Job Hazard Analysis · General Contractor

Job Hazard Analysis: Interior demolition

Non-structural interior gut-out of an existing building: removing ceilings, light fixtures, drywall or plaster, non-load-bearing stud walls, cabinets, and flooring by hand and with power tools. Debris goes out by cart or chute to a roll-off dumpster. No load-bearing walls, structural steel, or roof work are included. Any suspected asbestos or lead paint must be tested before work starts.

Published 2026-10-23

A general example for this task. Your JHA should reflect your crew, equipment and site — review it with a competent person before work starts.

Steps, hazards and controls

Step	Hazard	Risk	Controls
1. Walk the site with the competent person and check for asbestos, lead paint, mold, and weak floors before any demo starts.	Disturbing asbestos in old drywall mud, ceiling tile, floor tile, or pipe wrap	High	Get the written survey or lab results for suspect materials before demo. If results are positive, a licensed abatement contractor removes it first. Mark tested areas on the floor plan and post it at the entrance. If you find material that was not tested, stop work in that area and tell the foreman.
	Lead dust from painted trim, doors, and walls in buildings built before 1978	High	Test painted surfaces before demo. Treat untested paint in older buildings as lead. Use wet methods and a HEPA vacuum. No dry sweeping or compressed air. No eating, drinking, or smoking in the work area. Wash hands and face before breaks.
	Falling through rotted floors or open floor holes	Medium	Probe soft or water-damaged floors before walking on them. Cover holes with secured plywood marked HOLE.
2. Shut off and lock out electricity, gas, and water to the demo area. Test that circuits are dead.	Electric shock from live wires hidden inside walls and ceilings	High	Turn off breakers feeding the area, put a lock and tag on each one, and keep the key on you. Test outlets and switches with a voltage tester before cutting. Check the tester on a known live circuit first. Power tools for demo run off a temporary GFCI-protected cord from outside the locked-out area.
	Gas leak or flooding from cut gas or water lines	High	Close and tag the gas and water valves. Cap lines before removing fixtures. If you smell gas, stop, get everyone out, no switches or sparks, and call 911 from outside.
3. Set up the work area: plastic dust barriers, warning signs, debris path to the dumpster, lighting, and fans exhausting outside.	Other trades or occupants walking into the demo zone	Medium	Close off the area with plastic sheeting and caution tape. Post DANGER – DEMOLITION signs at every entry.
	Trips and falls over cords, hoses, and debris in poor light	Medium	Hang temporary lights so the whole area is lit. Run cords overhead or along walls. Keep the exit path at least 3 ft wide and clear at all times.
	Fire from damaged wiring, work lights, or smoking near debris	Medium	Place a charged 10-lb ABC fire extinguisher at each exit. No smoking inside.
4. Remove ceiling tile, drywall ceilings, light fixtures, ductwork, and other overhead items from a stepladder or rolling scaffold.	Falling from a 6-ft or 8-ft stepladder or rolling scaffold	High	Use a rolling scaffold with guardrails and locked wheels for long ceiling runs instead of moving a ladder. Inspect ladders before use. Open the stepladder fully with spreaders locked. Do not stand on the top two steps. Keep debris cleared from around the ladder base. Do not lean out past the side rails.
	Struck by falling ceiling material, fixtures, or ductwork	High	Keep everyone out of the area directly below overhead removal. Support heavy fixtures and duct sections by hand or with a helper before cutting hangers. Wear a hard hat and safety glasses with a face shield when pulling ceilings.
	Dust, insulation, and debris in the eyes and lungs	Medium	Mist the ceiling with a pump sprayer before pulling. Run exhaust fans to the outside. Wear goggles and at least an N95 respirator. Use a fitted P100 respirator for heavy dust.
5. Remove drywall, plaster, and non-load-bearing stud walls using hammers, flat bars, reciprocating saws, and oscillating tools.	Cutting into a load-bearing wall and causing a collapse	High	The competent person marks every wall to be removed with paint before demo. Do not remove any unmarked wall. If a wall has a doubled top plate, posts, or beams above, stop and ask before cutting.
	Cuts and punctures from saw blades, nails, screws, and sharp metal studs	Medium	Check the reciprocating saw blade and guard before use. Unplug the saw to change blades. Bend over or pull nails sticking out of boards right away. Wear cut-resistant gloves and puncture-resistant boots.
	Silica dust from cutting plaster, joint compound, or masonry	High	Break plaster by hand where you can instead of cutting it. Use tools with water feed or a shroud connected to a HEPA vacuum. Follow the written silica exposure control plan. Keep other workers out of the dust area. Wear a fitted respirator when dust controls are not enough.
	Loud noise from saws and hammering	Medium	Wear earplugs or earmuffs when running power tools or when you have to shout to be heard.
6. Remove cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, and flooring such as carpet, vinyl, and ceramic tile.	Back strains lifting toilets, countertops, and upper cabinets	Medium	Use two people for anything over 50 lb. Use a dolly or cart to move heavy items. Unscrew upper cabinets while a helper holds them. Lift with your legs and keep the load close.
	Flying chips from breaking ceramic tile and mortar	Medium	Use a long-handled floor scraper or electric tile chisel instead of a hand hammer where possible. Wet the tile and wear safety glasses with a face shield.
	Knee injuries and cuts from kneeling on broken tile and tack strip	Low	Roll up carpet and tack strip with nails facing in. Wear knee pads.
7. Load debris into carts or a chute, haul it to the dumpster, and clean up with a HEPA vacuum at the end of each shift.	Debris falling from a chute or upper floor onto workers below	High	Use an enclosed debris chute for drops over 20 ft. Barricade the area at the bottom. Never throw debris out a window or opening without a chute and a cleared, guarded drop zone. Guard window and floor openings used for debris with guardrails.
	Slips and trips from piled debris on floors and stairs	Medium	Clear debris as you go. Do not let piles block stairs, exits, or walkways. Do not overload floors with debris piles. Keep piles spread out and away from openings.
	Dust exposure during cleanup	Medium	Use a HEPA vacuum and wet sweeping compound. No dry sweeping or blowing with compressed air. Keep your respirator on until cleanup is done.

Required PPE

Hard hat — ANSI Z89.1 hard hat at all times in the demo area.
Safety glasses and face shield — ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses at all times. Add goggles or a face shield when pulling ceilings, breaking tile, or cutting.
Respirator — N95 minimum for light dust. Fit-tested half-face respirator with P100 filters for silica, lead, or heavy dust.
Cut-resistant gloves — Wear when handling drywall, metal studs, glass, sheet metal duct, and debris.
Safety-toe work boots — Safety-toe boots with puncture-resistant soles at all times.
Hearing protection — Earplugs or earmuffs when running saws, hammer drills, or tile chisels.
Knee pads and long sleeves — Knee pads for floor removal. Long sleeves to protect arms from cuts and insulation.

Training

Competent person trained to perform the pre-demolition survey and mark walls for removal.
Lockout/tagout and voltage testing for workers who shut off and verify utilities.
Respirator medical evaluation, fit test, and training before wearing a tight-fitting respirator.
Silica and lead awareness training, including the written silica exposure control plan.
Asbestos awareness: how to recognize suspect materials and stop work.
Ladder and scaffold safety training.
Hazard communication training on chemicals and dust on site.

Emergency

If someone contacts a live wire, do not touch them. Shut off power at the main breaker. Call 911 and give the full site address and floor. Start CPR if trained and they are not breathing. For a collapse or serious fall, stop all work, do not move the injured worker unless they are in danger, call 911, and send someone to meet the ambulance.

Official sources

29 CFR 1926.850 — Demolition — preparatory operations
29 CFR 1926.417 — Lockout and tagging of circuits
29 CFR 1926.62 — Lead
29 CFR 1926.1153 — Respirable crystalline silica
29 CFR 1926.25 — Housekeeping
29 CFR 1926.1053 — Ladders
29 CFR 1926.55 — Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists
29 CFR 1926.102 — Eye and face protection

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General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.