4 . CONTROLLING RISKS IN DEMOLITION WORK
4.5 Powered mobile plant
The use of powered mobile plant such as cranes , excavators and bulldozers , requires the preparation of a SWMS before work commences .
A high risk work licence is required to operate some types of powered mobile plant , such as some cranes , elevating work platforms or forklifts .
Whenever powered mobile plant is to be used for demolition work , traffic management arrangements should be implemented to prevent collision with pedestrians or other mobile plant .
CRANES Cranes may be used in demolition work for a number of purposes , including :
• lifting and lowering plant and / or materials
• lifting and lowering personnel work boxes
• holding suspended loads .
Cranes require a licensed operator . An operator may also need other competencies for specialist work .
If cranes are used to suspend loads that are to be cut and then lowered to the ground , it is important for the loads to be accurately calculated . It may be necessary to cut samples in order to determine the weight per unit length or area . Where this occurs , the safe working load of the crane should be reduced by 50 per cent to allow for miscalculations in the test weighing . A similar approach should be followed where weights cannot be determined with reasonable consistency and accuracy .
4.6 Removal of debris
The person conducting a business or undertaking and / or the principal contractor in control of the workplace must manage the risks to health and safety arising from the storage , movement and disposal of construction materials and waste at the workplace .
Debris should be progressively removed to prevent any build up that could affect the integrity of a suspended floor of the building or structure , affect workplace access and egress , become a fire hazard , or cause a health and safety hazard .
Demolished materials should not be allowed to fall freely unless they are confined within a chute ( or similar enclosure ), shaft and / or exclusion zone .
A debris drop is a debris pile that is enclosed and where the risk of an object striking workers or the public has been eliminated . Debris drop zones should be clearly identified and any area where there is a risk that a worker or other persons at the workplace might be injured by falling or rebounding debris should be fenced or barricaded to prevent access .
If demolished materials are allowed to fall through internal floor openings in multi-storey buildings , such as lift shafts and / or debris drop zones , the following should apply :
CODE OF PRACTICE | DEMOLITION WORK 21