BPS4713

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
Lecture 7 : Demolition works

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the class, it is expected that
student will be able to:
LO1: Identify hazards on demolition works
LO2: Determine suitable controls when
performing demolition works

INTRODUCTION
Demolition is one of the most hazardous construction
operations -responsible for more deaths and major injuries
than any other activity
If a demolition project is well planned the risks of injury
and death can be minimized
The planning and execution of a demolition project should
only be done by appropriately competent persons
The work should be supervised by someone with sufficient
knowledge of the particular structure being dismantled
Expert advice from structural engineers will be necessary

Demolition in progress

HAZARDS OF DEMOLITION WORK

Falls from height or on the same level

Falling debris
Premature collapse of the structure being demolished
Dust and fumes
The silting up of drainage systems by dust
The problems arising from spilt fuel oils
Manual handling
Presence of asbestos and other hazardous substances
Noise and vibration from heavy plant and equipment
Electric shock
Fires and explosions from the use of flammable and explosive substances
Smoke from burning waste timber
Pneumatic drills and power tools
The existence of services, such as electricity, gas and water
Collision with heavy plant
Plant and vehicles overturning

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Reg 99 (Warning Signs): Danger sign shall be posted at
conspicuous place, property shall be barricaded and
proper lighting provided.
Reg 100 (Preparation): All glass in exterior shall be
removed. All utilities supplies shall be shut off and
capped, and authorities to be notified.
Reg 101 (Protection of Adjacent Structures): Walls of
adjacent structure shall be examined; demolition cannot
proceed if examination found unsafe until proper means
have been taken to ensure safety and stability.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Reg 102 (Demolition of walls): Shall proceed in
systematic manner (remove beams before support);
proper footing for workers.
Reg 103 (Inspection): Continuing inspection to
detect any hazard to workers.
Reg 104 (Method of Preparation): Debris etc shall
be removed by means of chutes or through opening
in the floors.
Reg 105 (Access to Floor): Safe access and egress

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Reg 106 (Opening in Floors): Every opening shall be
provided with enclosure and barricaded.
Reg 107 (Demolition of Structural Steel): Shall be
demolished column length by column length and tier by
tier.
Reg 108 (Storage of Materials): Materials not to be
stored on temporary platforms, floors or stairways.
Reg 109 (Barricades etc): Every sidewalk should be
barricaded, catch platforms to be provided and warning
signs to be posted.

PRE-DEMOLITION INVESTIGATION
& SURVEY
The owner of a property is required to provide the
demolition contractor with a pre-demolition investigation
and survey
A full site investigation must be made by a competent
person determine the hazards and associated risks
which may affect the demolition workers and the public
Competent person - a specialist structural engineer who
will also advise on the temporary support of adjacent
buildings and the correct method of dismantling or
demolition

ASPECTS UNDER INVESTIGATION

The construction details of the structures or buildings to be demolished (including the

materials used, fragile roofs, rot, the presence of cantilevered structures and any general
weaknesses)
Neighboring structures or buildings
The previous use of the premises
The load carrying capacity of adjoining land including
The presence of underground culverts
The need for possible temporary support structures for the building being demolished and
adjoining buildings
Falls of materials and people
The location of any dangerous machinery
The presence of asbestos, lead or other hazardous or radioactive substances and any
associated health risks
Environmental issues, such as dust, water pollution and noise
The name of the planning supervisor.
Public safety including the provision of high fencing or hoardings
Manual handling issues
The location of any underground or overhead services (water, electricity, gas and sewage)

PRE-DEMOLITION INVESTIGATION
& SURVEY
Details of the construction structure of building to be
demolished would include whether it was built of brick, prestressed concrete, reinforced concrete or steel
Important to consult with legal advisers to ensure that
there are no legal covenants or disputes which could affect
operations on the site
The planning supervisor must notify local authorities of the
proposed demolition work- a written risk assessment of the
structure to be demolished

PRE-DEMOLITION INVESTIGATION
& SURVEY
The site manager should arrange for suitable plant and
equipment to be provided so that the work can be
executed to the standards required by health and safety
legislation
Issues of public protection, local traffic management and
possible road closures avoid by notifying the local
authority
The provision of temporary access roads, welfare facilities,
office accommodation, fuel storage and plant maintenance
facilities on site - considered at the planning stage.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Environmental monitoring may need to be carried out in certain situations
Some of the most common hazardous substances in demolition work
include:
lead is most dangerous when it is in the air as a fume or dust (e.g. cutting
steelwork coated with lead-based paint or dismantling of tanks containing leadbased petrol)
asbestos where possible it should be removed before any other demolition work
starts and must always be removed by a licensed contractor. Asbestos may be
found in sprayed coatings, thermal and acoustic insulation materials, fire resistant
walls/partitions, asbestos cement sheets or flooring materials
PCBs a toxic substance found in electric transformers and capacitors,
refrigeration and heating equipment
silica occurs in stone, some bricks and concrete aggregate. Any demolition of
structures constructed from these materials will give rise to dust containing silica.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Residues of hazardous substances may also create
a hazard to demolition workers
Storage tanks, vessels, pipes and other confined
spaces may contain flammable vapours or toxic
sludges formerly used in industrial or chemical
processes

DEMOLITION METHOD STATEMENT

There are two forms of demolition:
piecemeal where the demolition is done using hand and mechanical
tools such as pneumatic drills, cranes and demolition balls, hydraulic
pusher arms or heavy duty grabs
deliberate controlled collapse where explosives are used to
demolish the structure. This technique should only be used by
trained, specialist competent persons. This is the most economic form
of demolition but it is the most hazardous and everyone must be at a
safe distance at the time of the collapse

A risk assessment should be made by the contractor

undertaking the demolition
This risk assessment will be used to draw up a method
statement for inclusion in the health and safety plan.

DEMOLITION METHOD STATEMENT

Content of method statement:
details of the method of demolition to be used - the means of preventing
premature collapse or the collapse of adjacent buildings, and the safe
removal of debris from upper levels to prevent overloading due to the debris
details of site access and security
details of the location of any underground or overhead services
details of protection from falling materials arrangements
details of equipment, including access equipment, required and any
hazardous substances to be used
arrangements for the protection of the public and the construction workforce
against noise and whether hazardous substances, such as asbestos or other
dust, are likely to be released
details of the isolation methods for any services which may have been
supplied to the site and any temporary services required on the site

PRIOR TO DEMOLITION
The isolation of all services (gas, electricity and water) which feed
the site is essential before any demolition takes place
Proper arrangements must be made with a reputable waste disposal
contractor for the disposal of demolition waste
The site should be made secure with relevant signs posted to warn
members of the public of the dangers
Asbestos containing material requires special care and will only be
dismantled by a licensed contractor
A safe system of work is developed for demolition which ensures that
people are distanced as far as possible from the demolition area.
Glass must be removed from all windows before demolition starts

HEALTH & SAFETY PLAN

Should include the following:
the co-ordination of and provision of information to other
contractors
risk assessments and other statutory assessments
emergency procedures
health and safety monitoring arrangements
site rules
welfare arrangements
the provision of information and training to the workforce
consultation arrangements with the workforce.

DEMOLITION USING EXPLOSIVES

An exclusion zone must be established at a distance
from and surrounding the structure to be demolished
An exclusion zone comprises four areas:
1. The plan area of the structure to be demolished
2. The designed drop area where the bulk of the structure is
designed to drop
3. The predicted debris area which is beyond the design drop
area and where the rest of the debris is predicted to drop
4. The buffer area between the predicted debris area and the
boundary of the exclusion zone.

DEMOLITION USING EXPLOSIVES

Competent person with responsibility for designing
the exclusion zone is the explosive engineer.
Member of the public must be kept outside the
exclusion zone until the all clear is given.
Any house within the zone must be evacuated and
provision for welfare of evacuees must also be made.
Local authorities including police should be informed
of and ideally involved in the planning process.

CONTROL OF DEMOLITION
Demolition hazard control involves implementing
measures which reduce the risk at the demolition site
Elimination is the most effective control measure. This
involves removing the hazard or hazardous work practice
from the site, by the following actions:
disconnecting services to the demolition site
ensuring there are no sparks or ignition sources, where a risk of
fire or explosion exists
ensuring separation between the public and demolition
activities
excluding unauthorized persons from the site

CONTROL OF DEMOLITION
Substituting or replacing a hazard or hazardous work practice
with a less hazardous one could include the following:
using a controlled collapse technique, in place of people working at
heights
using power shears in place of grinding or oxyacetylene cutting, where
a risk of fire exists

Isolating or separating the hazard or hazardous work practice

from workers and others involved in the demolition area by the
following:
installing screens on plant to protect from dust and noise
installing barriers and fences
marking off hazardous areas

CONTROL OF DEMOLITION
Engineering control:
Modification of tools and equipment
Falling object protective structure
Installation of safe working platform on scaffolds and elevating
work platform
Installation of edge protection
Water sprays to suppress dust
Use of cranes for lowering load
Use of chutes for disposal of debris
Provision of flash arresters on gauges and hoses on welding
equipment

CONTROL OF DEMOLITION
Administrative control:
Limiting the amount of exposure
Implementing and documenting safe working procedures
Training and instructing all personnel

PPE is the least effective control and should only be

considered when other control measures are not
practicable or to increase protection given to a
personal.

SPECIFIC ISSUES IN DEMOLITION

WORKS
Premature collapse - one of the main causes of serious injury
resulting from demolition work due to ineffective planning
Protection from falls and falling material
Noise
Dust
Siting and use of machinery applicable to competent
person only
Environment contamination needs to be identified
Competence and training

Q&A

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