In our company we monitor and analyse any hazard or safety risk areas on all of our job sites. Because of the high danger of personal, public or even danger to surrounding areas and structures in demolition, safety is of our upmost importance.
Safety Procedures
Before any work commences at Watkins Property Services site inspections are conducted by one of our trained workers. A JSA is conducted analysing any risks involved on the site and the steps required to carry out the job required (A sample JSA is available in downloads). The first thing you need to do is to find the hazards in your workplace – that is, find anything with the potential to cause harm. Some hazards will be obvious because they'll be common to your industry, but others won’t be.
Before each major job we cover the following areas to ensure the site is safe:
- Are physical barriers and guards in use to isolate people from operating machinery, including separating pedestrians from forklift traffic?
- Are trolleys and other mechanical aids available to prevent manual handling injuries?
- Have steps been taken to reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls? Are staff wearing suitable footwear? Are steps well lit?
- Is the workplace neat and tidy?
- Are chemicals appropriately used and stored?
- Is the racking suitable for the materials being stored?
- Do forklift drivers hold a certificate of competency?
- Is electrical equipment tagged and tested?
- Are fire suppression measures adequate?
- Do you have an up-to-date and effective safety evacuation plan?
- Is there a process by which the employer and employees consult on health and safety issues?
- Are refreshment and toilet facilities adequate?
- Do you have a return to work plan for injured employees?
- Do you have the incident notification number clearly displayed at work in an appropriate place?
Our Personnel
Each worker for our company has been trained in Occupational Health and Safety obtaining a construction contractors Red Card through the Master Builders Association.
All employees at Watkins Property Services are aware of:
- the nature of hazards;
- the processes used for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control;
- the need for, and proper use, of measures to control risk;
- safety procedures; and
- the use, fit, testing and storage of personal protective equipment.
Our workers are trained and licensed with safety and operating procedures in all machinery we use:
- Bobcat
- Forklift
- Elevated work platform
- Boom lift operation
- Asbestos removal
- Chemical handling
- Manual handling
- Safe demolition procedures
On each of our sites we attempt to get one of our own first aid trained contractors on the job.
Demolition works checklist
Has the demolition work been planned?
Prior to the commencement of any demolition work the contractor should develop a work plan for the job.
This work plan should include the identification and assessment of hazards and the control measures to be implemented to address these hazards.
It is recommended that the demolition work plan be documented to allow for ease of reference and to prevent confusion
Guidance on developing a demolition work plan can be found in Australian Standard 2601:The demolition of structures and Victoria's Code of Practice for Demolition.
Has the building or structure been cleared of asbestos containing materials?
The demolition contractor must ensure, were reasonably practicable, prior to demolition work commencing that the building, structure or plant to be demolished does not contain asbestos.
The contractor:
- Should request the current asbestos audit report or engage a suitably qualified person to undertake such a report.
- Should review any asbestos report to determine its suitability in relation to the work.
- Should consider that any area that was inaccessible and not inspected, during the audit, does contain asbestos and employ appropriate measures to control the risk of exposure.
- Must ensure that asbestos is removed, inline with the requirements of the OHS (Asbestos) Regulations, generally by a licensed asbestos removalist of the appropriate class.
- Should ensure a clearance certificate is issued stating the asbestos materials have been removed and specifying the area that is now clear of asbestos.
Have other likely hazardous contaminants been identified?
The demolition contractor should also investigate the site for other contaminants.
Hazardous contaminants/substances are frequently found inside buildings or structures, also they can be found within the surrounding soil. The previous use of the building can give a guide to the likely containments which may be present.
The risk posed from biological hazards should also be investigated and can include the old internal plumbing and waste systems, damp areas with fungi or moulds, animals and their droppings.
Have all utilities services been identified?
Make sure you have located all electric power lines and cables, gas lines, telecommunication lines, water, waste and sewerage pipes.
Look for and identify any septic or underground storage tanks and verify their structural condition and contents.
Don't rely on original site plans or drawings; obtain expert help from a suitable qualified person or the local utilities supply and distribution companies.
Have all the utilities services been removed and made safe?
Confirm that electrical power and gas has been completely disconnected by the utilities companies.
Check that electricity and gas meters have been removed and that no overhead cables remain connected to the structure.
Test outlets to double check that all electricity and gas supplies have stopped.
Ensure that residual gas, in the premises pipes, is safely flushed out.
Ensure septic or underground tanks are pumped out and the contents disposed of safely.
- Note: Where electrical power is required on site the electrical installation must comply with the Industry Standard for Electrical Installations on Construction Sites.
Are fire services provided?
Where fire services exist, keep lines and hoses in place for as long as possible and only progressively remove those services as necessary. Adequate temporary fire services must be provided, especially where hot work is being undertaken. Get advice from your local fire brigade and observe local fire restrictions.
Has structural stability been considered in demolition plan?
The sequence in which a building is demolished can significantly impact on its structural stability and is critical to the safety of the workers and the general public.
When in doubt, or if you are dealing with an unusual structure or structures incorporating pre-stressed concrete reinforced members, get expert advice from a specialist such as experienced demolition rigger or a structural engineer.
Are suspended floors safe for the loads?
Get a structural engineer to determine the loading capacity of floors before placing earthmoving equipment, heavy plant or building rubble on them.
Floor capacity may need to be increased by back-propping the floors with shoring frames or rigidly connected systems of adjustable building props, regularly monitor floor load.
Are demolition tools and equipment being used safely?
Check that compressors, jackhammers and other pneumatic tools are properly maintained and fully serviceable.
Make sure all air-hose connections are secured with safety pins to prevent dangerous blowouts.
Do not use petrol or diesel-driven compressors or equipment in cellars or any badly ventilated areas.
Check that concrete cutting equipment is the right sort for the tasks. Follow the advice in WorkSafe's Guidance Note for Hand-Held Concrete Cutting Equipment.
Check that oxy cutting equipment is in good condition, properly secured and when in use that fire extinguishers are readily available.
Make sure workers are using the right personal protective equipment for the tools, such as hearing protection, breathing masks, protective glasses, head shields, gloves, or rawhide boilermaker's jackets to prevent burns.
Are electric tools and equipment being used safely?
Ensure that all portable electrical leads and power tools are tested and tagged every 3 months and checked every day before use for signs of damage.
Extension leads should be supported above the ground and run on hangers or stands, with sufficient height clearance for personnel and vehicles, to provide a safe route through the work area and passageways.
Ensure all electrical equipment and extension leads are protected by Residual Current Devices (RCDs), also known as safety switches.
Are workers protected from falls?
Never allow demolition workers to work where they are exposed to fall of 2 metres or more without adequate fall protection, which may include:
Securely covering or barricading all floor or roof penetrations, lift shaft entrances and doorways where staircases are to be removed.
Providing properly constructed heavy duty scaffolds.
Where safety harnesses are necessary, make sure they are serviceable, properly worn and securely fixed to anchorages with a safe load capacity of at least 1.5 tonnes. Make sure inertia reel lines cannot be severed on sharp edges.
Barricading trenches, pits and excavations.
Is the public properly protected?
The contractor must ensure that the public is protected from risks associated with the demolition process, and may include:
- Securely fencing off the demolition site to restrict access to the area and providing appropriate warning signs.
- Buildings or structures adjacent or close to public space should have a full-height heavy duty perimeter scaffold to safely contain any debris. It may need to be sheeted in chain-mesh, or shade cloth, or both. Never use hessian because it easily catches fire.
- Where demolition work is being carried out from the scaffold, fix ply sheets from the working platform to the guardrail. Laying old carpet over the platforms and guardrails will help to contain debris on the platform.
- Where necessary, provide properly designed and constructed overhead protective gantries or covered ways over footpaths and laneways.
Make sure you comply with all requirements of the local municipal council and conditions set by the supervising building surveyor.
Is rigging work being done safely?
The person in charge of demolition rigging work must have a WorkSafe rigging certificate of competency of at least the RI (intermediate) class.
Never allow unqualified and unsupervised workers to use rigging equipment (such as air winches, creeper winches, chain blocks, and cranes) in demolition work.
Make sure all rigging equipment and slings are in a serviceable condition.