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Demolition
What you need to do
The law says that all demolition, dismantling and structural alteration should be carefully planned and
carried out by competent practitioners. Key issues are:
Falls from height
Injury from falling materials
Uncontrolled collapse
Risks from connected services
Traffic management
Hazardous materials
Noise and vibration
Fire
Worker involvement
What you need to know
A systematic approach to demolition projects is a team effort between many people, who all have
responsibilities:
Clients must appoint dutyholders who are competent and adequately resourced.
Clients must provide those who need it (eg, designers, contractors, CDM Co-ordinators)
with pre-construction information that can reasonably be obtained. A range of surveys and
reports will be needed - for example, to check for presence of asbestos; structural stability
of site and nearby structures; the location of above and below ground live services in the
work area; etc. These should be done before work begins and not be left for the principal
contractor to organise once the demolition work has started.
CDM Co-ordinators plan effective site management that keeps people (site workers and
the public) as far as possible from the risks. They should give principal contractors as much
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information as possible.
Principal contractors co-ordinate and manage health and safety issues during the
demolition project.
Site managers supervise workers and ensure they are following safe working practice.
Sub-contractors and site workers must understand and follow the precautions and ensure
that their colleagues do too.
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Falls from height
During demolition and dismantling, workers can be injured falling from edges, through openings,
fragile surfaces and partially demolished floors.
Dutyholders have a responsibility to assess, eliminate and control the risks of falls from height. Find
out more about falls from height.
[1]
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Injury from falling materials
Workers and passers-by can be injured by the premature and uncontrolled collapse of structures, and
by flying debris.
A safe system of work is one that keeps people as far as possible from the risks. This may include:
establishing exclusion zones and hard-hat areas, clearly marked and with barriers or
hoardings if necessary
covered walkways
using high-reach machines
reinforcing machine cabs so that drivers are not injured
training and supervising site workers
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Uncontrolled collapse
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The structural survey should consider:
the age of the structure
its previous use
the type of construction
nearby buildings or structures
the weight of removed material or machinery on floors above ground level
The method statement for the demolition should identify the sequence required to prevent accidental
collapse of the structure.
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Risks from connected services
Gas, electricity, water and telecommunications services need to be isolated or disconnected before
demolition work begins. If this is not possible, pipes and cables must be labelled clearly, to make
sure they are not disturbed.
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Traffic management
Effective traffic management systems are essential on site, to avoid putting workers at risk of being
hit by vehicles turning, slewing, or reversing. Where possible, vision aids and zero tail swing
machines should be used. Find out more about traffic management
[2]
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Hazardous materials
Hazardous materials that need to be considered include dust, asbestos and respirable crystalline
silica (RCS).There may also be material or contamination on site that has not been cleared, for
example:
acids from industrial processes
paints
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flammable liquids
unidentified drums
microbiological hazards (especially in old hospital buildings).
Find out more about the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
[3]
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Noise and vibration
Frequent exposure to loud noise can permanently damage a persons hearing. Noise can also
create a safety risk if it makes it difficult for workers to communicate effectively or stops them hearing
warning signals.
More information on noise at work
[4]
Vibrating hand tools used in demolition can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)
[5]
.Workers
exposure to vibration needs to be managed and reduced as far as possible.
Find out more about managing the risks caused by use of vibrating tools
[6]
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Fire
Fire is a risk where hot work (using any tools that generate spark, flame or heat) is being done.
During structural alteration, the fire plan must be kept up to date as the escape routes and fire points
may alter. There must be an effective way to raise the alarm.
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Worker involvement
Everyone involved needs to know what precautions are to be taken on site. Workplaces where
employees are involved in taking decisions about health and safety are safer and healthier
[7]
. Your
employees are often the best people to understand the risks in their workplace. Find out more about
involving your workers in health and safety.
[8]
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Resources
Leaflets
Establishing exclusion zones when using explosives in demolition CIS45 [PDF]
[9]
Books
Health and safety in construction (HSG150)
[10]
ISBN 0717661822 paragraphs 382-397
Useful links other HSE sites
Falls from height
[11]
Construction (Design &Management) Regulations 2007
[12]
Asbestos
[13]
Noise
[14]
Vibration
[15]
Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
[16]
Worker involvement
[17]
Research
[18]
The law
Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007
[19]
Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) 2002
[20]
Link URLs in this page
1. falls from height.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/falls.htm
2. traffic management
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/vehiclestrafficmanagement.htm
3. control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
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4. More information on noise at work
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
5. hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/index.htm
6. Find out more about managing the risks caused by use of vibrating tools
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/index.htm
7. safer and healthier
http://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/factsfigures.htm
8. involving your workers in health and safety.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement
9. Establishing exclusion zones when using explosives in demolition CIS45 [PDF]
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis45.pdf
10. Health and safety in construction (HSG150)
http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/saleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9780717661824
11. Falls from height
http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm
12. Construction (Design &Management) Regulations 2007
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm
13. Asbestos
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/
14. Noise
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/
15. Vibration
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/
16. Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/
17. Worker involvement
http://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement
18. Research
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr204.htm
19. Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm
20. Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) 2002
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http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/