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Dangerous Jobs: Demolition Workers Risk Serious Injury in Kansas City

As new buildings are constructed, old buildings must be demolished to make room. Demolition workers tear down old office buildings, schools, homes and factories. They may use hand tools such as sledgehammers and wrecking bars, explosives, oxyacetylene torches, and heavy equipment such a wrecking balls and bulldozers.

Demolition work involves many of the same on-the-job hazards as other construction work; however, demolition also involves additional hazards because of the equipment used and also because old buildings may collapse or contain harmful substances like lead-based paint and asbestos insulation that are no longer used.

These safety tips come from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

When working at a demolition site:

• Always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the task you will be doing. If hazardous are involved, make sure you are protected before you are exposed.

• Inspect personal protective equipment (PPE) before each use to ensure it is in working order. If PPE is damaged, replace it immediately.

• To prevent building collapse, demolition of exterior walls and floors should begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward as the bottom of the structure holds up the top.

• Structural or load-supporting beams or structures on any floor must not be cut or removed until all stories above that floor have been demolished.

• All roof cornices or other ornamental stonework must be removed prior to pulling walls down.

• Shore up or brace the walls and floors of buildings that have been damaged.

• Employees should never work where structural collapse hazards exist until the hazards are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.

• Cap or shut off electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines; notify utility companies if necessary.

• Watch out for floor and wall openings. Floor openings should be covered and secured with materials that are able to withstand the loads likely to be imposed. Wall openings should have guards up to a height of 42 inches.

• Floor openings used for garbage and material disposal must not take up more than 25% of the total floor area.

• Enclosed chutes with gates on the discharge end should be used to drop demolition material to the ground or into debris containers.

• Inspect all stairs, passageways, and ladders before use.

• Illuminate all stairways.

To learn more about construction site injuries, download our free book: “How to Avoid Becoming a Work Injury Horror Story.” To discuss your Missouri construction site injury claim with a Kansas City personal injury attorney, contact the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616.

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Construction Accident

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