Demolition projects can be dangerous, and many things can go wrong, like the building collapsing suddenly. It can create safety hazards for everyone around.
Additionally, demolition dust clouds can cause severe issues like air pollution and respiratory diseases. Furthermore, the demolition sites leave a lot of trash that needs to be removed quickly using construction dumpsters.
However, there are 12 specific safety protocols you can follow to protect yourself from these severe problems during a demolition:
Get rid of the asbestos.
Before starting any demolition work, you need to make sure that you remove all the non-licensed and licensed asbestos. It is important because if you don’t remove it, the asbestos might settle into your lungs and cause health problems like lung cancer, asbestosis, etc. You can avoid these risks by hiring a construction dumpster to remove any asbestos you find during demolition safely.
Keep a plan ready for demolition safety.
Planning the demolition of a structure is very important. You need to make sure that you sift through each step of the process. The plan should also consider all the individuals and facilities involved, like the workers, bystanders, and the neighborhood.
Wear protective equipment
To stay safe while working, operatives should wear five-part personal protective equipment. It includes safety glasses, a hard hat, safety gloves, boots (steel-toe), and a high-visibility jacket.
In addition to this, workers carrying out tasks such as fireworks should also wear welding masks, face masks, and fireproof suits.
Provide extensive training to workers to avoid accidents
If you want your workers to be secure during the demolition process, you need to provide them with comprehensive training. It will help them understand how everything works and how to avoid any dangerous situations. Additionally, making sure that they are familiar with all the equipment and machinery reduces the risk of any accidents.
Supporting old structure by using braces
When demolishing old buildings and structures, you need to be very careful. These buildings can be unstable and weak, and they might collapse at any moment. It can cause severe injuries to your workers, bystanders, and neighboring structures.
To prevent this from happening, you can brace the building. It will provide temporary support and keep the building from collapsing.
Avoid dust-cloud formation
When you break down the structure, you will find dust clouds. These clouds may contain crystalline silica, which can cause severe respiratory diseases if inhaled. To prevent the formation of hazardous dust clouds, spray water over the entire structure before breaking it down.
Monitor noises and vibrations
You need to pay close attention to environmental safety during demolition. Noise and vibrations from the destruction can be dangerous if not monitored. The best way to regulate noise is by adjusting the working hours. For example, try to do all ‘noisy’ activities during times when there will be less impact on the public. You can also reduce noise production by using equipment that creates less noise for specific tasks.
Regulate traffic movement
It is important to have traffic regulations when demolishing a building. It will help to keep pedestrians and vehicles separate. There should be clear walkways for pedestrians and road access for cars. The speed limit for cars should be five mph to prevent accidents. Construction vehicles should avoid rush hours so that there is less traffic congestion.
Never be close to a piece of operating machinery.
When there is demolition work being done, it can be dangerous. There are giant machines and workers around, so you need to have rules to keep everyone safe.
Cleaning the job site After demolition, there is a lot of hazardous waste that needs to be cleaned up. It is important to prevent any injuries. You can hire a construction dumpster in port st lucie to take the debris to the landfill.