CITB Specialists Demolition Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What specialist equipment is required when using a high-reach demolition excavator to dismantle a multi-storey structure?
- Standard buckets and breakers only
- A machine specifically designed for high-reach work with appropriate boom length, fitted with a demolition attachment, and operated from outside the collapse zone (Correct answer)
- Any available excavator with a long boom
- A telescopic handler with a grab attachment
Correct answer: A machine specifically designed for high-reach work with appropriate boom length, fitted with a demolition attachment, and operated from outside the collapse zone
High-reach demolition requires purpose-built machines with reinforced booms, specialist demolition attachments (crushers, shears, grapples), and adequate counterweight. The machine must be positioned outside the calculated collapse zone, on stable ground, and operated by a CPCS-qualified demolition operative.
Question 2: During specialist demolition, what is the 'soft strip' phase and when must it be completed?
- Removing external cladding during demolition
- The removal of all non-structural elements (fixtures, fittings, hazardous materials) before structural demolition begins (Correct answer)
- Stripping paint from steelwork
- Removing floor coverings after demolition
Correct answer: The removal of all non-structural elements (fixtures, fittings, hazardous materials) before structural demolition begins
Soft strip is the systematic removal of all non-structural internal elements including fixtures, fittings, services, and hazardous materials (asbestos, lead paint, PCBs) before structural demolition commences. This phase reduces hazards during structural demolition and allows for proper waste segregation and recycling.
Question 3: What is the minimum competence requirement for a specialist demolition operative working on a UK construction site?
- 5 years of general construction experience
- A CSCS Demolition card with NVQ Level 2 in Demolition or equivalent (Correct answer)
- A general CSCS Labourer card
- A driving licence for heavy plant
Correct answer: A CSCS Demolition card with NVQ Level 2 in Demolition or equivalent
Specialist demolition operatives must hold a CSCS Demolition card, which requires an NVQ Level 2 in Demolition (or equivalent recognised qualification) and passing the CITB HS&E test. This ensures they have demonstrated competence in demolition-specific skills, hazard recognition, and safe working practices.
Question 4: A specialist contractor is planning to demolish a structure containing pre-stressed concrete beams. What specific hazard must be addressed in the method statement?
- The concrete may be too hard to break
- Pre-stressed tendons store significant energy and can violently release when cut, causing whiplash or structural collapse (Correct answer)
- Pre-stressed concrete produces more dust than normal concrete
- The beams are heavier than standard concrete beams
Correct answer: Pre-stressed tendons store significant energy and can violently release when cut, causing whiplash or structural collapse
Pre-stressed concrete contains tendons under extreme tension. When these are cut or the concrete around them is broken, the stored energy can cause tendons to whiplash violently or structural elements to fail suddenly. The method statement must address the sequence of release, safe cutting techniques, and exclusion zones during tendon cutting.
Question 5: What environmental control is required when demolishing a building in a residential area to manage dust emissions?
- Nothing specific; dust is a normal part of demolition
- Continuous dust suppression using water sprays, boundary monitoring, and potentially encapsulation for high-risk materials (Correct answer)
- A notice to residents that dust may occur
- Sweeping the site at the end of each day
Correct answer: Continuous dust suppression using water sprays, boundary monitoring, and potentially encapsulation for high-risk materials
Dust suppression is a legal requirement under environmental legislation and CDM 2015. Continuous water suppression at the point of demolition, boundary dust monitoring, damping down of debris, and covering of skips/stockpiles are all required. For materials like silica or asbestos, full encapsulation may be necessary.
Question 6: When is a specialist demolition contractor legally required to notify the HSE before work begins?
- For all demolition projects regardless of size
- Only when the project is notifiable under CDM 2015 (lasting more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers, or exceeding 500 person-days) (Correct answer)
- Only when explosives are used
- Notification is voluntary for demolition projects
Correct answer: Only when the project is notifiable under CDM 2015 (lasting more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers, or exceeding 500 person-days)
Demolition projects fall under CDM 2015 notification requirements. An F10 notification must be sent to the HSE if the project will last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers simultaneously, or exceed 500 person-days. However, all demolition requires a written plan regardless of notification thresholds.
CITB Specialists Demolition Safety 2
What specialist equipment is required when using a high-reach demolition excavator to dismantle a multi-storey structure?