Hiring the right demolition contractor

Why is finding the right demolition contractor with the proper expertise important? As a part of the construction and demolition (C&D) process, demolition contractors are responsible to the public, the project employees and the project owner. With that responsibility comes risk.

A management company or general contractor needs to consider safety performance in selecting a quality contractor. Project owners need to thoroughly vet the contractors they hire for demolition projects because risks are inherent in choosing the wrong contractor. The way the demolition or deconstruction is conducted affects worker and public safety, the environment and the community.

To those outside of the demolition industry, demolition often is viewed as “reverse construction” and typically is visualized by a wrecking ball or other large pieces of equipment. However, demolition takes many forms and is much more nuanced than what the general public perceives. Although many contractors could be capable of performing simple projects safely, such as removing a shed or a carport, only a qualified demolition company can take on more complex work.

Demolition expertise

The true strength of a good demolition company lies in the skills of its personnel. A good demolition contractor has trained, experienced workers with appropriate licenses and certifications. The workers know how to help plan a job, follow the plan and work safely and productively.

Up-front planning for demolition jobs involves intense analysis and in-depth examination of the structure and job site. This often means reverse engineering structural assessments derived from the initial investigation to best assess the primary characteristics and stability of the structures and to identify the best methodology for demolition. The information generated during the assessment and planning phase is then used to verify whether the demolition methods are appropriate and to anticipate the structure’s response during dismantlement. Because original building plans often are not available, this process is critical.

A good demolition contractor has a team of experts who have extensive knowledge of demolition techniques and can create a demolition plan to finish the job on time and without injury or incident.

Safety

Demolition is not simply blowing things up. Rather, it is a series of complex operations to bring down a structure in a safe manner. The high risk associated with this work can be minimized by hiring a qualified demolition contractor.

A good demolition contractor considers the safety of workers and the surrounding public at every step of the demolition process. At a minimum, all federal, state and municipal regulations that have a bearing on safety must be followed carefully. A job hazard analysis is conducted, and a site safety plan is developed and implemented. Project managers inform all employees not only about the demolition plan but also the site safety plan that accompanies it. A good demolition contractor considers injury to any worker or member of the public unacceptable and does everything within its power to ensure none occur.

Some companies could find the cost of a truly safe job to be too high. Responsible demolition contractors, however, know that the costs of accidents, injuries and deaths are much higher. No responsible contractor wants any member of its team or the public hurt. But immediate monetary costs also are associated with a death or injury. The economic impact in such a case can cause significant delay in project completion and years of litigation, the costs of which dwarf any safety expenses.

Environmental impact

Environmental and health hazards often are present on demolition sites. Demolition activities can create hazards such as respirable dust.

Within the structures themselves, employees commonly encounter asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead paint, Freon, mercury, silica, gasoline range organics, diesel range organics and radiological contaminants.

However, it is not enough to demand that a demolition contractor ensure compliance with basic rules and regulations. The project owner also must think in terms of minimizing long-term risk by safeguarding itself, its local ecosystem and its overall property. Professional demolition crews are experienced and knowledgeable on all aspects of handling hazardous materials because they routinely encounter them.

Most qualified demolition service companies are experienced in performing asbestos remediation and environmental cleanup on their own, or they partner with a trustworthy, reliable firm focusing primarily on the safe handling, removal, transportation and disposal of these materials.

Compliance

The demolition industry is well-regulated; however, C&D regulations are sometimes complicated. For instance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notification is required on almost all structural demolition projects within a specific time frame, but state and local rules often are more stringent. Demolition professionals must know the laws and regulations that are relevant to any demolition project.

Reputable demolition companies have experienced, properly licensed and trained employees to ensure the project follows the relevant local and federal regulations. Regulatory compliance is essential, especially when the demolition project involves hazardous materials or regulated plant and animal habitats. Regulatory compliance also is important with regard to runoff water and erosion that can affect the environment. When project owners employ a quality professional demolition contractor, they are protected against potential fines and can rest assured that all documentation is well-organized.

Effective techniques

Quality demolition companies keep track of industry innovations that can aid on projects and add them to their equipment arsenal.

For example, technological developments enable workers to operate a piece of robotic equipment via a Bluetooth connection from a safe location when dealing with hazardous conditions.

At the other end of this spectrum are massive machines that can reach incredible heights to demolish tall structures from a distance.

A project owner will want to know whether the contractor being considered has the latest technology and uses it to its advantage.

The worthwhile price of expertise

Project owners should prequalify a potential demolition firm by looking at its safety record, financial abilities, insurance and level of experience and training.

The National Demolition Association (NDA), a Washington-based demolition contractor association in the United States, has developed a checklist to help conduct a thorough qualification process.

Rather than choosing the lowest bidder, project owners should choose the best-qualified bidder and consider using a selection matrix in the decision-making process to ensure the selected contractor meets the necessary requirements.

Project owners also should consider asking for performance and payment bonds, though the protection they afford is limited.

Project owners also should learn about demolition. One way to do this is by receiving training from the NDA.

When choosing a contractor, project owners should vet those it is considering by:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) records.
• Regulatory violations considered by the EPA and OSHA.
• Experience modification rates from a demolition contractor’s insurance company;
• The contractor’s insurance policies and whether they are acceptable to your insurance and specifically cover demolition.
• Whether the contractor is licensed as a demolition contractor if required by the local municipality.
• Whether the firm’s experience is specific to the proposed type of work to be performed.
• A list of all the potential contractor’s projects with contact names and phone numbers.
• Whether the company has the financial ability to handle a project of the size needed.
• Whether the company can obtain a performance and payment bond, whether purchased or not, and that the bonding company is well-rated.

Once a project owner has selected a demolition firm for the project, the following information should be gathered:

• Details regarding its means and methods to perform the work.
• Resumes of individuals who will be managing the work, both on-site and off-site, and check their experience.

If the project owner does not have the ability to evaluate the contractor, its personnel or its means and methods, someone qualified to do so should be retained.

A demolition project owner needs to consider the up-front costs and the possible long-term costs of a project should a disaster occur.

While nothing is certain in this world, a successful demolition job is more likely when a qualified demolition contractor is hired to do the work.

Reprinted with permission from the National Demolition Association, Washington. More information is available by visiting www.demolitionassociation.com.