Safety Measures When Demolishing Your Home

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Colin's Construction Blog: Building a House

Hi, there! My name is Colin. Last year, I finally completed some construction work on my home. For many years, I had been meaning to do lots of jobs around the place. I wanted to install a new bathroom downstairs. However, I had no idea how to do this so I avoided everything. My wife continued to complain about the lack of progress so I eventually contacted a team of contractors. A plumber, an electrician and a construction team visited my home and completed the work. As they did so, they taught me an awful lot about the best way to complete the job. I hope you find my blog useful.

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Safety Measures When Demolishing Your Home

18 November 2021
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

Safety is at the heart of any home demolition project since slight errors could lead to fatal accidents. As a homeowner, you may not know the safety measures that the contractor should observe at the site. Below is an exhaustive excerpt on home demolition safety. Its primary purpose is to ensure you keep your contractor on their toes as they demolish the building. 

Preliminary Assessment

The contractor should conduct a preliminary assessment to establish the best way to pull down the building. During the examination, they check the structural features, types of soil on your property, risks such as overhead electrical cables, the height of the building, its proximity to neighbouring buildings, strata regulations on demolition, and the accessibility of the site.

For example, suppose you intend to demolish your back porch to build a patio, the contractor should assess the foundation, roof, and nearby pillars to determine how best they can pull down the porch without affecting your home's structural integrity. Conversely, if you want the whole property demolished, the contractor will develop mechanisms to ensure the structure does not crumble. Instead, it should fall apart bit by bit. It helps contain demolition debris and prevent injuries at the site. 

Licences

Once the contractor conducts the preliminary assessment, they should draw a demolition plan detailing the sequence at which they will demolish your home. This plan should be submitted to the local authorities to examine if it meets the required safety standards. If it does, the contractor receives a permit allowing them to commence demolition works. 

Employee Safety

The contractor's employees should be your immediate priority since they will be at the site throughout. Below are some safety tips they should consider: 

  • The contractor should take them around the site to ensure they are well aware of the various risks. For example, they should know the location of your underground gas and water pipes to ensure they do not drive plant equipment over them.
  • The contractor should acquaint them with the demolition plan. It guarantees they understand the work specifications and what is at stake.
  • The contractor should develop an emergency plan to be executed in case of an accident at the site. It ensures fast response and prevents injuries.
  • The employees must have protective gear at all times.
  • The employees should not take unnecessary risks at the site. For example, they should not enter the pre-demolished structure if it is not braced.
  • The contractor should take a demolition insurance policy to cover employees and third parties who might suffer injuries at the site. 

When demolishing your home, the contractor should conduct a preliminary assessment, secure a permit and ensure the safety of all employees.