Demolition Safety FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common safety questions related to demolition.
What is demolition?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines demolition as the “dismantling, razing, destroying, or wrecking” of a building. This includes demolishing a building’s structure or parts—and not necessarily the whole thing.
Some common methods of demolition are:
Implosion
High reach arm
Wrecking ball
Selective demolition
Why is safety in demolition important?
Every line of work in construction comes with its risks. However, there are additional hazards involved with demolition that make it especially risky.
How do extra safety risks affect your jobsite? With an increased chance of workplace injuries, your project’s schedule or budget can potentially be set back. This results in lower productivity, lower team morale, and unexpected costs.
With the right planning, personal protective equipment, and safety training, you can protect your demolition crews from harm.
What are the top safety risks in demolition?
According to OSHA, the most frequently cited demolition standard is preparatory operations. This refers to the review and inspection of a site (and its potential hazards) before starting work. Preparatory operations accounts for “up to three-fourths” of citations on a demolition site.
Out of all preparatory operations, the most common citation is not completing an engineering survey. Before starting work, a surveyor must check the structure’s condition—and note anywhere the structure could potentially collapse.
Properly reviewing, and preparing, your demolition site will ensure your workers stay safe.
What are other ways I can keep my demolition site safe?
Our digital daily reports make it easy for you to get project updates in real time. Field crews can use the mobile app to write notes and attach photos, too. Then, you get all that field data in a clean, branded PDF report for maximum visibility.
Keep track of employees' use and inspections of demolition equipment with a construction equipment management software. Have employees employees complete custom equipment inspections or this very checklist on their mobile device.
Digital toolbox talks help your crews stay educated on important safety topics—before and during a job. With bulk scheduling and digital attendance sheets, it’s easier than ever to keep your safety documentation in one place with our construction safety app.