Safety Measures to be Taken During Demolition Work

Sometimes demolition and flattening of existing structures also need to be done which were either already built on site or come in the way of site hindering standard clearance way. Following are a few safety measures to be adopted during these destruction/demolition works.

1.       Perform only the demolition works mentioned in DEDs (Detailed Engineering Documents, e.g. Detailed Site Drawings and/or in TSSR (Technical Site Survey Report). Because these are the one for which necessary approvals and (structural and cost) analysis has already been made. And if it found to be some extra works needs to be done by Site Engineer, this has to be immediately reported to immediate manager and concerned department (e.g. Site Design, Site Acquisition etc.)

2.       Demolition works may only be performed under supervision of authorized and qualified personnel.

3.       Debris or waste materials, such as masonry, bricks or concrete chunks, resulting from the demolition work should not be piled and left to lie on the floors of the building. Such materials have only to be moved down from floor to floor after taking necessary safety measures.

4.       The part of the structure which would has be taken down as a whole cannot be demolished until safety of workers near or under that part has absolutely been ensured.

5.       A safety area will be formed around the part of the structure to be demolished, with dimensions at least twice as large as the height of the structure itself, which area should be barricaded with a guarding fence or atleast with safety strip.

6.       Building elements like glass doors, window panes or mirrors, which may prove to be dangerous during demolition work, should be dismantled, removed and moved away to a suitable location before start of the work.

7.       Workers to take part in the demolition should be provided with personal protective equipment such as goggles, hardhats, masks and steel-toed boots.