Demolition Job Safety Analysis

Hazards

• Unplanned structural collapse from unidentified weakened members, hidden voids, or load redistribution
• Unknown underground hazards including vaults, cisterns, and abandoned utilities not reflected in records
• Falling materials from unsupported overhanging sections during initial access

Controls

• Commission a written engineering survey by a qualified engineer before demolition begins; document structural condition, load paths, and sequence of removal
• Review as-built drawings, permit records, and site history; physically walk the structure to identify deviations from records
• Mark and barricade all areas of identified structural weakness before workers enter; do not allow access to sections pending engineering evaluation
• Develop a written demolition plan specifying the sequence of structural element removal, shoring requirements, and emergency egress routes

Hazards

• Asbestos fiber inhalation from disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in insulation, flooring, roofing, and fireproofing
• Lead dust ingestion and inhalation from sanding, torching, or demolishing lead-painted surfaces
• Silica dust exposure from breaking concrete, masonry, and tile containing crystalline silica

Controls

• Conduct an AHERA-compliant asbestos survey by an accredited inspector before any demolition activity; abate all regulated ACM per 40 CFR 61 Subpart M and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 before demolition proceeds
• Test painted surfaces for lead using XRF or laboratory analysis; if lead is present, implement an OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62-compliant lead program including air monitoring, respiratory protection, and hygiene facilities
• Identify concrete, masonry, and tile that will be broken and develop a silica exposure control plan per 29 CFR 1926.1153 Table 1
• Document abatement completion with air clearance results and contractor certifications before demolition crews access the structure

Hazards

• Electrocution from contact with energized electrical service lines, panels, or embedded wiring
• Fire or explosion from gas lines not fully disconnected or from residual gas in piping
• Flooding and structural undermining from water or sewer lines severed by demolition equipment

Controls

• Coordinate with each utility company to disconnect and cap all services (electric, gas, water, sewer, telecom) at the street before demolition begins; obtain written confirmation from each utility
• Verify disconnection at the point of entry to the building using a qualified electrician for electrical and a licensed plumber or gas technician for gas and water
• Do not rely solely on utility company records; use a combustible gas detector to confirm no residual gas is present in piping before demolition equipment makes contact
• Mark disconnected utility entry points and keep verification documentation on-site for inspector review

Hazards

• Workers or the public struck by falling debris, flying fragments, or collapsing walls outside the immediate work zone
• Unauthorized personnel entering the demolition zone during active operations
• Dust and noise exposure to adjacent occupants or passers-by

Controls

• Establish an exclusion zone extending at least 1.5 times the height of the structure being demolished; adjust based on the engineer's recommendation for the specific demolition method
• Install solid hoarding, chain-link fencing, or barricade tape with warning signs on all sides; post flaggers or spotters where pedestrian or vehicle traffic crosses the exclusion zone boundary
• Do not allow any workers to be within the fall radius of a structure being mechanically pushed or pulled until it has fully collapsed and settled
• Notify adjacent property owners and local authorities of the demolition schedule; confirm compliance with local noise and dust ordinances

Hazards

• Falls through deteriorated or structurally compromised floors weakened by water damage, rot, or previous modifications
• Asbestos and lead exposure from removing ceiling tiles, flooring, insulation, and pipe coverings prior to confirmed abatement clearance
• Struck-by injuries from overhead material dislodged by workers above on the same floor or an upper level

Controls

• Probe floors with a bar or tool before stepping on any surface suspected of water damage or structural compromise; do not walk on unsupported spans
• Confirm written abatement clearance for all materials being stripped before workers begin soft strip operations; do not allow assumptions that materials are non-ACM without test results
• Establish vertical separation between work levels; prohibit simultaneous overhead and below-deck work unless physical barriers protect workers below
• Wear full-face respirator with P100 filters during interior gutting when dust-generating operations are in progress

Hazards

• Unplanned structural collapse with workers inside the fall radius of the structure
• Workers struck by the excavator boom, bucket, or falling debris during mechanical operations
• Equipment rollover on unstable rubble piles or undermined ground adjacent to the structure

Controls

• Maintain a clear exclusion zone around the structure equal to the fall radius during all mechanical demolition; no workers on foot within this zone while equipment is active
• Establish a spotter positioned outside the fall radius with radio contact to the equipment operator; the spotter has authority to stop operations immediately
• Work from the top down and outside in; never undermine a wall or column at the base before removing the sections above it
• Assess ground stability before positioning equipment on rubble or near the excavation perimeter; use equipment rated for the terrain or improve the ground conditions first

Hazards

• Respirable crystalline silica exposure from jackhammering, chipping, and breaking concrete
• Struck-by injury from flying concrete fragments during impact breaking
• Hand-arm vibration syndrome from prolonged use of pneumatic or electric breakers

Controls

• Apply water suppression continuously at the point of concrete breaking; use vacuum shrouds on electric chipping hammers in enclosed or confined areas per OSHA Table 1
• Wear a minimum N95 respirator during all concrete breaking; wear a P100 half-face respirator when water suppression is not feasible or dust is visibly elevated
• Wear safety glasses and a face shield simultaneously during concrete breaking; flying fragments travel laterally and upward as well as away from the operator
• Rotate workers off jackhammer and breaker tasks; limit continuous tool operation to 2-hour shifts and document anti-vibration glove use to reduce vibration exposure

Hazards

• Disproportionate collapse when a single structural element is removed without accounting for load redistribution to adjacent members
• Falls from elevation during manual removal of beams, joists, columns, and roof framing
• Falling structural elements onto workers below during crane-assisted or equipment-assisted removal

Controls

• Follow the removal sequence specified in the engineering plan; any deviation from the planned sequence requires engineer approval before proceeding
• Install temporary shoring or bracing before removing any structural element that provides lateral support or carries load to adjacent members
• Workers cutting, unbolting, or detaching structural elements at elevation must be tied off with a personal fall arrest system; anchor points must be identified in the work plan
• Clear all workers from the fall zone before a crane or excavator lifts or swings a structural element; maintain radio communication between riggers and the operator throughout the lift

Hazards

• Struck-by injuries from debris dropped or thrown from upper floors through chutes
• Musculoskeletal injuries from manually handling heavy, irregular, and sharp demolition debris
• Dust exposure from loading, grading, and hauling dry demolition rubble

Controls

• Use enclosed debris chutes when dropping materials more than 20 feet; chutes must be fitted with a gate at each floor opening to prevent uncontrolled discharge per 29 CFR 1926.852
• Establish an exclusion zone at the base of all debris chutes and debris drop areas; no workers in the exclusion zone during loading or discharge
• Use mechanical equipment (loaders, excavators, conveyors) to handle debris whenever possible; provide cut-resistant gloves and steel-toe boots for all manual debris handling
• Wet down rubble before loading and during transport if dust generation is visible; cover loaded trucks before leaving the site

Hazards

• Workers and equipment falling into unprotected excavations, vaults, or basements exposed by demolition
• Underground collapse from voids or abandoned structures undermining equipment operating on the finished grade
• Erosion and sedimentation leaving unstable slopes that can fail under foot traffic or rain events

Controls

• Identify and positively protect all below-grade openings (basements, vaults, sumps) before equipment grades the demolished site; do not assume the ground is solid
• Fill and compact basements and voids according to the geotechnical engineer's specification before the site is released for equipment traffic or future construction
• Install erosion controls (silt fence, erosion blanket, inlet protection) as grading progresses; do not allow bare-soil conditions to persist through forecast rain events
• Conduct a final walk of the site with the competent person before releasing the area; confirm no tripping hazards, open excavations, or unstable debris piles remain