Demolition

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Demolition operations are commonly conducted during construction and involve the use of heavy equipment to remove part or all of an existing structure.

Summary

Demolition work presents significant hazards, including:

To prevent incidents and create a safe working environment while working in construction and demolition activities: 

  • Conduct a thorough risk assessment and structural integrity site survey before beginning work,
  • Implement the hierarchy of controls, including deenergizing electrical and mechanical systems before the start of work,
  • Implement safe work procedures,
  • Provide adequate training, and  
  • Use personal protective equipment.

As an employer, you must:

For structural integrity, make sure that: [Reg. 91-191, S.121.1] 

  • Where the demolition of a building or structure may compromise the integrity of any adjoining building or structure, both the employer and the contractor must make sure adjoining buildings or structures are supported by a support system approved by an engineer.
  • The support system design plan includes a schedule for the installation of the components of the support system, based on the stages of demolition, and a copy of the design plan is available to an officer on request.
  • Where salvage takes place before or after demolition, the integrity of the building or structure is maintained.
  • Where a dangerous or unstable wall is to be left standing, it is adequately braced.
  • During demolition, where materials of a size or weight that may endanger employees are present, materials are not loosened or allowed to fall unless procedures are in place to adequately protect employees. 

When the demolition does not put employees in danger and does not compromise the stability of adjoining buildings or structures, a support system is not needed for the original building or structure or adjoining buildings or structures.  [Reg. 91-191, S.121.1(6)] 

For hazardous materials, make sure that: [Reg. 91-191, S.121.2] 

  • Before work begins on a demolition, the owner of the building or structure, the employer, and the contractor have a competent person inspect the site to identify any hazardous substances or any material containing a hazardous substance that may be handled, disturbed, or removed and prepare an inspection report. If any substances or materials containing a hazardous substance are identified, prepare drawings, plans or specifications that show their location.
  • The owner of the building or structure, the employer and the contractor each make available the inspection report, drawings, plans, or specifications, if any, to an officer on request.
  • Where a hazardous substance is not identified during the inspection but is discovered during the demolition, the owner of the building or structure, the employer, and the contractor must each make sure that all work stops until the hazardous substance is safely contained or removed. 

For glass removal, make sure that:

  • Where glass in a building or structure could injure employees, the employer and contractor make sure that the glass is removed in an orderly manner from the top to the bottom of the building or structure before demolition. [Reg. 91-191, S.121.3]  

When disconnecting utilities, make sure that:

  • Before demolition begins, both the employer and contractor do not begin work until all private and public utilities which may injure employees have been disconnected in the manner required by the owner of the applicable utility. [Reg. 91-191, S.121.4]  

To protect from falling debris, make sure that: [Reg. 91-191, S.121.5] 

For stairways, make sure that:

  • Both the employer and contractor make sure that stairways, complete with handrails, are left intact during the demolition until access to the level they serve is no longer required. [Reg. 91-191, S.121.6]  

Legislation

General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act

N.B. Reg. 91-191

Part X CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC AND BUILDING SAFETY

Section 121.1 Structural integrity
  • 121.1 (1) If the demolition of a building or structure may result in the compromised integrity of any adjoining building or structure, an employer and a contractor shall each ensure that the adjoining buildings or structures are supported by a support system approved by an engineer.
  • (2) The design plan of a support system referred in subsection (1) shall include a schedule for the installation of the components of the support system that is based on the stages of demolition, and a copy of the design plan shall be made available to an officer on re‐ quest.
  • (3) If salvage is taking place before or during the demolition, the integrity of the building or structure shall be maintained.
  • (4) If a dangerous or unstable wall is to be left standing, the wall shall be adequately braced.
  • (5) During the demolition, materials of a size or weight that may endanger employees shall not be loosened or allowed to fall unless procedures are used that will adequately protect the employees.
  • (6) If the nature and method of the demolition will not endanger employees and will not compromise the stability of adjoining buildings or structures, the building or structure and adjoining buildings or structures are not required to be supported by a support system referred to in subsection (1).

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]

Section 121.2 Hazardous material
  • 121.2(1) Before work begins on a demolition of a building or structure, the owner of the building or structure, the employer and the contractor shall each ensure that a competent person inspects the site to identify any hazardous substances or any material containing a hazardous substance that may be handled, disturbed or re‐ moved and prepares an inspection report and, if any hazardous substances or materials containing a hazardous substance are identified, any drawings, plans or specifications showing their location.
  • (2) The owner of the building or structure, the employer and the contractor shall each ensure that the inspection report and drawings, plans or specifications, if any, are made available to an officer on request.
  • (3) If hazardous substances or materials containing a hazardous substance are not identified during the inspection referred to in subsection (1) but are discovered during the demolition, the owner of the building or structure, the employer and the contractor shall each ensure that all work ceases until they are safely contained or removed.

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]

Section 121.3 Glass removal

121.3 If glass in a building or structure could endanger employees, an employer and a contractor shall each en‐ sure that before the demolition begins, glass is removed in an orderly manner from the top to the bottom of the building or structure.

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]

Section 121.4 Disconnecting utilities
  • 121.4 An employer and a contractor shall each ensure that the demolition does not begin until all private and public utilities which may endanger an employee have been disconnected in the manner required by the owner of the applicable utility.

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]

Section 121.5 Protection from falling debris
  • 121.5 (1) If material is being dropped or thrown from upper floors during the demolition, an employer and a contractor shall each ensure that the area into which the material will fall is barricaded to prevent employees from entering the area and conspicuous warning signs are displayed to advise of the danger.
  • (2) If falling material could endanger an employee, an employer and a contractor shall each ensure that
    • (a) the danger area is protected by adequate canopies or barricaded to prevent employees from entering the area, and
    • (b) any floor or roof opening through which material may fall during the demolition and endanger employees is adequately covered.

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]

Section 121.6 Stairways

121.6 An employer and a contractor shall each ensure that stairways, complete with handrails, are left intact during the demolition until access to the level they serve is no longer required.

[N.B. Reg. 2024-38, s. 61]