Demolition and Construction Safety Tips - Fall Prevention

As per OSHA, demolition work involves many of the same hazards that arise during other construction activities. However, demolition also involves additional hazards due to a variety of other factors. Some of these include: lead-based paint, sharp or protruding objects, asbestos-containing material and fall hazards.  This document will focus on preventing falls.

Prevent Falls

• Brace or shore up the walls and floors of structures which have been damaged and which employees must enter.
• Inspect personal protective equipment (PPE) before use.
• Select, wear and use appropriate PPE for the task.
• Inspect all stairs, passageways, and ladders; illuminate all stairways.
• Shut off or cap all electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines; notify appropriate utility companies.
• Guard wall openings to a height of 42 inches; cover and secure floor openings with material able to withstand the loads likely to be imposed.
• Floor openings used for material disposal must not be more than 25% of the total floor area.
• Use enclosed chutes with gates on the discharge end to drop demolition material to the ground or into debris containers.
• Demolition of exterior walls and floors must begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward.
• Structural or load-supporting members on any floor must not be cut or removed until all stories above that floor have been removed.
• All roof cornices or other ornamental stonework must be removed prior to pulling walls down.
• Employees must not be permitted to work where structural collapse hazards exist until they are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.

Source OSHA

We hope you find this information useful.  Universal Wrecking takes great pride on performing their demolition work in a safe manner and in compliance with OSHA. 

About Universal Wrecking Corp.

Universal Wrecking Corp. is one of the premier demolition contractor and scrap metal removal services in the United States. Demolition and recycling services include commercial and industrial demolition, interior demolition and renovations, scrap metal recycling and removal, dismantlement, tank farm and silo demolition, warehouse interior demolitions and Pallet Racking Removals, mezzanine and conveyor removals, mobile and portable onsite concrete crushing, demolition and recycling equipment rentals and wrecking.

Contact Information

Universal Wrecking Corp. – Corporate Main Office 2095
Route 88, Suite 5
Brick, NJ 08724
Phone: (866) 585-3198 Fax: (877)-598-8645
Email: estimating@universalwrecking.com
Website: http://www.universalwrecking.com/