shall be
barricaded to prevent access to it.\" Notwithstanding that the lower
level has been closed off, it\'s necessary to confirm that no one is
present there, before the arch removal proceeds. Where balling or clamming is being performed, \"no workers shall
be permitted in any area, which can be adversely affected.\" Only
workers necessary for the performance of the operations may be permitted
in the affected area at any other time. As demolition proceeds, \"continuing inspections by a competent
person shall be made . . . 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.\" Since demolition (not involving explosives) consists
essentially of workers tearing down a structure from the inside, and
entails many potentially hidden hazards and tons of debris being dropped
through floors or chutes, it\'s a hazardous undertaking indeed. In addition to observing specific regulations like the few just
mentioned, you need leadership from your supervisory personnel, and
trained workers who will communicate with one another, and with
supervisors, regarding dangers observed. The cost of lapses can be great. In one recent case, a bobcat
collecting debris on the 19th floor of a building being demolished
struck a steel beam concealed under concrete rubble. The beam was
propelled through the parapet wall, causing a twenty-foor-long section
of the wall to collapse into a pit outside the structure. Ordinarily,
radio communications were used to ensure that no one was in the pit when
work was in progress above. Unfortunately, that precaution was not
carried out, and a flagger who was chatting with a driver who had backed
his truck into the area to remove debris were killed when the parapet
wall collapsed onto them....an engineering survey shall be made, by a
competent person, of the structure to determine the condition of the
framing, floors, and walls, and possibility of unplanned collapse of any
portion of the structure. Any adjacent structure where employees may
be exposed shall also be similarly checked. The employer shall have in
writing evidence that such a survey has been performed.
If you would like more information regarding this topic please contact Thomas H. Welby at twelby@wbgllp.com or call (914) 428-2100