Demolition Safety
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- An engineering survey must be completed before demolition begins, documenting the structure's condition, construction type, and any hazardous materials present.
- Brace or shore adjacent structures and walls that may be affected by the demolition. Unplanned collapse of an adjacent wall is one of the leading causes of demolition fatalities.
- Demolish structures systematically — work from top to bottom, outside to inside. Never undercut a load-bearing element.
- Debris chutes are required when dropping material more than 20 feet. The area around the discharge end must be barricaded and a warning sign posted.
- Utilities must be disconnected and verified dead before demolition. This includes electricity, gas, water, sewer, steam, and telecommunications.
Ask the crew
Have all utilities been confirmed disconnected for today's demolition area — and who verified it?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
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