Demolition Work Code of Practice Assignment Sample

Work Health and Safety Act

Legislative Requirements

Qualification:

A competent person means a person who has gained the expertise and skills to perform the job by preparation, qualifications, or experience. An individual running a company or undertaking the commissions the removal of asbestos shall ensure that the work for the removal of asbestos is performed by a licensed asbestos removalist who is duly licensed to perform the work unless a license is not necessary by the WHS Regulations. Cranes also need a licensed operator. Explosives shall be used only by a qualified individual who is approved to use explosives and who is skilled in the work to be carried out. Where explosives are used for demolition work, a certified professional person shall create a blast control plan and shall be responsible for all aspects of the demolition explosive use(Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Local Government Requirements (Notification):

The sort of data that would usually be contained in the notification must be:

If the high-risk construction work relates to project construction, the name and contact information of the main contractor for the project or the representative of the principal contractor

The specificity of the demolition

If the explosives would be used in the execution of the work and, if so, the specifics of the license of the individual to use the explosives

Place of work to be done.

If, as part of the demolition work, load shifting machinery is to be utilized on suspended floors, the regulator must be notified.

If it is intended to use explosives for demolition work, the regulator must be alerted (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

WHS codes of practice issues:

Under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, the Code of Practice for handling health and safety hazards linked with demolition work is an authorized code of practice. In the situations defined in the law, a code of practice extends to everyone who has a duty of care. In certain cases, adherence to the health and safety obligations concerning the subject matter of the legislation can be done by adopting an authorized code of practice. Like rules, codes of conduct deal with basic situations and do not address all risks or dangers that may occur (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Disconnection of service:

The positioning and disconnection of all critical facilities are one of the most significant aspects of pre-demolition planning. Important facilities provide the provision of pipelines or lines of gas, wastewater, sewerage, utilities, electricity, pesticides, gasoline, and coolants. The principal contractor shall ensure, to the degree that it is fairly possible, that critical workplace facilities are free of health and safety hazards. Before the work commences, an SWMS must be ready. Until demolition work, the above services be shut down, blocked, or regulated, at or beyond the construction boundary. Any operation sustained for demolition must, as ordered by the appropriate authority be properly encased (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Required plant and equipment

A variety of plants and machinery generally used for demolition are powered mobile plants, workers and/or materials hoists, air compressors, electric motors, jackhammers, hydraulic jacks, oxy-acetylene (gas cutting/welding), cement saws and corers, railings, ledges, and many types of portable plants, including power tools, power chisels, crowbars, demolishers, ledges (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Disposal Dangerous Material

The ownership, transportation, processing, and usage of explosives shall be done following the applicable laws relating to hazardous substances/products or explosives in the state or jurisdiction (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Demolition Sequence

The structure is designed for a specified period and once that period is over then the structure needs to be demolished so that the danger of old structure in existence can be avoided as collapsing of it is life-threatening to the occupants of the building as well as to the surrounding buildings or structures (Rathi & Khandve, 2014).

The demolition sequence is a significant aspect that is to be considered based on the surroundings as well as the health and protection of the general public and workers (Walls, 2017).

The sequence of demolition depends upon the location of the structure, the type of construction with which it was constructed and the method of demolition adopted. The demolition of the structure usually occurs in the reverse order of construction (Anumba, Abdullah & Ruikar, 2008). Such reverse order demolition is the sequential evolution that starts from the Pinnacle of the building. In the case of multi-story buildings, structures are demolished on a story basis (Safe Work Australia, 2016).

There are various demolition methods out of which 4 are discussed below:

First is the manual demolition where hand tools are used to demolish the structure like hammers, Jackhammers picks, and sledge. The second method is by way of mechanical demolition wherein excavators, loaders, bulldozers, and cranes are used, also, a mixture of mechanical and hand demolition methods is applied in this method. The third method is induced collapse in which the whole structure systematically and sequentially is collapsed in a controlled manner of all the parts of the structure. This requires expert advice like structural engineer before using such a method, such a method is used for isolated structures. The last method for demolition is by way of using explosives. a competent person having experience in such type of demolition shall be consulted before demolishing by way of explosive and such a method shall only be performed after the necessary approval of the regulatory authority(Safe Work Australia, 2016).

The special precaution which should be taken during the revolution of temporary bracing of walls to prevent collapse is by way of providing clear instructions and removing the panel in the reverse sequence by way of crane (Safe Work Australia, 2016). I will take certain special precautions/safety work while demolition of the structure as the structure consists of lead. The precautions which I will take are as under:

Minimization of creation of lead fumes and dust

Sanitization of areas before and after work

PPE to be worn

Maintenance of hygiene(Safe Work Australia, 2016).

Bibliography for Demolition Work Code of Practice

Legislation:

Work Health and Safety Act, 2011 s 274.

References

Rathi, S. O., & Khandve, P. V. (2014). Demolition of buildings–An overview. International Journal of Advance Engineering and Research Development, 1(6), 1-8.

Walls, R. (2017). Demolition of steel structures: structural engineering solutions for a more sustainable construction industry. USA: Springer, Cham.

Anumba, C. J., Abdullah, A., & Ruikar, K. (2008). An integrated system for demolition techniques selection. Architectural engineering and design management, 4(2), 130-148.

Safe Work Australia. (2016). Demolition work code of practice. Retrieved from https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1705/mcop-demolition-work-v4.pdf

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