Machinery demolition

Will structural elements of the building, such as intermediate floors, support the weight of demolition machinery and/or falling materials ... 

As closure progresses and dismantling of the facility advances, the workforce will be required to handle increasingly heavy materials and equipment. This equipment will include all possibly agent-contaminated machinery, metal ducts, and piping, as well as bulk materials such as concrete. Consequently, some risks to workers may be encountered more frequently during the dismantling and demolition associated with facility closure ... 

Thermite mixtures have foimd application as incendiary compositions and spot-welding mixtures. They are also used for the intentional demolition of machinery and for the destruction of documents. Thermites are usually produced without a binder (or with a minimum of binder), because the gaseous products resulting from the combustion of the organic binder will carry away heat and cool the reaction. 

Thermite itself (Formula 198) causes an extremely high heat concentration and is able to penetrate metal by means of one of its two reactions product, iron, in molten state high above its melting point at approximately 2500" C. Under some conditions, solid steel plates as thick as one inch can be perforated by a properly directed stream of the white-hot mass. While thermite can act as an incendiary because of its combination of convective or conductive and radiative heat, it is more valuable because of these penetrating properties, such as for demolition of machinery, Small amounts are too easily quenched to exert the proper persistent heat flow necessary for ignition of combustible structures. 

The risks associated with new projects may include use of hazardous substances insufficient product data faulty electrical equipment poor access/egress poor ergonomics noisy equipment poorly guarded machinery imported equipment/materials lack of risk assessment lack of training/awareness on behalf of management, supervision and employees poor environmental control inadequate emergency procedures inadequate maintenance considerations poor construction methods little or no consideration of waste disposal/demolition. 

Aspects such as safe access operations at unguarded machinery breaking into pressurised systems blanking off inerting hot work installation setting up inching dismantling and demolition, should have been taken into account. 

Supervisors must have received training in COSHH appreciation, principles of demolition and general site safety. Operatives must be trained in the operation of the machinery and equipment used, and in demolition techniques. They will be briefed on the results of relevant assessments, including noise exposure. This also applies to specialist subcontractors. 

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