Safety First: Tips on Safety Demolition Methods That Contractors Should Follow

Perhaps, people unfamiliar to demolition would think that it’s merely tearing down property on the ground. However, demolition requires thorough research and planning. Professionals working in construction or demolition industry, for instance, must prioritize human safety as well as environmental safety to do their job properly.

Safety is paramount in demolition. In the U.S., there’s the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) agency which is responsible for ensuring worker safety and a conducive work environment. If you’re a demolition contractor, it’s mandatory that you follow OSHA standards to avoid losing your business license.

For you to maintain safety at work, here are some tips on safety demolition methods that you should follow.

Limit Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to injuries and death. Thus, it’s a must that you know what the common hazardous materials are when you’re in a demolition site. Here are some of those house materials that contain toxic chemicals.

Formaldehyde in Wooden Materials. Wooden house materials typically have formaldehyde which can be injurious to human health. It can cause respiratory problems and cancer when inhaled by the people around the demolition site. Thus, it’s a must that workers wear protective respiratory gear to limit such health risk when doing demolition work.

Synthetic Mineral Fibers. Synthetic Mineral Fibers or SMF are the fibrous products contained in ceramic, fiberglass, and house insulation materials. Even though they are not as harsh as asbestos, SMFs can irritate the eyes, throat, and nose. To keep workers safe, it’s advisable that they wear respirator masks and protective gear.

Lead Content in Paint. Jobs of demolition workers often involve dealing with house materials that have been painted with lead paint. Fumes and dust that contained lead can harm the organs in the body. It can cause anemia, respiratory diseases, kidney failures, neurological ailments, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Therefore, it’s essential that there’s a washing station at the demolition site, and workers should wear protective gear.

Prevention from Falling Accidents

Since demolition work includes climbing over scaffoldings, creating holes, and tearing things up, contractors should know the importance of such hazards. Wearing full-body restraints is advisable, especially when working around a roof or open hole more than 6 feet in depth or height.

According to OSHA, falling accidents are the leading cause of injuries and deaths for people working in the construction and demolition industry.

Recycle Materials for Environmental Safety

There are demolition companies that put much importance on environmental protection. For instance, they recycle materials they pick up from the demolition site. Instead of disposing of these materials, contractors find ways to reuse them. Here are some materials that can be recycled from a demolished building.

Steel. By having the proper expertise and equipment, demolition contractors can turn scrap metals into low-grade or high-grade steel.

Sinks and Toilets. Yes, you can recycle sinks and toilets if they’re picked up in excellent condition from a demolition site. You can recycle stainless steel models with other scrap metals, and porcelain models with the concrete.

Concrete. Since tons of concrete are typically pick up in a demolition project, it can surely boost your profits if you recycle them. You can recycle concrete into gravel which is an in-demand material for construction. You can look for a demolition contractor that recycle concrete in sites like winnipegdemolition.ca for that purpose.

Wooden Materials. You can sell or reuse beams, posts, and doors made of wood if they’re still in excellent condition. If the wood is too poor for such purposes, there are recycling companies that you can hire to recycle these wooden materials.

Takeaway

It’s a must for demolition contractors to prioritize human and environmental safety in their business. You should follow the safety standards provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration agency so that you’ll minimize the hazards that typically come in your kind of work. If not, it’s either you’ll garner financial losses or lose your business license.

3 replies
  1. Millie Hue
    Millie Hue says:

    Thanks for pointing out that demolition will have lots of climbing on scaffolding and creating holes which can be prone to accidents. That just shows how important it is to hire professionals for this kind of project. My brother should know about this to push him to hire one since his plan is to destroy his whole house and have a new one built. It appears that the house is too old, and he is worried about the safety of his family which is why he doesn’t just want a repair.

    Reply
  2. Skylar Williams
    Skylar Williams says:

    I agree that it is important to know what materials have toxic ingredients in them when working at a demolition site. My brother has been thinking of joining a construction crew and I want him to be safe. I’ll be sure to pass this information onto him so he can stay safe at his job.

    Reply
  3. Derek Swain
    Derek Swain says:

    I like that you mentioned how you should wear full-body restraints in order to minimize the chances of a falling accident from occurring while handling a demolition project. My brother would like to have a small building demolished so that he can have a bakery built, but he is worried that removing the lower levels of the building will be too dangerous without the necessary equipment. Maybe he should find a demolition service that has the tools needed to get the job done safely.

    Reply

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