Demolition is one of the highest-risk scopes for fall hazards because the work itself removes guardrails, floors, walls, and structural elements that otherwise provide fall protection. Every phase of demolition creates new fall exposure that didn't exist before your crew started.
GC safety coordinators scrutinize demolition Fall Protection Plans more closely than almost any other trade. Your plan must show how fall protection will be maintained as the structure is progressively dismantled — not just at the start of the project.
Removing beams, columns, and load-bearing walls at elevation exposes workers to falls from the structure itself.
Cutting and removing floor sections creates openings that grow as work progresses. Workers near active cuts face fall exposure.
As exterior walls and parapets are removed, previously protected areas become unguarded leading edges.
Loading debris chutes at upper floors requires workers to approach floor openings and unguarded edges repeatedly.
Partially demolished structures can shift or collapse unexpectedly, creating sudden fall hazards on compromised surfaces.
Demolition is unique because fall hazards increase as work progresses — unlike other trades where the structure provides more protection over time. GC safety coordinators will verify that your plan accounts for how fall protection changes at each phase of demolition, not just the initial conditions.
In addition to the 10 standard sections of every SafeDocs Fall Protection Plan, your plan will address these trade-specific elements:
Progressive fall protection as structure is dismantled
Floor opening protection during slab removal
Perimeter protection as exterior walls are removed
Debris chute loading zone fall protection
Structural stability monitoring and exclusion zones
Equipment operator fall protection on elevated platforms
Yes. Because demolition progressively changes the structure, your plan should describe how fall protection will be maintained at each phase. GC safety coordinators expect to see phase-specific procedures, not just a single static plan.
Your GC may require both a Fall Protection Plan and a Demolition Safety Plan (per 29 CFR 1926 Subpart T). The Fall Protection Plan covers how workers are protected from falls — the demolition plan covers engineering surveys, structural integrity, and demolition sequence.