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What do Demolition workers (or operatives) do?
Demolition operatives, also known as demolition workers, demolish and (more commonly) dismantle structures, such as derelict buildings, tower blocks, tall chimneys and industrial plants, for example decommissioned power stations. Operatives carry out their work in one of three ways: (1) by hand with hammer drills and oxyacetylene cutting equipment (2) using heavy plant machinery (3) with explosives. For some jobs, they will use a combination of all three.
Demolition operatives work at three main levels of responsibility, each with slightly different duties. These are:
Demolition Operative 1 (labourer) – prepares the site, puts up screens, safety rails and fences, lays down dustsheets and separates out re-usable building materials after demolition
Demolition Operative 2 (mattockman/woman) – strips out fittings, removes doors and windows, puts up roof protection, demolishes old roof structures and carries out demolition by hand
Demolition Operative 3 (topman/woman) – does all the tasks above and cuts steel frames at heights, strips fragile roof coverings and instructs others in safe demolition practices.
Operatives may also recover some metalwork, using industrial crane-mounted magnets, and they can put concrete slabs through a crusher to produce aggregate for roadworks.
Health and safety plays a major role in demolition work, so operatives must follow strict regulations. Demolition Operatives also carry out the safe removal of hazardous materials like asbestos and toxic materials.
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Union Industry Contacts:
Ontario Association of Demolition Contractors
3200 Lloydtown-Aurora Rd., L0G 1J0 - Kettleby...........................Phone: 905 841-3735
Labourers International Union of North America
555 Burnhamthorpe Rd., Suite 700 - Toronto...............................Phone: 416 240-7254
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