Hazards Associated with Building Demolition
Hazardous Materials
Construction and demolition (C&D) materials consist of the debris generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings, roads, and bridges.
Construction and demolition materials often contain bulky, heavy materials that include:
- concrete
- wood (from buildings)
- asphalt (from roads and roofing shingles)
- gypsum (the main component of drywall)
- metals, bricks, glass, plastics
- salvaged building components (doors, windows, and plumbing fixtures)
- trees, stumps, earth, and rock
OSHA Fatality Summary
A heavy equipment operator doing demolition on the eighth floor of the Government Center garage died when the partially demolished floor collapsed, and the 11,000-pound excavator and its operator fell 80 feet. It was the employee’s first day on the job.
OSHA found that contractor failed to adequately train its workers on the demolition plan and safety management system to help them recognize and avoid unsafe conditions.
He deviated from the demolition plan by imposing unsafe loads, in the form of heavy equipment, on the partially demolished seventh, eighth and ninth floors. The demolition plan prohibited the placement of heavy equipment on partially demolished floor bays.
As a result, OSHA cited the company for eight egregious-willful violations, two serious violations and one other than serious violation of workplace safety standards and proposed a total of $1,191,292 in penalties. The willful citations address the training and loading violations; the serious and other than serious violations are regarding the inadequate accident prevention program, uncovered floor holes and insufficient recordkeeping.
OSHA also cited the contractor $58,008 in proposed serious violation penalties, for failing to ensure that:
- Partially demolished precast concrete floors were of sufficient strength to support the imposed load of mechanical equipment.
- Employees were trained to recognize and avoid overloading of floors during demolition.
- Cover or secure floor holes.
- A competent person had adequately inspected the jobsite during demolition.
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3-1. What do construction and demolition materials often consist of?
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