Demolition workers

Demolition workers are employed for the deconstruction of numerous different projects such as buildings, structures, and roadways. Demolition work can entail a very technical process. A demolition company must first analyze the building being deconstructed and demolished. The company must then look at the value of the raw materials within the building and decide on a recycling plan for those materials. They must also devise a strategy to safely and efficiently demolish the building so that surrounding buildings, structures, and people are not affected by the demolition.

Once the plan and strategy are put in place, demolition workers begin the process of the deconstruction and demolition of the building. The process could entail two general strategies which include blasting and wrecking. The process of blasting entails using heavy explosives to bring down a structure in a safe and extremely organized fashion. Wrecking entails demolition workers to demolish the building using different types of tools and machinery including sledge hammers and bulldozers. In this case, demolition workers will first go into a structure and gut it, which is the process of stripping the structure of all its valuables including pipes, fixtures, and appliances. Once the valuables are removed, the actual wrecking begins which can be done by a mixture of workers and machines. The workers can wreck internal structures with hand tools such as hammers and axes. When larger demolishing is needed, machines and machine operators are moved in to use equipment such as cranes, bulldozers, and backhoes to bring down the remaining structure.

As imagined, the job of a demolition worker can be very dangerous. Demolition workers can suffer injuries from dealing with different tools such as saws and axes. They can also be injured while handling explosives such as dynamite. While demolition projects are normally carefully planned and performed, there is still the risk of workers being injured by collapsing debris. In 2007, two demolition workers were injured when the floor collapsed during a demolition project in a New York building. In 2005, an Arizona work was injured on a demolition site when a large piece of concrete fell on the machine he was operating. These types of demolition hazards are expected and normally prepared for by owners and managers. However, there is another hazard posed to demolition workers which has not been as well known in the past. This hazard to demolition workers is the potential exposure to asbestos, the contaminant causing lung diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Building materials containing asbestos have not always known as a hazard and has affected numerous unknowing demolition workers dating back to the early 20^th century. During the 20^th century, building material manufacturers developed products using asbestos for its heat resistance and insulating characteristics. Building materials that could contain asbestos include insulation for pipes and ducts, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and wallboards. Asbestos could have also been used during construction by being sprayed on different types of surfaces. While a demolition worker was working in these buildings and structures, it is very possible that the worker could become exposed to asbestos while disrupting the asbestos containing products. Once the asbestos had been disrupted, the demolition worker could unknowingly inhale the contaminant or have the asbestos fibers trapped on the worker's clothing and transported to other family and friends.

Asbestos was widely used in the construction of buildings across the United States including the surrounding area of our firm (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania). In this day and age, demolition workers need to exercise all safety precautions when working around potential asbestos containing materials. If you are a demolition worker that has been exposed to asbestos materials, seek medical attention immediately and speak to an experienced asbestos lawyer to understand your legal rights.