Hand Demolition Safety

Hand demolition involves manually breaking out concrete, masonry, and finishes using hand and power tools.
It is used in confined areas, near sensitive structures, and where machine demolition is not practical.
Silica dust from breaking concrete and masonry is the primary health hazard during hand demolition.
Hand-arm vibration from breakers and drills causes HAVS with prolonged and repeated exposure.
Falling debris from overhead hand demolition strikes workers below if exclusion zones are not maintained.
Structural stability must be assessed before removing any load-bearing element by hand methods.
Hidden services including electrical cables, gas pipes, and water mains may be embedded in walls and floors.
Noise levels from breakers and percussion tools in enclosed spaces regularly exceed safe exposure limits.
Manual handling of rubble and debris creates back injuries if mechanical removal is not available.
CDM 2015, COSHH 2002, and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 all apply.

Silica exposure	Breaking concrete by hand without dust control exposes workers to silica dust causing silicosis and lung cancer.
Structural collapse	Removing load-bearing elements by hand without structural assessment causes sudden collapse onto the demolition team.
Vibration injury	Extended breaker use causes permanent hand-arm vibration syndrome that ends construction careers.

Do

Don't

Use water suppression or extraction to control dust during all breaking work.
Assess structural stability before removing any load-bearing element by hand.
Scan walls and floors for hidden services before starting demolition in each area.
Limit breaker use time to stay below daily vibration exposure action values.
Establish exclusion zones below overhead hand demolition work areas.
Wear RPE, hearing protection, eye protection, and safety boots at all times.
Remove rubble regularly using mechanical means to prevent manual handling overload.
Follow the demolition method statement sequence for each area of work.
Rotate tasks between operatives to reduce individual vibration exposure.
Inspect tools and equipment before each shift for damage and wear.

DON'T break concrete or masonry without dust suppression or extraction running.
DON'T remove load-bearing walls, beams, or columns without structural assessment.
DON'T exceed the daily vibration exposure limit for breaker and drill operations.
DON'T work below overhead demolition without exclusion zones and debris netting.
DON'T demolish walls without scanning for hidden electrical cables and pipes.
DON'T remove RPE or hearing protection while demolition dust and noise are present.
DON'T shovel and carry heavy rubble manually when mechanical removal is available.
DON'T deviate from the approved demolition method statement sequence.
DON'T use worn chisel points; they increase vibration without improving performance.
DON'T ignore tingling or numbness in hands; report HAVS symptoms immediately.

See also: Demolition Safety Awareness | Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

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