Risk assessments demolition

All demolition operations fall under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) and therefore require a systematic approach to the operations. Specific details relating to demolition will appear in the construction phase health and safety plan, the fire plan, demolition risk assessments and method statements. 

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. 

Health and safety file - this is a record of information for the client which focuses on health and safety. It alerts those who are responsible for the structure and equipment in it to the significant health and safety risks that will need to be dealt with during subsequent use, construction, maintenance, repair, cleaning and demolition. Method statement - this is a written document laying out the work procedures and sequences of operations to ensure health and safety. It results from the risk assessment carried out for the task or operation and the control measures identified. If the risk is low, a verbal statement may suffice. 

The planning supervisor, who is responsible, when relevant, for notifying the Health and Safety Executive of the proposed demolition work, must ensure that a written risk assessment is made of the design of the structure to be demolished and the influence of that design on the... 

A risk assessment should be made by the contractor undertaking the demolition - this risk assessment will be used to draw up a method statement for inclusion in the health and safety plan. A written method statement will be required before demolition takes place. The contents of the method statement will include the following ... 

When welding or cutting at the demolition site, sparks will present afire hazard. Any flammable materials should be identified and fire risks assessed before this type of work is undertaken. 

To describe the safe system of work which such a risk assessment shows to be necessary, a method statement may be required for example for demolition work, the erection of steel structures and asbestos removal. Method statements will be discussed later in this chapter, but it is worth observing at this point that risk assessments are used to generate method statements which are themselves a stated sequence of events designed to minimise risks by giving advance warning, knowledge and information to the recipients. 

In order to comply with section 2(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to the provision of a safe system of work, the production of a method statement is recognised as necessary for all demolition work. Because of the special demolition needs of each structure, an individual risk assessment must be made by the employer undertaking the work, in writing, to comply with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. 

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