(1) Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, you must make an engineering survey, by a competent person, of the structure to determine structural integrity and the possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure. You must similarly check adjacent structures where employees may be exposed. You must have in writing, evidence that such a survey has been performed.

(2) You must maintain a copy of the survey report and of the plans and/or methods of operations at the job site for the duration of the demolition operation.

(3) Any device or equipment such as scaffolds, ladders, derricks, hoists, etc., used in connection with demolition work must be constructed, installed, inspected, maintained and operated in accordance with the regulations governing the construction, installation, inspection, maintenance and operation of such device or equipment as specified in other parts of this chapter.

(4) You must observe federal and state codes, safety standards, rules, regulations, and ordinances governing any and all phases of demolition work at all times.

(5) You must conduct demolition of all buildings and structures under competent supervision, and you must afford safe working conditions to the employees.

(6) When employees are required to work within a structure to be demolished which has been damaged by fire, flood, explosion, or other cause, you must shore or brace the walls or floors.

(7) You must shut off, cap, or otherwise control all electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines outside the building line before demolition work is started. In each case, you must notify any utility company which is involved in advance.

(8) If it is necessary to maintain any power, water or other utilities during demolition, such lines must be temporarily relocated, as necessary, and protected.

(9) You must determine whether asbestos, hazardous materials, hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable materials, or similarly dangerous substances are present at the work site. When the presence of any such substance is apparent or suspected, you must perform testing and removal or purging and eliminate the hazard before demolition is started. Removal of such substances must be in accordance with the requirements of chapters 296-62 and 296-65 WAC.

(10) Where a hazard exists from fragmentation of glass, you must remove such hazards.

(11) Where a hazard exists to employees falling through wall openings, you must protect the opening to a height of between 36 and 42 inches.

(12) When debris is dropped without the use of chutes, the area onto which the material is dropped must be completely enclosed with barricades not less than 42 inches high and not less than 20 feet back from the projected edge of the opening above. You must post signs, warning of the hazard of falling materials, at each level. You must not permit removal in this lower area until debris handling ceases above.

(13) All floor openings, not used as material drops, must be covered over with material substantial enough to support the weight of any load which may be imposed. You must properly secure such material to prevent its accidental movement.

(14) Except for the cutting of holes in floors for chutes, holes through which to drop materials, preparation of storage space, and similar necessary preparatory work, you must begin the demolition of exterior walls and floor construction at the top of the structure and proceed downward. You must remove and drop each story of exterior wall and floor construction into the storage space before commencing the removal of exterior walls and floors in the story next below.

(15) You must not permit workers to carry on a demolition operation which will expose persons working on a lower level to danger.

(16) You must completely protect employee entrances to multistory structures being demolished by sidewalk sheds or canopies, or both, providing protection from the face of the building for a minimum of 8 feet. All such canopies must be at least two feet wider than the building entrances or openings (one foot wider on each side thereof), and must be capable of sustaining a load of 150 pounds per square foot.

(17) You must withdraw protruding nails in boards, planks and timber, driven in or bent over as soon as the same is removed from the structure being demolished.

(18) You must sprinkle any material to be removed which will cause dust to be formed, with water to lay the dust incidental to its removal.

PDFWAC 296-155-775

Preparatory operations.