PDFWAC 296-155-775
Preparatory operations.
(1)(a) Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, a competent person must perform an engineering survey of the structure(s) to determine the condition and structural integrity of the framing, floors, walls, and the possibility of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure(s). Any adjacent structure(s) where employees may be exposed must also be similarly checked.
(b) You must maintain a copy of the engineering survey at the job site for the duration of the demolition operation.
(2)(a) You must develop and implement a written demolition plan tailored to the operation and to the types of hazards involved. The demolition plan must incorporate conditions of the framing, floors, and walls, and potential of unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure(s) identified in the engineering survey.
(b) The demolition plan must be available on the job site for inspection by the department.
(3) You must observe federal and state codes, safety standards, rules, regulations, and ordinances governing any and all phases of demolition work at all times.
(4) You must conduct demolition of all buildings and structures under the supervision of a competent person.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) If it is necessary to maintain any power, water or other utilities during demolition, such lines must be temporarily relocated, as necessary, and protected.
(8)(a) You must determine if asbestos, hazardous materials, hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable materials, or similarly dangerous substances are present at the worksite and adjacent structures that could be affected by the demolition operation.
(b) When the presence of any such substance is apparent or suspected, testing and removal must be performed and the hazard eliminated before demolition is started.
(c) Testing and removal of such substances must be in accordance with the requirements of chapters 296-62 and 296-65 WAC, and any other applicable federal, state, or local regulations, laws, or rules.
(9) When the removal of material may cause dust to be formed:
(a) When the removal of material may expose employees to airborne hazards the requirements in chapter 296-841 WAC must be followed.
(b) When the removal of material may expose employees to respirable crystalline silica, the requirements in chapter 296-840 WAC must be followed.
(10) Where a hazard exists from fragmentation of glass, you must remove such hazards prior to starting demolition activities.
(11) You must ensure that each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 4 feet or more above a lower level and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the working surface, are protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, safety net system, personal fall arrest system, or personal fall restraint system in accordance with chapter 296-880 WAC, Unified safety standards for fall protection.
(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) Cover requirement - Holes.
(a) Hole covers must be capable of supporting, without failure, at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
(b) You must mark each cover with the word "hole" or "cover" to provide warning of the hazard.
(c) You must secure all covers to prevent accidental displacement by wind, equipment, or employees.
(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 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, drive in, or bend over nails protruding from boards, planks or timber as soon as the same is removed from the structure being demolished.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 21-09-067, § 296-155-775, filed 4/20/21, effective 6/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-775, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-155-775, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; WSR 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-155-775, filed 11/30/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.050(2) and 49.17.040. WSR 87-10-008 (Order 87-06), § 296-155-775, filed 4/27/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. WSR 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-775, filed 1/21/86; Order 74-26, § 296-155-775, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]