If you’re looking for useful tips on demolition safety, this article will provide you with valuable advice. There are many things you need to consider before any work gets underway on a demolition site, including prioritising Health and Safety. For more essential information on carrying out safe demolition in Nottingham, read on.
Before you start work
There are multiple steps you need to take to keep you and others safe before demolition begins on your site. Anyone working on a demolition site should refrain from starting work until they know exactly what they need to do. Make sure you know exactly where the demolition plant is to be operated, and ensure any plant used for demolition in Nottingham has protected cabs. Never enter a building if it seems to be unsafe and ask your supervisor if there are any live services. You also need to find out if the structure has any hazardous materials including acids and asbestos.
Avoid overloading floors with materials when working on a demolition site as they are likely to collapse. Never demolish a wall or floor which is adjacent to other workers and damp down to reduce the amount of dust that’s lurking in the space. You must keep noise to a minimum when possible. If machines are being used adjacent to your colleagues or members of the public, make sure you’re using signallers are used.
During the demolition process
All demolition processes need supervision by a competent person with sufficient experience. You must wear Personal Protective Equipment at all times, and you need to use a respirator whenever you’re working in a dusty environment. Make sure scaffold platforms and towers are safe before you use them. You also need to make sure you have permission to burn rubbish on a site is permitted before you begin this task. Replace damaged sheeting and hoardings to protect workers and members of the public.
The importance of asbestos awareness
It’s vital that Demolition and Refurbishment Asbestos Surveys are carried out before any demolition work begins. You must remove asbestos in compliance with regulations whether it is licenced or not. If you discover asbestos on site, work must stop until it has been removed by a specialist contractor. Any asbestos removal operatives must be fully qualified to carry out this work.
PPE is essential
It’s vital that employees wear Personal Protective Equipment during demolition work. Essential forms of PPE that need to be worn at all times include hard hats, safety glasses, hi-vis vests or jackets, steel-toe capped boots and safety gloves. However, this is the bare minimum and you may need to use additional forms of PPE depending on what kind of work you’re undertaking. PPE should be compliant with HSE regulations. Other forms of PPE you might need to use during your demolition project may include welding masks, face masks and fireproof overalls.
Why invest in training?
The right training, qualifications and experience can be highly effective in preventing accidents. Any member of staff that’s working on a demolition site must have the right qualifications, training and experience for the role they are carrying out. It’s also essential that they have a full understanding of which equipment they need to wear during the demolition process. Health and safety regulations can change frequently, which is why it’s so important to arrange regular training to keep teams fully up to date with the latest legislation and guidance. Some qualifications are only valid for a fixed period of time, so it’s vital to ensure that everybody’s training remains up to date.
Monitoring noise, dust and vibration
It’s essential to prioritise environmental safety during demolition projects. Monitor noise, dust and vibrations effectively to minimise any risks to workers or properties located nearby. If a person has frequent exposure to loud noises, this can damage their hearing. Noise can also compromise safety due to the way it can limit workers’ ability to communicate effectively. It can also make it much harder for them to hear warning signs.
Vibrating hand tools used during demolition work can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome or HAVS. This means you need to limit exposure to vibration as much as you possibly can. It’s also important to minimise the effect of your activities on the public, so consider adjusting your working hours to avoid causing irritation. Ways to keep noise to an impact include replacing impact breakers with pulverisers when removing hardcore and concrete. Maintain your plant fully to minimise noise. You can monitor and control dust by damping down with temporary water supplies and using water curtains.
Keep your site clean
Keep your site cleanA highly effective way to maintain high safety standards during demolition is to keep your site clean. Maintaining a good cleaning and tidying schedule ensures materials are dealt with effectively so you can prevent accidents can be prevented.
Staff must always have access to fresh drinking water alongside washing facilities. They also need access to a clean and safe environment when taking breaks. Facilities required by workers can include lavatories, washing facilities, changing facilities and protection from extreme weather. You also need to provide a generator for heating and lighting and a microwave for the heating of food.
Who can help with demolition in Nottingham?
ProDEM can help if you need assistance with demolition in Nottingham. We have been a leading player in our industry for many years and are experts when it comes to demolition safety. We are your local demolition experts and are specialists when it comes to asbestos removal and building strip-outs. At ProDEM, we provide demolition for all kinds of buildings across Nottingham.
Contact us
If you have been looking for information on demolition safety and need help with ensuring your project runs safely and smoothly, get in touch with us today. You can reach us by giving us a call on 0115 775 0307 or by completing the form on our website. We’ll get back to you as quickly as we possibly can.