Steps Prior to Non-building Demolition
Before starting with the demolition, there are several important factors that need to be looked into, which include the following:
- Check the site to be demolished. It is crucial that a survey is done before tearing down a non-building structure. The structure, as well as its surroundings, must be checked to ensure that proper safety measures will be considered when doing the demolition.
- Clear the site of anything that poses a hazard. As soon as the survey is done, the site can already be cleared of hazardous materials. Experts will spearhead in the proper removal and disposal of chemicals and contaminants found in the structure or within its parameters.
- Craft a non-building demolition plan. Once the survey and removal of dangerous substances and items are done, the team is now set to do the demolition plan. It shall take off from the survey findings.
The plan must be comprehensive so that all factors involved in the process are considered.
Non-building Demolition: The Important Things to Know
When there is a structure in your place that needs to be removed because it is no longer safe for use, what should you do?
Getting a reliable and reputable company to do the much-needed non-building demolition is the answer. You can hire them to finally get rid of the structure that you do not want in your backyard anymore. However, there are certain things that you must consider and understand first as you close a deal with your company of choice.
Safety Measures and Precautions in Non-Building Demolition
When demolishing a property, it is highly necessary that the safety of the people around, the workers assigned to the project, and the environment are taken into consideration.
Operation of Equipment
Non-building demolition involves not just the workers but also the pieces of machinery used to complete the project. To avoid accidents, it is mandatory that only qualified and well-trained individuals are going to operate them. Therefore, the company demolishing the structure has in-house experts to do the job.
Installation of Warning Signs
When constructing a building, the site is covered with several warning signs, right? The same must be done when demolishing a structure. Relevant warning signs must be installed around the site to ensure that the public is aware of what is going on inside the fenced area. Yes, the demolition site must be armed with barricades to avoid the entry of people not authorized to be in the area.
Safety Measures among Workers
A number of safety precautions must be imposed on the workers. These include the use of safety gears while within the site and undergoing appropriate training and orientation prior to their involvement in the project.
Identification and Establishment of Emergency Exits
Having emergency exits in any non-building demolition jobs is equivalent to safety.
In case an untoward incident happens in the project site, are there ways to save the lives inside? Are there precautionary measures to save everyone from getting trapped?
Proper Maintenance of Machinery
No matter how much a company spends to train their people in operating their machines, it is still nothing if such are not well-maintained. Equipment and machinery that are damaged and not functioning properly may put the lives of many people at risk.
A company offering non-building demolition services must see to it that they have maintenance plans to ensure that their pieces of machinery are working fine.
Occupational Safety and Health
You might have heard of Construction Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) from some friends who are into a construction business. As this looks into the welfare of everyone in the construction site, this is likewise a requirement in non-building demolition.
The safety and health of workers must be a priority, thus, the demolition area must be free from anything that would them in great danger.
Safe Electrical Connection
Certain equipment and machines used in the demolition of a structure or property need power to run. It is, therefore, crucial that a safe electrical connection is utilized in the project site.
Getting Rid of Flammable Items
Flammable materials have no place within the premises of the non-building demolition site unless they are needed in the project. However, proper handling and storage of these products must be strictly observed.
Noise Pollution
When demolishing a structure, noise is inevitable. There are specific types of equipment that can be considered to lessen the noise that comes from the demolition site.
Safety of Scaffolding
The scaffolding is the life of the workers as this serves as the main platform for them to carry out their job. Without a sturdy temporary working platform, it is impossible to ensure the safety of workers.
Consequences to be Avoided of a Well-Planned Demolition
Poor planning does not create desired results. In anything that you do, you should be aware that careful planning is a major requirement to achieve your objectives. Just like with a non-building demolition project, many consequences might be experienced if no proper and appropriate planning has been made.
- Untimely tearing down of a specific portion of the structure. If there is no available document citing the step-by-step procedures on how to do the demolition, there is a tendency that a part of the property will fall off even before its actual demolition.
- Closure of workers’ access. Whenever a portion of the structure falls off unplanned, there is a possibility that a passage which serves as the workers’ access in going in and out of the area would be covered.
- The collapse of heavy types of machinery due to unstable support. The installation of a support structure is very vital in order to avoid the collapse of the portion where heavy types of machinery are stored. Without a stable support, lost of lives could be the biggest consequence.
Doing a non-building demolition is a job that requires the utmost expertise and careful planning. These two must work together in order to avoid accidents and give an assurance that the project will be successful without losing lives and harming the environment. Simply put: without the expertise of the people involved in the project, the success rate could be low. As it is, without a comprehensive plan to start with, the presence of experts might not guarantee success as well.
