Safety guidelines for demolition of structure

[FACEINVESTIGATOR]

I perform fatality investigations and need some information on guidelines, procedures, etc. which are used to protect employees working at a demolition site. I will have more definitive questions after I begin my investigation tomorrow.

 

[drx]

The first and foremost guidline and/or qualification should be that only tradesmen well versed in structural disciplines should perform demolition work. Besides that somewhat obvious opening point, demolition work is very much site specific with regard to proceedure. Our firm engages in construction on industrial/commercial sites as well as residential ones. Experience has shown that no two are alike and many variables such as contamination, waste disposal, public saftey and equipment requirements always seem to change. Specific questions would be fair easier to answer.<br>
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Regards drx

 

[FACEINVESTIGATOR]

Thank you for your helpful response. Found out that OSHA did not describe accurately what the company was doing. They were installing a portable building or mobile home at an elementary school location. They were using airbags and jacks to lower the building onto the site. The victim crawled under the building as they were lowering it because he perceived that one of the safety blocks was misaligned with the beam. Unfortunately, he still didn't line it up correctly...the beam hit the edge of the block and twisted a bit, hitting the victim in the head. Nobody was supposed to go under or be near the structure as it was being lowered but how do you engineer out dumb brain cells! You can train, educate, discipline, reward all you want but you still have to deal with people who basically just don't listen or think. Gets frustrating sometimes! By the way, I'm not military...have no idea how that tag attached to my name?